SPEECH OPENING

Speech divided into the opening of speech, the body of speech and the closing. There are so many ways to open your speech.  These are 7 ways to create memorable speech opening:

1. Quote
   Opening with a relevant quote can help set the tone for the rest of your speech. For example, one that I often use to open a presentation dealing with public speaking:
   “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” – Mark Twain

2. “What If” Scenario
   Immediately drawing your audience into your speech works wonders. Asking a “what if” question invites the audience to follow your thought process.
   “What if we were all blunt? How different would our everyday lives be? What would happen if we said what was on our minds, all day every day?”

3. “Imagine” Scenario
   A similar method, but more relevant for sensational examples.  It puts your audience members directly into the presentation by allowing each member to visualize an extraordinary scenario.
   “Imagine jumping out of a skydiving plane and discovering your parachute doesn’t work. What memories would flash before you? Now imagine the parachute opened. How differently would you act when you landed?”

4. Question
   Ask a rhetorical or literal question. When someone is posed with a question, whether an answer is called for or not, that person intuitively answers.
   “Who wouldn’t want to live on an exotic island?”

5. Silence
   A pause, whether two seconds or 10 seconds, allows your audience to sit and quiet down.  Most audiences expect a speaker to begin immediately. An extra pause brings all the attention right where you should want it – on you.

6. Statistic
   Use a surprising, powerful, personalized statistic that will resonate with the audience to get your message across right away. It has the potential to trigger the audiences’ emotional appeal.
   “Look to your left. Now look to your right.  One of your seatmates will  ___________.”
   “In this room, over 90 percent of us are going to _________.”

7. Powerful Statement/Phrase
   A statement or phrase can catch the audience’s attention by keeping them guessing as to what you’re about to say next. Implementing the silence technique afterwards also adds to the effect.
   “We can not win.  We can’t win…”
   (Pause)
   “… That’s what every newspaper in the country is saying.”

Questions:

by UKBA UNP