How to start a presentation

Summary

In this presentation advice, the speaker emphasizes the importance of starting with the 'Why' rather than the typical 'What' when crafting a compelling introduction. Instead of simply stating the topic, presenters are encouraged to share a relevant story that highlights why the topic matters to the audience. By framing the story with a time reference and linking it directly to the presentation’s goal, the audience is immediately engaged and understands the relevance of the speaker's message. This approach ensures a more captivating and effective presentation from the very first words.

Takeaways

• 😀 Focus on the 'WHY' question, not just the 'WHAT' when starting a presentation.
• 😀 The opening sentence of your presentation should answer why your topic matters to the audience, not just what you'll talk about.
• 😀 Many presentations follow a cliché structure: greetings, introduction, and stating the topic. This can be less engaging.
• 😀 Audiences often already know the topic of your presentation, so it's more important to explain why it's relevant to them.
• 😀 To make your presentation stand out, begin with a story that is real and personal.
• 😀 A strong opening story should start with a time frame, such as 'Yesterday', 'Two weeks ago', or 'Last year'.
• 😀 Use your story to connect with the audience and clearly show why your topic is important to them.
• 😀 After sharing a story, ask, 'Why do I tell you this?' to tie it back to the goal of your presentation.
• 😀 Personal anecdotes, customer stories, or real-life events make great material for an engaging opening.
• 😀 When preparing a presentation, always keep the audience's interest in mind and make the first minute count by focusing on the WHY.

Q & A

Why do most people focus on the 'WHAT' of their presentations?

Most people focus on the 'WHAT' because it's a natural instinct to explain what they are going to talk about. It's an easy starting point that provides structure to the presentation, but it misses addressing the more important question of 'WHY' the topic matters to the audience.

What is the main problem with starting a presentation with 'Today, I'm going to talk about...?'

The problem with starting a presentation this way is that it answers the 'WHAT' question instead of the more engaging 'WHY' question. The audience likely already knows what the topic is, so focusing on the 'WHY' is more impactful.

What is the 'WHY' question in the context of a presentation?

The 'WHY' question refers to why the topic is important to the audience and why the speaker is there to discuss it. It sets the purpose and relevance of the presentation right from the start.

How does focusing on the 'WHY' help a presentation?

Focusing on the 'WHY' helps to engage the audience from the beginning by immediately showing the relevance of the topic. It makes the presentation more compelling and connects the speaker's message to the audience's interests or needs.

What kind of stories should speakers use at the beginning of their presentations?

Speakers should use real stories that are personal or relatable. These can include anecdotes from their own experiences or interesting conversations they've had, as long as the story is relevant to the presentation's goal.

Why is it effective to start a presentation with a story?

Starting with a story captures the audience's attention by creating a relatable or emotional connection. It also allows the speaker to smoothly transition into explaining why the topic is important, making the message more engaging and memorable.

What is the significance of linking the story to the goal of the presentation?

Linking the story to the goal of the presentation helps to clarify the purpose of the talk. It immediately answers the 'WHY' question and shows the audience how the story connects to the key message or objective of the presentation.

What types of real-life stories can be shared in a presentation?

Real-life stories can include personal experiences, conversations with colleagues, customer interactions, articles read, or anything relevant to the topic. These stories should help illustrate the point the speaker is trying to make.

How can starting with a story make a presentation more interesting for the audience?

Starting with a story makes the presentation more interesting because it adds a human element, creating emotional engagement. It also makes the message feel less abstract and more tangible, as the audience can relate to the story or see its relevance.

What does the speaker suggest for the next time you prepare a presentation?

The speaker advises focusing on the 'WHY' question when preparing a presentation. This involves starting with a story, linking it to the goal of the presentation, and making sure the audience understands why the topic matters to them right from the first words.