How to Start a Speech

Summary

This video script offers five strategies to start a speech with impact, focusing on the crucial first 30 seconds. Key advice includes preparing technology, sticking to the plan, and avoiding last-minute changes. The strategies include opening with a concise story that relates to the presentation, asking engaging questions, sharing powerful quotations, presenting surprising facts or statistics, and using visual illustrations. The script also provides pro tips on developing the opening after drafting the presentation and combining multiple opening techniques for a more dynamic start.

Takeaways

• 🎯 The first 30 seconds of a speech, known as the attention grabber or opening, are crucial for engaging the audience.
• 🛠️ Ensure all technology is checked beforehand to avoid delays and maintain momentum during the opening.
• 📋 Stick to the planned script to prevent nervous chatter or last-minute changes that could disrupt the speech's flow.
• 📖 Opening with a concise story can be a high-impact method if it's directly related to the presentation's core message and kept brief.
• ❓ Asking key questions can create immediate engagement but should be done mentally rather than requiring audience participation at the start.
• 💡 Use quotations that are impactful and directly related to the speech's theme, ensuring they are accurately attributed.
• 📊 Interesting facts or statistics can be effective openers, especially if they surprise or intrigue the audience, and should be verified for accuracy.
• 🎨 Visual illustrations, such as images, demonstrations, or audience participation, can make a strong impression if they creatively illustrate the message.
• 🔍 Develop the opening after drafting the rest of the presentation to allow the preparation process to inspire potential hooks.
• 🔗 Combine different opening strategies, like a question with a statistic or a story with a quotation, to create a multifaceted attention grabber.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of a speech opening?

The primary goal of a speech opening is to start with a bang, capturing the audience's attention and setting the stage for the rest of the presentation.

Why is it important to check your technology before starting your speech?

Checking your technology beforehand ensures a smooth start to your speech, avoiding any technical issues that could stall the opening and distract from the message.

What is the significance of sticking to your planned opening?

Sticking to your planned opening prevents last-minute changes that can disrupt the flow and impact of your speech, ensuring a strong and practiced start.

How long should an opening story be to maintain audience engagement?

An opening story should be concise, ideally around 30 seconds to a minute, to maintain audience engagement without losing their interest.

Why is it beneficial to structure your story with a clear beginning, middle, and end?

Structuring your story with a clear beginning, middle, and end helps keep the narrative focused and ensures that the audience can easily follow the plot and takeaway the intended lesson.

What is the purpose of asking questions at the start of a speech?

Asking questions at the start of a speech is meant to engage the audience mentally, creating a sense of curiosity and drawing them into the subject matter of the presentation.

Why should you avoid asking the audience to answer questions out loud at the beginning of your speech?

Avoiding direct audience participation with questions at the start helps maintain control over the presentation's direction and pace, preventing potential distractions.

How can using a quotation enhance the opening of your speech?

Using a quotation can enhance the opening by providing a powerful and impactful statement that resonates with the audience and is directly related to the core message of the speech.

What is the advantage of opening with an interesting fact or statistic?

Opening with an interesting fact or statistic can surprise and engage the audience, making them more attentive and curious about the rest of the presentation.

How can visual illustrations be effectively used in a speech opening?

Visual illustrations, such as images, demonstrations, or audience participation, can make the opening more memorable and directly illustrate the message, provided they are creatively and relevantly applied.

What are some pro tips for developing an effective speech opening?

Pro tips include developing the opening after creating the rest of the presentation to ensure it naturally flows from the introduction, and combining multiple opening strategies to create a dynamic and engaging start.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Effective Speech Openings

The paragraph emphasizes the importance of a strong opening for a speech, often referred to as the 'attention grabber' or 'hook.' It suggests avoiding common pitfalls like technological issues or unprepared additions to the speech. The speaker advises planning and rehearsing the opening to ensure a smooth start. The paragraph introduces five strategies for an impactful opening and encourages downloading a free PDF for additional tips on public speaking.

05:00

📚 Opening Strategies: Stories, Questions, and Quotations

This section delves into the first three strategies for opening a speech: telling a concise story, asking engaging questions, and using powerful quotations. It stresses the importance of relevance and conciseness in storytelling, the use of questions to mentally engage the audience without requiring immediate verbal responses, and the selection of impactful quotations that align with the speech's core message. The speaker provides examples and tips for each method, including the structure of a good story and the significance of accurate attribution for quotations.

10:02

📊 Facts, Statistics, and Visuals for Captivating Openings

The final strategy discussed is using surprising facts or statistics to grab the audience's attention. The speaker shares an example about lightning strikes and emphasizes the effectiveness of combining this with a story or question to enhance impact. The paragraph also introduces the concept of visual illustrations, which can include images, demonstrations, or audience participation, to visually reinforce the message. The speaker provides pro tips on developing the opening after drafting the rest of the presentation and combining multiple opening strategies for a more dynamic start.

