Bold Introduction
Body and Discussion
For all entrepreneurs, this portion is for you. To gratify your needs and to enlighten you on how to start a business presentation. Here are the basics.
Always start with a concrete plan to strengthen the body of your presentation. With that, your listeners can’t easily stab your presentation.
If you are discussing in a formal setting, pick a deck with gray colors, choose dominant colors, and then combine.
To balance the whole presentation, put some icebreakers and funny idioms about your topic. Make sure it is sensible.
It helps your audience to get intact through the presentation. Try to use signal transitions, such as words or phrases that would give interconnections.
Of course, images and charts are vital. Make sure to use HD photos and reliable maps from data websites.
After the presentation, evaluate it by asking your listeners if they have any questions.
Questions like these must be considered and answered in your presentation.
Watch this live Speech <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:271">A form of communication involving spoken language, it is used to express ideas, share information, tell stories, persuade, or entertain. Public speaking is a powerful tool used in diverse contexts, ranging from casual conversations to formal presentations.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:27"><strong>Components of a Speech:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-10:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:73"><strong>Content:</strong> The information, message, or story conveyed through words.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:106"><strong>Delivery:</strong> The vocal and physical presentation, including clarity, volume, gestures, and eye contact.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-10:0"><strong>Structure:</strong> The organization of the content, typically following an introduction, body, and conclusion.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="11:1-11:21"><strong>Speech in Action:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="13:1-17:0"> <li data-sourcepos="13:1-13:88"><strong>Informing:</strong> Sharing knowledge and facts, educating an audience on a specific topic.</li> <li data-sourcepos="14:1-14:119"><strong>Persuading:</strong> Advocating for a particular viewpoint, using arguments and evidence to influence thoughts or actions.</li> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:93"><strong>Motivating:</strong> Inspiring and energizing an audience, fostering action and positive change.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-17:0"><strong>Entertaining:</strong> Engaging and delighting an audience through humor, storytelling, or creative language.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="18:1-18:32"><strong>Public Speaking and Anxiety:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="20:1-20:227">Many people experience <strong>public speaking anxiety</strong>, a fear of speaking in front of an audience. While it's common, effective preparation, practice, and breathing techniques can significantly reduce anxiety and improve delivery.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="22:1-22:32"><strong>Different Types of Speeches:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="24:1-28:0"> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:81"><strong>Informative speech:</strong> Focuses on conveying information clearly and concisely.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-25:102"><strong>Persuasive speech:</strong> Aims to convince the audience to adopt a particular viewpoint or take action.</li> <li data-sourcepos="26:1-26:99"><strong>Motivational speech:</strong> Inspires and energizes the audience, building enthusiasm and commitment.</li> <li data-sourcepos="27:1-28:0"><strong>Entertaining speech:</strong> Aim to amuse and delight the audience, often using humor, storytelling, or anecdotes.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="29:1-29:33"><strong>Crafting a Compelling Speech:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="31:1-35:0"> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:106"><strong>Know your audience:</strong> Tailor your content and delivery to their interests, needs, and prior knowledge.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:107"><strong>Have a clear message:</strong> Identify the main point you want to convey and structure your speech around it.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:111"><strong>Engage your audience:</strong> Use varied vocal techniques, storytelling, and visual aids to keep them interested.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-35:0"><strong>Practice, practice, practice:</strong> Rehearse your speech out loud to refine your delivery and build confidence.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="36:1-36:13"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="38:1-38:281">Speech is a powerful tool for communication, connection, and influence. By understanding its elements, addressing potential anxieties, and tailoring your delivery to different contexts, you can harness the power of speech to achieve your intended goals and captivate your audience.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/speech/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">speech or business seminar to get different hooks and other strategies to impress your listeners with your business presentation:
As your supervisor and other executives watch you presenting, stand tall and present like a boss through these points.
It organizes the presentation and connects the main points to sub-points. With that, you can have minimal effort but impactful results.
Try to begin asking the “why’s,” furthermore, enlighten them of “hows.” How to conduct, how to execute, and how to surpass their limits.
Stop introducing your presentation with your name. Always start to implore your audience with no cliché intro.
You can be ideological, symbolic, and rhetorical, and these things are not yet easy to comprehend without visuals. That’s why it is essential to develop and expand your data to make it understandable.
Suppose you want to have a good impression when presenting a business proposal to your bosses and other hotshots. Watch this video on striking tips and techniques for a presentation:
Case study presentations are more technical, unlike the other displays. It should be specific, tangible, credible, and substantial.
