Giving a presentation can be nerve-wracking for many people. However, starting off strong with an engaging opening helps presenters get over those initial jitters and makes a positive first impression on the audience. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most effective things presenters can say before starting their presentations to get off on the right foot.
Thank the Organizers and Audience
One of the best ways to open a presentation is by thanking the organizers and the audience. This shows appreciation and helps establish a welcoming tone. For example, you could say something like:
“Good morning everyone. Before we get started, I’d like to take a moment to thank [name of organizers] for inviting me to speak today. I’m so pleased to have this opportunity to share some ideas with all of you.”
Thanking people right off the bat demonstrates gratitude and lets the audience know you value their time and attention. It’s a simple but meaningful way to start things off positively.
Introduce Yourself
Even if you’ve been formally introduced, briefly introducing yourself at the start of a presentation helps establish a personal connection with the audience. Keep it short and sweet by stating your name, job title or role, and a sentence or two about what you’ll be discussing. For example:
“Hello, my name is [your name] and I work for [company or organization] as a [job title]. Today I’ll be discussing [key topics or themes] and providing strategies for how we can [purpose or objective].”
This gives the audience a bit more context about who you are and what brings you there as an expert on the subject matter.
Open with an Impactful Statement or Question
Another option is to grab the audience’s attention right away with an opening statement or question related to your topic. This pulls them in and gets them thinking from the start. For example:
“How many of you have ever [shared experience related to topic]?”
“In the next hour, I’m going to show you [intriguing promise related to your content].”
“What if I told you that [surprising fact or statistic]?”
Just be sure that whatever you open with aligns well with the rest of your presentation. You want your strong opening to flow naturally into the meat of your content.
Outline the Agenda
Giving a quick overview of what you’ll cover in the presentation is enormously helpful for orienting the audience. You might say something like:
“There are three key topics I’m going to focus on today. First, I’ll discuss [point one]. Next, we’ll explore [point two]. Finally, I’ll provide strategies and examples for [point three].”
Or use a more visual approach:
“Here’s what we’ll be covering today:
- First, the problem and its key causes
- Second, some potential solutions
- Finally, which solutions are most viable and why
With that roadmap in mind, let’s dive in to the first topic.”
Laying out what you’ll talk about gives the audience a sense of structure and flow. They’ll be able to follow along more easily.
Explain Why the Topic Matters
You can make your presentation more impactful by starting off with an explanation of why the topic is important and worth the audience’s attention. Help them understand right away how they will benefit or why they should care.
For example, you might say:
“This information is critical for anyone wanting to maximize their returns in today’s market.”
“These new guidelines stand to improve patient outcomes and lower risks.”
“The strategies I’ll be sharing will help you take your sales to the next level.”
Framing the value initially will make your audience more receptive to the full presentation.
Share a Relevant Story or Anecdote
Personal stories and anecdotes are highly engaging if chosen well. Select one that is relatively brief yet impactful and directly relates to your topic. For example, you could talk about:
- A turning point that shaped your passion for the topic
- A memorable mistake or failure and the lesson it taught you
- An experience that opened your eyes to a key problem or need
This pulls your audience in on an emotional level and helps them see the relevance of the topic through your perspective. Just be sure the anecdote ties directly back to the point of your presentation.
Include a Startling Fact or Statistic
Opening with a surprising or intriguing statistic related to your topic piques the audience’s interest and gets their attention focused right away. Some examples:
“Did you know that [industry or field] generates over $[xxx] billion in revenue per year?”
“A recent study found that [xx% of people] regularly [experience related to your topic].”
“Experts project that [compelling statistic] by the year 2025 if current trends continue.”
Back up any claims with reputable sources. The credibility boost will make the information more impactful. Just be sure not to overload the audience with too many statistics or facts right off the bat.
Incorporate Humor
When used carefully, humor at the start of a presentation helps audiences warm up to you and makes the tone more enjoyable overall. For example, you could open with:
- A lighthearted joke or anecdote related to the topic
- A silly visual aid or prop as an attention-getter
- A playful quote or saying about your subject matter
The key is making sure any humor aligns well with the tone and content of the rest of your presentation. Know your audience and aim for tasteful jokes rather than anything potentially offensive or controversial.
Ask for Participation
Getting the audience actively involved right away is a great way to make your presentation more dynamic and engaging. Simple prompts like the following can work well:
- “Let’s take 10 seconds to do a quick breathing exercise together before we dive in.”
- “Take out a pen and paper. We’ll start with a brief brainstorming session.”
- “I’m going to say a few words related to today’s topic. Raise your hand when you hear one that resonates with you.”
Even quick interactions like think-pair-share or calling on a few people to answer a question can help boost energy and focus at the start. Just be sure participation ties back to the central ideas you’ll discuss.
Connect Current Events to Your Topic
Referencing a recent news event or cultural phenomenon related to your subject is an effective way to kick off a timely, relevant-feeling presentation. For example:
“As we’ve seen in the news recently with [event], issues around [topic] have become more prominent than ever.”
“When [pop culture reference], it reflected some major changes happening in [field].”
This taps into your audience’s existing awareness and curiosity. But be careful not to assume their knowledge or get sidetracked away from your core content.
Conclusion
Starting a presentation strong sets the tone and grabs your audience’s interest right out of the gate. While there are many potential approaches, some effective options include:
- Thanking organizers and the audience
- Introducing yourself
- Opening with an impactful statement or question
- Outlining the agenda
- Explaining why the topic matters
- Sharing a relevant anecdote
- Presenting a startling statistic
- Incorporating tasteful humor
- Getting the audience involved
- Connecting the topic to current events
The most important thing is to choose an opening that establishes relevance and rapport. This engages your listeners right away and sets you up for presenting your best content from start to finish.