Keywords

💡Attention Grabber

An 'attention grabber' is a strategic element used at the beginning of a speech to capture and hold the audience's interest. In the context of the video, it refers to the first 30 seconds or so of a speech, which is crucial for setting the tone and ensuring that the audience remains engaged. The video emphasizes the importance of starting with a bang to avoid fumbling through the opening, suggesting that an effective attention grabber can make a significant impact on the audience's receptiveness to the rest of the speech.

💡Hook

A 'hook' in public speaking is a technique used to draw in the audience at the start of a presentation. It is similar to an 'attention grabber' and is meant to create intrigue or curiosity. The video suggests that the hook should be prepared and practiced to ensure a smooth and impactful opening. The hook is a critical component of the speech's introduction, designed to make the audience want to listen to what comes next.

💡Opening

The 'opening' of a speech is the initial segment that sets the stage for the rest of the presentation. The video discusses the importance of a strong opening, advising against common missteps such as technological issues or unprepared remarks that can detract from the speech's impact. A well-executed opening, as described, should be clean, concise, and directly related to the main message of the speech.

💡Technology Check

A 'technology check' refers to the process of ensuring that all technological aspects of a presentation are in working order before the speech begins. The video stresses the importance of this step to avoid delays or disruptions during the opening, which could negatively affect the audience's engagement. This includes checking audio equipment, visual aids, and any other tech-related components that will be used during the presentation.

💡Storytelling

In the context of the video, 'storytelling' is presented as a powerful method to open a speech. It involves sharing a concise narrative that is directly related to the main message of the presentation. The video provides an example of a personal story about starting a YouTube channel, which is used to illustrate the concept of growth and transformation. Storytelling is highlighted as a high-risk, high-reward strategy that, when done correctly, can captivate the audience and set a strong foundation for the rest of the speech.

💡Concise

The term 'concise' in the video refers to the need for a speaker to be brief and to the point, especially when telling a story as an opening. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding long-winded narratives that can lose the audience's interest. A concise story, as mentioned, should ideally last around 30 seconds to a minute, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, ensuring that the audience remains engaged and the message is effectively communicated.

💡Questioning

The video discusses the use of 'questioning' as a way to engage the audience at the start of a speech. By asking relevant and thought-provoking questions, the speaker can create a mental dialogue with the audience, drawing them into the presentation. The video suggests that questions should be crafted to set up the main message and should be asked in a way that does not require immediate verbal responses from the audience, thus maintaining the flow of the presentation.

💡Quotation

A 'quotation' in the context of the video is a well-known saying or phrase attributed to a recognized figure, used to add weight and impact to the opening of a speech. The video advises using quotations that are relevant and impactful, providing an example of a quote by John Maxwell about the effort required for worthwhile endeavors. The speaker should ensure that the quotation is accurately attributed and directly relates to the core message of the speech.

💡Fact or Statistic

Facts and statistics are used in the video as a method to open a speech with a surprising or intriguing piece of information. The video suggests that such data can be very effective in capturing the audience's attention, especially if it is unexpected or counterintuitive. The video provides an example of a statistic related to lightning strikes, which was used to pique curiosity and serve as a hook for the rest of the speech.

💡Visual Illustration

A 'visual illustration' in the video refers to the use of visual aids, physical demonstrations, or other creative means to illustrate a point at the beginning of a speech. This strategy can include showing an image, performing a short skit, or using a prop to enhance the message. The video encourages creativity in finding visual elements that can effectively support the speech's opening and make it more memorable for the audience.

💡Pro Tips

The term 'pro tips' in the video refers to advanced suggestions or strategies that can enhance the effectiveness of a speech opening. These tips are meant for those who are looking to refine their skills further. The video provides two such tips: developing the opening after creating a draft of the rest of the presentation to ensure it fits well, and combining different opening strategies to create a more dynamic and engaging start to the speech.

Highlights

Five strategies to start a speech with impact.

The importance of a strong opening within the first 30 seconds.

Prerequisite advice for an effective opening: starting clean and avoiding technological mishaps.

Avoiding off-script additions and nervous chatter in the opening.

The significance of a well-planned and practiced opening to maintain momentum.

Using a concise story as an opening, with direct relevance to the presentation's core message.

The structure of an effective opening story: beginning, middle, end, and lesson learned.

Minimizing risks in storytelling by keeping it concise and on-point.

Engaging the audience with key questions that set up the presentation's main message.

Enhancing question effectiveness by asking multiple connected questions.

Using powerful quotations that resonate and relate directly to the presentation's theme.

