How do you start a speech or presentation with impact?

Think how you typically start a speech or presentation. Do you begin with any of these lines?:

– Hi, my name is … and I’m here to talk about…

– Before I start, I want to introduce myself…

– Thank you all for coming, I’m really pleased to be here…

If you do this, you are wasting the most important part of your speech or presentation.

Instead, use one of our recommended four ways to start your talk:

Why? Because audiences form an impression within seconds. They quickly decide whether or not to pay attention. That’s why it’s so important to hook your audience immediately.  And as a leader, great communication skills are vitally important.

In addition, psychologists have demonstrated a phenomenon known as the primacy effect. Your audience is more likely to remember the first bits of information they hear. Therefore whatever you say in your opening lines should relate clearly to your key message.

Break the bad habit of weak beginnings. Use these powerful ways to start a speech or presentation:

How to start a speech or presentation – Option 1: Tell a story

Is there a short relevant anecdote that you could open with? If you can, use a local or topical angle. Your audience will know that you have tailored your talk for them. This will help to keep things fresh for you, too, particularly if you are delivering the same talk or presentation several times.

Or perhaps you could keep your audience in suspense with this one simple trick:

• Start a story at the beginning of  your speech or presentation.
• Go into the main part of your talk
• Go back to and conclude your story near the end of your talk.

Watch this technique in action: See how designer Danit Peleg starts off her speech with a short anecdote that sets the scene.

How to start a speech or presentation – Option 2: Ask a question

This could be a rhetorical question to make the audience think, or it could involve asking the audience to respond, usually by raising their hands if something applies to them. Alternatively, you could set out the question that your talk will address.  Read our article on using powerful language in your talks.

Watch this technique in action: Here’s how 17 year-old Raymond Wang – winner of the 2015 Intel Science and Engineering Fair top prize – uses the question technique to start his TED talk.

How to start a speech or presentation – Option 3: Describe a scenario

This technique blends the first two approaches. It sets a scene and prompts the audience to imagine what they would do or think in those circumstances. Scenarios are an effective way of demonstrating the relevance of abstract topics to the lives of the audience.

To use this technique:

1. Give an everyday example.
2. Get the audience to consider their own viewpoint
3. Then set out to change or challenge it.

Watch this technique in action: See UPS’s Human Resource Manager, Regina Hartley, begin her presentation by setting out a scenario.

How to start a speech or presentation – Option 4: Do something completely unexpected

Will your audience have certain expectations about you or your talk, before you even begin? Then Start with something unexpected – or even shocking – to make them reconsider their preconceived ideas.

The way you do this needs to be relevant to avoid being gimmicky. When done well, it can be memorable, potentially humorous and even remarkable – with audience members sharing and reliving their reactions afterwards.

Watch this technique in action: Our final example is Mohammed Qahtani, the winner of the 2015 Toastmasters Championship. Watch how he starts his thought provoking speech on the power of words.

How to deal with housekeeping, introductions or pleasantries

Leave the housekeeping, introductions or pleasantries to the person who welcomes you to the front of the room.

If you need to cover some low impact but essential content, or if you won’t be introduced by anyone, it’s still important to begin with a high impact first minute. You can then loop back to the housekeeping, introductions or pleasantries once you have successfully engaged your audience.

If you need help choosing a great public speaking coach, read our guide to choosing a public speaking coach

Start your journey to world-class public speaking skills now

First, download our free ebook to start your journey towards becoming a Powerful Presenter.

You’ll learn our 5-step process for transforming ordinary presentations into your most Powerful Presentations yet: inspirational, memorable and persuasive.

This ebook is full of practical tips and insightful quotes that will help you make immediate improvements to your leadership talks and presentations, including:

• How to have more confidence when you talk and present.
• Be more persuasive when speaking to your audience.
• Connect better with your audience.
• Practical ways to plan and structure your talks.
• How to impress and make a mark

Download your free copy of our Five Steps to Improve your Leadership Talks ebook now.

Start Improving My Public Speaking Today

Do you need help with a speech or presentation?

At Benjamin Ball Associates we help our clients create powerful talks and powerful first impressions. And we’ll coach you to deliver clearly, confidently and with impact.

Call Louise on 020 7018 0922 or email louise@nullbenjaminball.com to find out more and discuss your upcoming speech or presentation.  Talk to us about public speaking coaching.