So you’ve been asked to give a presentation. But what should you say during those crucial opening moments? How do you get your audience’s attention?
Common theory says that there are 5 goals you should aim to accomplish in the introduction of your speech: get the audience’s attention, show the value and relevance of your ideas, establish your credibility, state your main idea, and provide a verbal map of the presentation. Over our next 5 posts, we’ll be unpacking these goals so that you can write an introduction that truly wows.
Today, let’s start with what you can do to grab the attention and interest of your audience right from the start.
First Words
Whatever you say first is what sets the tone for your presentation. That doesn’t mean what you plan to say first. It’s whatever you actually say first. You’ve probably been to presentations where the speaker starts by apologizing for something like a less-than-ideal room set up or for having a stuffy nose. This spontaneous comment establishes the audience’s “first impression.”
Humans are incredibly skilled at making lightning-speed judgements. In research for Harvard University, Nalini Ambady and Robert Rosenthal proved that first impressions typically don’t change. The first 30 seconds of interaction (and in some cases, even less) provided research participants enough information to make a first impression that didn’t change after 5 minutes of interaction. That means what you do and say first, counts.
Phrases to Avoid
Before we get into some ways you can open with impact, let’s look at a few openers that you’ll want to avoid.
- “Hello, my name is…” There is nothing essentially wrong with starting with your presentation by introducing yourself, except that it’s boring. Chances are, the audience will know your name if you’ve been introduced or if it’s printed on a conference schedule. But if not, you do need to say your name. You just don’t need to do it first. Use one of the ideas below to grab attention and then introduce yourself midway through your introduction.
- “I’m here today to…” If my nephew was in the audience, he might say in a sarcastic tone, “Thanks, Captain Obvious.” If the audience is using the first 30 seconds of your presentation to make a lasting first impression, don’t waste time stating the obvious. Edit out prefacing statements, and just get down to business.
- “Before I begin…” There’s really no such thing as “before I begin.” The minute you begin speaking, your audience begins forming impressions about you and your presentation. So don’t think you can say something prior to your planned speech that won’t “count.” You can’t. Your presentation begins when you do.
Ideas for Openers
The following are just a few ideas for interesting ways to start your presentation. This is, by no means, a comprehensive list. Really, the options are endless. Just make sure your opener relates to the rest of the presentation (it shouldn’t be something out of left field simply stuck-on just for entertainment purposes). But get creative. That creativity will help the audience form a positive first impression.
- Tell a Story: You can use a narrative to get the audience interested. A large body of scientific research has proven that our brains are uniquely attuned to stories. So when anyone starts to tell a story, our interest and attention peaks. You don’t need to announce that you are telling a story, though. Just start it. It will capture the audience right away.
- Use a Hypothetical Scenario: Consider starting with the word “imagine…” followed by a situation you want the audience to place themselves in. If you create a hypothetical scenario which the audience can participate in, it will make them feel connected to the presentation right from the start.
- Give a Startling or Illuminating Statistic: Beginning your presentation with a powerful statistic serves the purpose of getting right to the issue at hand. It’s like shining the spotlight on a problem.
- Use a Strong Image: Sometimes a picture is what you need to grab attention in the first few seconds of your presentation. Just the light of the screen will help draw the audience’s attention. But if you chose to use an image, make sure it draws on emotions and creates a mood. It should serve a distinct purpose that aims at helping the audience understand and prepare for what is to come.
With these things in mind, your first 30 seconds can be intentionally impactful. As we move into the next 4 blogs, we’ll cover more of the goals that you should aim for after you’ve got the audience’s attention. For now, congratulate yourself because you’ve accomplished that difficult first goal of engaging your listeners.
Ready to learn more about how we can help you master the art of presenting? Get in touch with us now.
