“Good afternoon. Thank you for coming to my presentation. Today I would like to talk about ….. “
How boring is the above speech opener?
…And how would you feel if you were sitting in the audience?
The only thing that could make this speech more boring, more dis-engaging, would be to couple it with some text-heavy slides the presenter reads to you.
Here are 8 killer speech openers you can use right now to display confidence and make your speech more engaging.
1. “I’m about to share the ….. secrets no one ever told you.”
Why this works: It’s makes an irresistible promise that audience can’t ignore
2. “Who likes ….. ?”
Why this works: The question begs to be answered so the audience pays attention
3. “Have you ever wondered why ….. ?”
Why this works: Empathizes with the audience, eg. Have you ever wondered why you have to spend so much time writing your TPE reports?
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4. “Here’s why you’re wasting your time on ….. “
Why this works: Shocks the audience to attention with the fear they are using their time for something unnecessary
5. “This is what ….. will surely look like next year. “
Why this works: Change, or the threat of change, gets attention
6. “Here’s how I make my wife/husband very, very angry: “
Why this works: The promise of an interesting story is irresistible
7. “My massive business/meeting/presentation/social/….. mistake was ….. “
Why this works: Engagement through the implicit promise of success by avoiding failure
8. “These are the 3 warning signs you need to ….. “
Why this works: Am I okay? Do I have any of the warning signs? I must listen! I must pay attention!
Give these speech openers a try and let me know how you do.
Further reading: 6 Killer speech closers
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Rick Weaver says
These are great opening lines. Certainly when you can engage an audience in a single sentence with something they relate to (these opening lines were not all comedic as some comments suggest.
One of my favorite opening lines was used by Doc Andrews, the voice of the Michigan State Spartans. He opened with, “You weren’t what I was expecting either. Read this inspirational story here: https://getmaximpact.com/Inspire/Andrews.html
Dave Mac says
Nice one, Rick!
Matt Rix says
Stand-up comedians are (arguably) the masters of capturing the attention of an audience within the first 5-15 seconds of their presentation. One of their favorite techniques relies on asking a rhetorical question followed by sharing a short (and entertaining) vignette. In terms of subliminal triggers of influence/persuasion, humor is one of the BEST methods to capture audience attention and winning them over to your presentation.
Mark Twain said, “You don’t have to be funny and entertaining when you give a speech … unless you want to get paid and invited back.”
I’ll add, “The real tragedy is when people don’t have the training to speak well or the intelligence to remain silent.”
Rodney Lawson says
David,
Great content in a succinct way! Just the way I like to learn … e.g. Content followed by why it works!
Karen Deller says
Great article and totally right. One day I would like to ask the question ‘what is your worth’ as in can you put a price on who you are and what monetary value you would like in return. I still struggle with this question!
Thanks for the read
Terry says
Sometimes, just “start telling a story” but just a few short succint lines to catch their attention, then a short WHY should I continue to listen to your story. (and don’t say, I will tell you a story – audiences are SMART enough to KNOW when someone is telling a story – see that often – just start with you story.
We storytellers just can’t resist when someone begins a story, especially with an eye catching prop that ties in with your story, good body language, vocal variety – something that proves a point you will talk about
Remember, think of audience members who are about to stand & leave to catch another appointment. You want to sway them to stay just to hear “one more speech” – YOUR speech 😉
Ernita says
Excellent advice for me Dave. I have been thinking about an awaken opening but I have never thought about your style. Well done
Leah Goodwin says
Audience buy-in is the name of the game when it comes to addressing groups of any kind, for purposes of any kind. Anything that engages the imagination of your audience helps your content find its target and these suggestions are gold! They are swiftly built bridges between what you have to say and the natural, narrative-inspired, structure of our brains. Thanks for the practical insight!
Rajesh Tewari says
Excellent and totally engaging & surprising speech openers.
I liked all of them because these definitely create a curiosity gap in the audiences’ mind.
Great work David. Keep it up.
Regards,& Thanks
Rajesh Tewari
Pietro Perrone says
Sorry guys but I do not agree whith all these rules and techniques.
First of all: -who are you, -what do you do, -what the presentation is all about, -what would be the steps I´ll take to make the presentation flowa and final close with questions……. that´s enough.
A unique way of keeping people awake comes from the content of your presentation.
The way to start the presentation does not change anything in the interest of people.
Dave Mac says
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Pietro.
I agree with you that the content of your presentation is what can engage your audience. But, if you don’t catch your audience’s attention immediately (in the opening) then your job of keeping their attention throughout the presentation is much harder.
Best,
Dave
Tinika says
I have to disagree with you. As I was reading your comment on what you think it should remain was making me yawn and bored. I’d much prefer the suggestions Dave gave. And Yes, content is still very important but different openers are more refreshing and there is immediate audience engagement.
Kobus Kleyn says
Do not be scared to make use of props within opening 30 seconds , in middle and close with a prop !! Great 👍 article
K N Mann says
I have been associated with job of training various cadres of employees in my organization, have been a faculty member and eventually the Principal in Staff Training College of my organization.
