According to J.F Kennedy, “Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary”. Inasmuch as public speaking
is an art there are ways and methods to it that can spell the difference between a great performer and an average one. When it comes to making a presentation, the truth of the matter is that your audience does not necessary have to wait till the beginning of your speech before they decide whether or not to listen to you. Anyway there are some time-tested methods that you can employ to make your audience captivated right from the beginning of your presentation and some of them are highlighted below.
is an art there are ways and methods to it that can spell the difference between a great performer and an average one. When it comes to making a presentation, the truth of the matter is that your audience does not necessary have to wait till the beginning of your speech before they decide whether or not to listen to you. Anyway there are some time-tested methods that you can employ to make your audience captivated right from the beginning of your presentation and some of them are highlighted below. Question - You can start your speech with a question. This is one method that never seems to fail and you are sure of grabbing their attention with a question especially if is related to the subject matter of the presentation. Starting your speech with a question helps to engage your audience mentally as they will seek to find answers to the question you asked even if you do not specifically request a response from them.
Quotation - A quotation
from a famous personality or authority on a subject matter is a good way to start your speech especially if the quotation is related to the contents of your speech. For example when giving a speech on leadership you may consider an apt quote from a famed leadership expert.
from a famous personality or authority on a subject matter is a good way to start your speech especially if the quotation is related to the contents of your speech. For example when giving a speech on leadership you may consider an apt quote from a famed leadership expert.Witty Saying -A witty saying
at the beginning of your presentation might be the way to go if you need to do some ice breaking. Sometimes some humorous remark might just be all you need to get your audience to connect with you and listen attentively to what you have to say. The kind of atmosphere in the hall might determine to a large extent if this is what you need to start your presentation.
at the beginning of your presentation might be the way to go if you need to do some ice breaking. Sometimes some humorous remark might just be all you need to get your audience to connect with you and listen attentively to what you have to say. The kind of atmosphere in the hall might determine to a large extent if this is what you need to start your presentation. Statistics - This kind of approach is most beneficial if you are supposed to give an informational speech. This could also apply for a persuasive speech depending on what the objective of the speech is but in all, using statistics is an unbeatable way to start a speech especially if they could be used to elicit an emotional response from your audience.
Personal Experience - Sometimes it is best to reveal the human angle to your presentations as your audience might just need this to bond with you. Personal stories are a winner every day as someone in the audience might just be able to identify with your experiences.
Remember you are not responsible for the state in which you meet your audience but you are solely responsible for the way in which you leave them. If you can grab the attention of your audience right from the start and keep them glued to your presentation literally then you are well on your way to receiving your best feedback yet.
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