Strike one! When you stand up to speak and you miss connecting with your audience right off the bat, that is strike one. You need to get in and whack ‘em with your opening! Get their interest and keep it from start to finish.
If you can’t connect at the beginning and grab the attention of your audience in some way by letting people know that what you have to say has value for them, the rest of your speech doesn’t really matter. While you won’t strike out, you now have an enormous amount of work to do just to stay in the game.
Dana LaMon, one of the World Champions of Public Speaking, Distinguished Toastmaster and Accredited Speaker once said, “I have learned that the audience will make quick decisions. They will judge a speaker and his or her speech well before the presentation is done. That is why I have come to believe that the most important part of my speech is the opening.
To achieve speaking success, here are nine creative solutions to help you develop more effective speech openings and keep you in the game. No matter which one you use to capture your listeners’ hearts and minds, it must lead to the point of your speech clearly, easily and quickly
1. Tell a story. When telling a story, a personal story is always best. It should be short, easy to follow and lead to the point promptly. If you decide to tell someone else’s story, say so; never claim it as your own.
2. State an unusual fact, occurrence or statistic. The more recent, the better. Make it relevant to your topic and tie it into your point.
3. Bring in a quote. Quotes can have a great impact depending on how they are expressed, the context in which they are presented and how often they have been heard by the audience before.
4. Use the three pronged approach. Sometimes referred to as the application of threes. Open with a series of threes such as three phrases, three words, three examples or three mind-blowing statistics.
5. Ask a question. Short is better than long. Questions can solicit direct response, raise the energy and provide immediate audience involvement, but don’t over use and abuse. I once attended an event where a number of presenters, each doing different product promotions, used the same approach and asked the same questions. That is a sure way to strike out with your audience quickly.
6. Incorporate a wee bit of drama: a skit, words or music. Silent body gestures and movement, in particular, can send a powerful message. These need to be well paced, specific to message, and easy to interpret by your audience.
7. Use an eye-popping prop or visual aid. Bold and big for all to see is key, and on certain occasions more effective than the spoken word.
8. Refer to the occasion. Share something significant about the occasion or discover some aspect, unknown to the audience, that connects solidly with your point.
9. Refer to that day in history or an historic event. Then, weave that information into your message in an engaging way.
Don’t fumble at the start of your speech. When you stand up to speak whether you are delivering a major address at a conference or presenting a project in the office boardroom, the people in your audience are looking for you to whack ‘em with your opening … in some small way that will engage them or entertain them. You need to let them know immediately that they will be getting their money’s worth when they listen to you.