Through my experience, I have developed a conviction that once you connect with the audience with empathetic and catchy beginnings like those suggested by you, it is half battle won.
I have personally experienced that phrases like….. “Have you ever wondered….. ” “Today we will have an exciting time in sharing something that you would never have come across……..” – go a long way in connecting and cementing your rapport with your audience.
I really appreciate and salute you for bringing it out in a way as appealing as this.
Bob Roitblat says
Two suggestions that I disagree with:
Instead of “Have you ever wondered why ….. ?”, which can be answered in the negative, try “How often have you wondered….? Even a ‘never’ is better than a ‘no.’
And “Who likes…?” can be made much more powerful and engaging by using, “By a show of hands (which you also model) who likes….?” If everyone raises their hands you have good participation. If no one raises their hand (hopefully that’s what you expect) people will feel part of the ‘in’ crowd.
Dave Mac says
Great points, Bob! Thanks for taking the time to comment!
ranj says
Great topic, as usual when i started to presenting used hi, good afternoon, today we have…
But after that when became a trainer start thinking and looking for phrases to open my presentation with it, so already i started with question like what is your expectation on the…
The above article will help too much.
Thanks again
Christopher Babson says
Great, succinct advice, Dave.
LLOYD NURSE says
I’m about to do a presentation video. This article is timely and I can relate to the logic and the comments also helps. My opening will be “who likes taking medicine?”
We are bringing novel medication management solutions to global health.
Thanks for the heads up
Brandon Friedman says
A possible change to your opening line to highlight the expected response to your opening question,and start your pitch with humour would be to first ask 3 rhetorical questions which would have the opposite response to your ‘medicine question’, and watch how the hands drop when question 4 arrives and the laughter ie.
Opening line “who likes free and extended holidays, raise you hand?” ***Everybody raises***
Line 2 “who likes snuggling up with a loved one in front of a good movie, raise hands?” ***hands all raise***
Line 3 “who likes hearing the news that fuel prices are dropping, raise your hands?” ***all hands are high in the air***
Line 4 “who likes the taste of medicine, keep those hands up high!” ***all hands drop immediately*** and laughter ensues!
Firstly you have engaged the audience,as well as kept them intrigued as to where your headed with this and then introduced a humorous outcome which hints at your point but has lightened their mood and susceptibility to you and your speech onwards.
Mark Hitch says
Thank you for the suggestions! The ideas you’ve conveyed force the presenter to spend more time on what it is the audience wants, so invariably the “tease” can be done in any number of ways.
-Mark
Neza Vidmar says
Such a great article! Thank you so much! I was always in a dilemma with myself if I should go for a more interesting introduction, or should I stick to the traditional: “My name is X and today I will talk to you about Y” because I wanted to sound more professional and set (what I thought) a serious tone. However, after I gave more presentations, I saw more eye-rolls, sighs and yawns in the audience so I decided to change my introduction with a short exercise or question on the topic.
I would carefully think about what kind of questions I would ask way ahead of my presentation, but would add them at the end of my presentation planning process. I thought that this new introduction style would present a new topic in a more exciting way and show the audience that they do know something on the topic, that it is familiar and that they can build upon the knowledge they already have. After I started using this new way of introducing a topic, I got less yawns, it seemed that the audience was immediately tuned in, I would get great feedback, a lot more people got involved in the Q&A at the end and the atmosphere got immediately a lot more relaxed.
That said, thank you for the great tips and I will definitely use them in the future.
-Neza
Chris Pehura says
A good opening (aka hook) is good practice for presenting. Especially when it’s a question about a personal story.
DK Sabharwal says
Nice! To me only one of this tips- each every time- works! The thought you trigger of an interesting story to follow your opener is always very gripping! Though mind you at times the rocket launches well with this but falls mid the flight if it- your story- does not have the boosters!!
Narinder says
So succinctly put, yet so powerfully delivered !
Patricia Fripp says
Great article and I agree, What I tech my clients and audiences…
Start talking about YOU rather than I. “Would you like to hear a secret nobody ever told you?<<<>>
Why this works: It’s makes an irresistible promise that audience can’t ignore
Again I agree, and would add the best way to connect to an audience to to speak to one person and the all hear the speaker is talking to me.” As in “Do YOU like…. <<<<“Who likes ….. ?”
Why this works: The question begs to be answered so the audience pays attention
Keep up the good work. Patricia Fripp
Dave Mac says
Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback, Patricia! I’m honored to have someone of your knowledge and experience reading my blog.
Jim Horan says
Hi Patricia! I agree with your feedback to Dave 100%. I love QUESTIONS, as consultants I think it is one of the best ways to let people know who and what your expertise is. Most of my talk titles are questions. As you know my talk at the IMC National Conference this weekend is, “When does the business of consulting get easy?” It will also be my opener!
I look forward see you in Atlanta! Dave – will you be there?
Dave Mac says
Hi Jim, thanks for your comment! I won’t be there, unfortunately. All the best with your talk this weekend!