You need to grasp your audience’s attention within the first 30 seconds of your speech or presentation. If you don’t grab them in that short space of time, you could lose them. The people you are speaking to could simply look at you, but be thinking of the next coffee break, the shopping they need to do or that attractive person sitting in front of them. Without gaining the immediate attention of the audience the moment you start to speak, you could effectively be talking to yourself.

Something like a gunshot, fireworks or a troupe of naked dancers should grab the audience attention, sure enough. But your problem is you have to follow them – and that may well be an anti-climax for the audience. Dramatic starts to presentations and speeches can often backfire. People remember the sudden drama, but often cannot recall what the speaker actually said.

What you need are openings to your speech that make the audience want to listen to the rest of what you have to say. In other words, the stunning start to the speech or presentation has to be something you say, rather than a dramatic device.

There are several options you can choose from, but audience research shows that the most preferable attention-grabbing opening you can make is an anecdote; tell a personal story, preferably funny. Most business presenters try to be serious, or set the agenda right at the start. Time and time again,

If an anecdote isn’t appropriate, there are other options. Starting with a question, or a series of linked questions, is a favourite loved by audiences. Similarly, a quotation by a famous person is also a good opener to a talk or presentation.

Other possibilities include a statistic or a controversial statement about the audience or the subject area. An appropriate poem is also a good start.

Things to avoid to open your presentation or speech include jokes, role plays or anything where you are trying to be ‘clever’. The audience may be offended and therefore will distance themselves from you, lessening your impact. And even if you get a good producer for a major conference speech, try to avoid their convincing cries that you should make some kind of dramatic entrance. It’s great for the show’s production team – but not for the audience.

No matter what the size of the audience, you can use the suggestions here. Whether you speak to a small group or several thousand, anecdotes, questions, quotations, statistics and controversial statements will always work.

Graham Jones can help you make great presentations. He provides online courses in presentation skills and also provides information on how you can overcome the fear of public speaking.

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