Also, here are the vital points to follow.
Facing new students is challenging, right? If you want to get a good impression from your class in different situations, take a look at these tips.
Tell them briefly who you are and why you are there in front of them while showing the right conduct and manners.
The material or your material must be the center of any presentation. Discuss its factuality and how tangible it is. Along with these, tell stories that may catch their interest and attention throughout the presentation.
End it with a bang! Make them think and stare at you. You can also give them riddles and some metaphorical set of words as an ending remark .
Indeed, you will gain their participation, plus you are helping your listeners to think critically.
Become a pro presenter. Download Orai and start practicing
To give more emphasis on how to start a business presentation and to help young entrepreneurs. I’ll share with you this detailed outline. I hope you tuck this with you.
Always set the stage with objectives. Since you are presenting to get clients and investment, it would help if you cleared how long it takes your business proposal.
Never underestimate the power of storytelling. Initiate your presentation with real-life stories.
Stating provoking questions can grab attention, positive or negative, is a good result. It helps you to get your listener’s ears and eyes.
This recommendation is similar to a word game, the “4-pics, One Word,” demonstrating the idea or topic with photos will be more immersing.
Visuals are one of the key points to expand a presentation. They are depicting patterns, diagrams, and trends. Lend quick analysis and predictions.
By using graphics, you can easily sustain the interest of your listeners and attract more viewers.
Master your presentation and fill loops. And on your topic. Study the weak points and establish more of the strengths of the presentation.
With that, you can derive the information smoothly. Take note of this. It is also vital on how to start a Board Meeting <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:200">A formal gathering of a company's board of directors, where they discuss strategic matters, review financial performance, make key decisions, and oversee the organization's governance.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:21"><strong>Key Participants:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-11:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:102"><strong>Board members:</strong> Elected or appointed individuals responsible for guiding the company's direction.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:94"><strong>Executives:</strong> Company leaders like the CEO, CFO, and COO, who provide updates and reports.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:88"><strong>Secretary:</strong> Oversees logistics, records minutes, and ensures compliance with rules.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-11:0"><strong>Legal counsel:</strong> Offers guidance on legal matters and ensures adherence to regulations.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="12:1-12:12"><strong>Purpose:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="14:1-19:0"> <li data-sourcepos="14:1-14:78"><strong>Strategic planning:</strong> Setting the company's long-term direction and goals.</li> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:81"><strong>Financial oversight:</strong> Reviewing financial reports, budgets, and investments.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:86"><strong>Risk management:</strong> Identifying and mitigating potential risks to the organization.</li> <li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:76"><strong>Executive evaluation:</strong> Assessing the performance of company leadership.</li> <li data-sourcepos="18:1-19:0"><strong>Decision-making:</strong> Approving key initiatives, investments, and policies.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="20:1-20:11"><strong>Format:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="22:1-25:0"> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:43">Varies based on company size and culture.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:91">Typically includes presentations, discussions, voting on proposals, and Q&A sessions.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-25:0">It may be formal with strict agendas or more informal with brainstorming sessions.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="26:1-26:26"><strong>Public Speaking Roles:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="28:1-30:0"> <li data-sourcepos="28:1-28:125"><strong>CEO and other executives:</strong> Act as a <strong>public speaker</strong>, presenting reports, answering questions, and defending proposals.</li> <li data-sourcepos="29:1-30:0"><strong>Board members:</strong> May participate in discussions, ask questions, and occasionally propose or speak in favor of motions.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="31:1-31:39"><strong>Addressing Public Speaking Anxiety:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="33:1-36:0"> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:87">Many executives and board members face <strong>public speaking anxiety</strong> in these meetings.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-34:93">Preparation, practicing presentations, and visualization techniques can help manage nerves.</li> <li data-sourcepos="35:1-36:0">Some companies hire <strong>public speaking coaches</strong> to offer personalized guidance and improve communication skills.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="37:1-37:248"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="37:1-37:248">Effective board meetings require clear communication, active participation, and informed decision-making. By understanding the format, roles, and potential challenges, participants can contribute to a productive and impactful session.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/board-meeting/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">board meeting presentation.
Put the top 10 successful corporations, traders, companies, and other information that may help you present your goal. Flash the motto of some famous entrepreneurs. Analyze or contradict it to gain more attention.
Try to spiel some business jokes as an icebreaker. Any possible facts about business that you can use — catch it!
