Public speaking: opening your speech to grab the audience’s attention
Opening and closing are the two most important elements of a speech. You should spend most of your time writing and rehearsing these two components.
There are three main goals for any opening. First, you need to grab the audience’s attention. The second goal is to give the audience an idea of what you will be talking about. Finally, the opening also sets the tone of the speech.
Here are some secrets to brainstorming a memorable opening:
1. Some speakers like to start by posting an interesting question for the audience. The reason this kind of openness works is that it forces audience members to respond. E.g. – “What is the leading cause of death among adolescents?
2. Another tactic to use is an outrageous or defiant statement to get attention. An example might be: “Your grandchildren may never see an elephant due to poachers threatening extinction, all in the name of ivory chores.”
3. You can also try to bridge the opening of your speech by connecting something personal to the event. Short personal stories work best.
4. Arouse the curiosity of the audience. Here’s an example from Steve Jobs (founder of Apple) during a graduation speech he gave in 2005: “I left Reed College after the first 6 months, but then I stayed as an assistant for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out? “This introduction makes you curious about” why did I drop out of college? “
5. Quotations are often used to open speeches. It is not important that the quote is famous, but that the quote used is relevant. I remember an example when a presenter discussing labor arbitration opened with this quote from Benjamin Franklin: “A compatriot between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.”
How NOT to open a speech
1. Don’t tell a story or a joke that has nothing to do with the topic of the speech.
2. Don’t try to be funny. There are a dozen easier ways to pay attention.
3. Don’t apologize, for example. “I’m not a great public speaker, but I’ll try anyway …”