Ensuring the quoted material is accurate and impactful.

Opening with surprising facts or statistics to capture the audience's attention.

Combining a story or question with a statistic to enhance its impact.

The potential of visual illustrations to make an opening memorable and engaging.

Pro tip: Develop the opening after drafting the rest of the presentation to leverage discovered hooks.

Combining multiple opening strategies to create a dynamic and engaging start.

Final advice on downloading resources for becoming a more confident speaker.

Transcripts

- You're going to learn how to start a speech.

We'll look at five ways to start with a bang.

We're talking about the first 30 seconds or so.

Some people call this the attention grabber,

your hook or simply your opening.

Before we get into the five strategies,

here's some big picture prerequisite advice

to make sure your opening is effective.

The goal is to start with a bang

rather than to stumble through your opening.

That means you have to start clean.

That means double check all of your technology

ahead of time, so you don't stall

while you try to figure that out

during the opening of your speech.

Also, stick to your plan.

Don't do anything off-script

or put in nervous chatter before you're opening.

Don't get distracted by a passing thought

or something somebody said to you just a minute ago.

Resist all of those last minute temptations

to add something to your opening

that you didn't prepare and practice.

These common missteps will cost you momentum and impact.

Ideally, you avoid all of those pitfalls

so it looks something like this.

Somebody introduces you.

People might clap a little bit to welcome you

and the moment those applauds stop,

you take a deep breath and you open with your hook,

exactly the way you planned it.

Be sure to download your free PDF

of these seven instant tips

to make you a more confident speaker.

That's in the description below the video

with other relevant links.

We'll look at five of the best ways to open with a bang.

You can use these as standalone openings

and I'll give you some pro tips at the end to combine them.

First, my favorite way to open

is by telling a concise story.

A story is a high risk way to open

but it also has the highest potential rewards.

So let's maximize those rewards and minimize the risks.

One way to contain the risks

is to make sure your story relates directly

to the rest of your presentation.

Now, it could be a great story

but if it doesn't relate to the heart of your message

then people will wonder why you told the story.

So find a story that fits the rest of your message.

Another risk is telling a long-winded story.

Make sure you're concise.

Aim for 30 seconds or maybe a minute, for an opening story.

Inexperienced storytellers tend to go on and on

and weave all over the place.

If you open with a long-winded story

it will kill the energy in the room.

Practice until your story is concise.

A good story also has a clear structure or logic.

Stories should have a beginning, middle, and end

and then a lesson learned.

The beginning can be one sentence

and explain the people, time, and place.

About six years ago, I started a YouTube channel

right here in this room.

The middle of the story is where the action takes place.

I had a goal, but what I didn't have

was any experience making videos.

Up 'til then I didn't even own a camera.

I knew nothing, but I started making videos every week

and I learned as I went along,

and six years later I've posted over 200 videos

and the channel now has over 400,000 subscribers.

The middle of the story

is usually where people overcome some struggle.

The endings to stories are usually pretty concise as well.

The success of the channel

has truly changed my entire life and led to opportunities

I would've never been able to enjoy otherwise.

The last part is called the lesson learned.

You could also call this the moral to the story.

This is the key insight you want your listeners to remember.

This long journey taught me what John Maxwell always says,

"Everything worthwhile in life is uphill".

If we put that whole story together

it would last about 30 seconds or so.

That simple structure will also keep you on track

so you land on the right spot at the end

and can give the rest of your speech introduction.

The best stories show some transformation or growth.

That's why stories have the highest potential reward,

as an opening.

People love stories that have that before and after quality.

The second way to open a speech

is by asking your audience some key questions.

This is a really common way to start a speech.

Some people say it's overdone

but I'll give you some tips to enhance this a bit.

On the plus side,

asking relevant questions can create instant engagement

because it helps listeners see themselves

in your presentation.

I don't recommend you ask listeners

to answer your questions out loud, right at the beginning.

That could take your presentation in the wrong direction

but ask questions that engage our minds

because that will draw us into the world

of your presentation in a mental conversation.

Questions peak our curiosity.

Now, here's some tips to enhance your questions.

First, make sure your questions

set up the main message of your presentation.

You wanna ask questions

that your speech will respond to in some satisfying way.

So let's say I was doing a presentation

on financial planning for retirement.

I might ask, "If you could retire to a dream location,

where would that be?"

That question can easily lead right to my main message

about retirement planning.

Second, enhance it more

by asking two or three connected questions

rather than a single question.

Questions usually go by a little too quickly

so ask two or three and pause briefly in between.

That will build momentum.

So I'll go back and redo the first sample question

and add two more questions with pauses.

If you could retire to a dream location

where would that be and who would be with you

and what would you be doing there together?

Each question is really concise

but when you add them together, they create more engagement.

