Authority Communication Services
Have a speaking engagement – short talk? presentation? even a job interview? Starting out is always an opportunity to immediately draw your audience in.
Not many do it well. Even TEDx speakers.
This one does it well. Notice the first 40 seconds. She starts with a question. She identifies with her audience. She gives specific relateable examples. She sets up the central question. Great job.
👉 A SHOCKING STORY. No, I don’t have one for you, but I do recommend it. For what? As a way to start your next talk.
I have a short talk tonight on the topic of controlling one’s temper. I’m starting with a story. Actually, I’m starting with the most shocking part of the story. Here it is: “I ran home, took an axe, and began to smash the windows of my house”. (not my story, someone elses!)
Instead of saying, “can everyone hear me?” or “my name is”, or “um, uh, well, thank you for listening to me”. Rather, I’ll start with the drama, intrigue and desire to hear more of that line.
How could you do the same in your next talk?
➤ Is it a business presentation? Can you use a shocking story of a competitor who’s gone out of business? Or a story of a failed initiative? Or of a shockingly successful project? Or a shocking statistic. Can you use these as warnings or wake up calls?
➤ In a job interview? When asked, “So, tell us about yourself?” can you start by saying something unexpected? Like this perhaps: “In my last job, I took an axe to supply chain costs. During my first 3 months we negotiated better terms, and saved 11% annually.”
Getting off to an attention getting start is always a great idea. In trying to help my clients give better talks, this is one easy way.
How to end a talk or presentation so that people remember – try this, say:
“So… what’s the lesson?”
In a talk, saying that is like putting up a flag or snapping your fingers. It commands attention. It says: “okay, here are the highlights, here’s what to remember.”
Then you go on to share the 3 key points you shared. And you share what you want your audience to do with that info.
Public speaking idea: grab attention 💥 in your next talk / speech / presentation❗️ How? Try a question. Like this, perhaps:
➤ “How did XYZ (Pty) Ltd go from R3m in losses through chaos and waste… to a R500k profit in 1 year? And doing so by only spending R50k and by cutting no jobs?”
Pretty intriguing, right? So use questions to grab attention. BUT, only use a question that is intriguing to who your audience is. What would interest THEM? 🎯
When giving a talk, speech or presentation (#publicspeaking ), too many start with…
“um… can you hear me at the back there?”
or on Zoom…
“hi, can everyone hear me?”
Dunno. It’s weak. Fact is, they probably can hear you. Rather start with something more like this:
“In the next 5 minutes, you’re going to discover…”
More compelling, right?
How to end a talk or presentation so that people remember: try this:
“So… what’s the lesson?”
In a talk, saying that is like putting up a flag or snapping your fingers. It commands attention. It says:
“okay, here are the highlights, here’s what to remember.”
Then you go on to share the 3 key points you shared. And you share what you want your audience to do with that info.
Public speaking idea: grab attention 💥 in your next talk / speech / presentation❗️ How? Try a question. Like this, perhaps: ➤ “How did XYZ (Pty) Ltd go from R3m in losses through chaos and waste… to a R500k profit in 1 year? And doing so by only spending R50k and by cutting no jobs?”
Pretty intriguing, right? So use questions to grab attention. BUT, only use a question that is intriguing to who your audience is. What would interest THEM? 🎯