Third, open by sharing a powerful quotation.

Quotations are great openings

because we can always find somebody

who said what we're trying to say,

with even more impact.

And the great thing about quotations

is that they've already stood the test of time.

If it's the kind of passage that people quote

then it will likely have a positive impact

on your listeners as well.

So let's say I was doing a speech

about the importance of creating a big ambitious vision

for our lives and chasing our dreams.

A topic that I am very fond of, by the way.

I might open with a quotation like this,

a quotation I mentioned a moment ago.

The famous writer, John Maxwell, has often said,

"Everything worthwhile in life is uphill".

A couple of tips on using quotations.

Make sure the person you are quoting,

actually said or wrote those words.

I saw this quotation come out of John Maxwell's mouth myself

and I looked up later to double check it.

You don't want to get a quote wrong

or attribute it to the wrong person.

The key though, is to find a quotation that makes an impact

and relates directly to the heart of your message.

Just like all the other ways to open a speech,

the quotation should be a natural jumping off place

for whatever comes next in your introduction.

Fourth, open with an interesting fact or statistic.

This works really well if you have any concrete data

that's a little bit surprising.

As you're preparing,

you might come across a bit of information

and you say to yourself, "Whoa, I didn't know that".

If a statistic or fact grabs your attention like that

it will likely have a similar impact on your listeners.

For example, the other day I was looking up information

about getting struck by lightning

because people are always using the chances

of getting struck by lightning as a point of comparison

and the first statistic I found wasn't all that interesting.

The chances of getting struck by lightning

in any given year, is about one in a million.

So struck by lightning equals one in a million.

Makes sense.

But then I noticed another statistic that did surprise me

and here's how I might share that in a speech opening.

Would it shock you to learn

that according to the Centers for Disease Control,

adult males account for 80% of all fatal lightning strikes?

To me, that was an unexpected statistic

and I wanted to learn more.

I told that to a couple of friends

and they both said, "Really?"

The takeaway for you is that

as you're doing your preparation research,

you may find yourself surprised

or wanting to know more about what you're reading.

That's when you know you've come across a fact

or a statistic that could be a very good hook

that will make the audience want to pay attention

to the rest of your message.

The trouble with facts and statistics as an opening

is that they're quite short,

so I recommend using a question or a concise story

that leads to that interesting statistic.

In fact, you may notice

that I did exactly that a moment ago.

I told a concise story about

how I was looking into lightning strikes,

and then I also did it with a question,

"Would it surprise you to know?",

and then I gave the statistic.

Using a story or a questions

will enhance the statistic

and make it stand out even more.

And by the way, word of warning about using facts and stats.

Do your homework, cite your sources,

and verify all research and use the information fairly.

The fifth way to open is by using a visual illustration.

This is a catchall strategy.

This could be a visual image you show on a screen.

It could be a short dramatization,

skit or dialogue where you act something out.

You could do a physical demonstration or handle a prop

that illustrates a piece of your message.

You could ask your audience members to participate with you

by taking some small action,

like reaching in their pocket to take out an object

or giving them a task to do on their phones.

On the surface,

it might not seem like most speech topics

lend themselves naturally to visual illustrations,

but if you use a little creativity

you can make it work.

I recently did a talk

where I held up a king from a chess set

and I was making a point about leadership

and that enhanced the message a little bit for that moment.

I've seen speakers dress up in costumes,

do back flips, do a magic trick.

If you have any creative streak inside you,

think about how you might do something interesting

or unique that visually illustrates your message.

And now for some pro tips to enhance the rest of these.

Pro tip number one is develop your opening

after you've created a draft

of the rest of the presentation.

One reason I wait to create the introduction

is that the research and preparation process

usually provides me some great potential hooks.

So as you prepare your materials,

take note of any item that jumps out to you.

Whenever I notice a great piece of content,

I put a star next to it and label it as a potential opening.

Pro tip number two, combine openings.

Meaning use more than one of the five openings

we've talked about, combine them.

In fact, I've already done that a couple of times

in this video.

I combined a question with a statistic.

"Would it shock you to learn

that adult males account for 80%

of all fatal lightning strikes?"

That combines a stat and a question.

I told a story and I capped it off

with a quotation from John Maxwell

which is why I quoted him twice in this video.

All five of these openings can work in various combinations.

Just make sure you're still communicating concisely.

Aim for 30 seconds, maybe a minute, attention grabber total.

Remember to download the free PDF of the seven instant tips

to make you a more confident speaker.

There's a link to that and the expandable description below.

I also have another video

on how to end a speech with impact.

There's a link to that below as well

and I'd love to hear your ideas

about great ways to start a speech.

Tell me about that in the comments section below.

Until next time, thanks.

God bless, and I will see you soon.