Play videos like a Public Service Announcement (PSA), but make sure it is connected to your topic.
Learn how to start a business presentation that has movement and action for society. With that, your listeners may think your presentation is worth investing in.
Stay calm and don’t even think about drawbacks or shortcomings, especially the night before the presentation.
Make sure to pamper your body. Create also a plan B for unexpected circumstances.
In your run-through, always set a timer. It gives you a heads up if you may look rushing or too slow in explaining each slide.
Being not responsible for other people’s time is a turn-off, especially in business, where time is essential in the industry.
To present other samples wisely. Let me share some videos to rock and how to start a presentation:
Successful presentations like “How Google Works” and “Start with Why” prove the power of Clarity <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:269">In <strong>public speaking</strong>, <strong>clarity</strong> refers to the quality of your message being readily understood and interpreted by your audience. It encompasses both the content and delivery of your speech, ensuring your message resonates and leaves a lasting impact.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:16"><strong>Key Aspects:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-13:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:133"><strong>Conciseness:</strong> Avoid unnecessary details, digressions, or excessive complexity. Focus on delivering the core message efficiently.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:149"><strong>Simple language:</strong> Choose words and phrases your audience understands readily, avoiding jargon or technical terms unless you define them clearly.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:145"><strong>Logical structure:</strong> Organize your thoughts and ideas logically, using transitions and signposts to guide your audience through your message.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:136"><strong>Effective visuals:</strong> If using visuals, ensure they are clear, contribute to your message, and don't distract from your spoken words.</li> <li data-sourcepos="11:1-11:144"><strong>Confident delivery:</strong> Speak clearly and articulately, avoiding mumbling or rushing your words. Maintain good eye contact with your audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="12:1-13:0"><strong>Active voice:</strong> Emphasize active voice for better flow and avoid passive constructions that can be less engaging.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="14:1-14:24"><strong>Benefits of Clarity:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="16:1-20:0"> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:123"><strong>Enhanced audience engagement:</strong> A clear message keeps your audience interested and helps them grasp your points easily.</li> <li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:123"><strong>Increased credibility:</strong> Clear communication projects professionalism and expertise, building trust with your audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="18:1-18:111"><strong>Improved persuasiveness:</strong> A well-understood message is more likely to resonate and win over your audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="19:1-20:0"><strong>Reduced confusion:</strong> Eliminating ambiguity minimizes misinterpretations and ensures your message arrives as intended.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="21:1-21:15"><strong>Challenges:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="23:1-27:0"> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:129"><strong>Condensing complex information:</strong> Simplifying complex topics without sacrificing crucial details requires skill and practice.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:128"><strong>Understanding your audience:</strong> Tailoring your language and structure to resonate with a diverse audience can be challenging.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-25:85"><strong>Managing nerves:</strong> Nerves can impact your delivery, making it unclear or rushed.</li> <li data-sourcepos="26:1-27:0"><strong>Avoiding jargon:</strong> Breaking technical habits and simplifying language requires constant awareness.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="28:1-28:22"><strong>Improving Clarity:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="30:1-35:0"> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:117"><strong>Practice and rehearse:</strong> The more you rehearse your speech, the more natural and clear your delivery will become.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:107"><strong>Seek feedback:</strong> Share your draft speech with others and ask for feedback on clarity and comprehension.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:161"><strong>Consider a public speaking coach:</strong> A coach can provide personalized guidance on structuring your message, simplifying language, and improving your delivery.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:128"><strong>Join a public speaking group:</strong> Practicing in a supportive environment can help you gain confidence and refine your clarity.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-35:0"><strong>Listen to effective speakers:</strong> Analyze how clear and impactful others achieve communication.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="36:1-36:250"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="36:1-36:250"><strong>Clarity</strong> is a cornerstone of impactful <strong>public speaking</strong>. By honing your message, focusing on delivery, and actively seeking feedback, you can ensure your audience receives your message clearly and leaves a lasting impression.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/clarity/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">clarity and simplicity. Both Schmidt and Sinek captivate audiences with straightforward messages enhanced by visuals (slides or whiteboard) that support, not overpower, their narratives. The lesson: ditch complexity, focus on your core message, and deliver it with a conviction for maximum impact.
Effective group presentations require thorough rehearsal, clean transitions, and speaker handovers. Recap your section, introduce the next speaker, and gesture towards them to link sections and keep the audience engaged.
Ditch the podium! Move around the stage to grab attention, connect with listeners, and emphasize key points. Strategic shifts in location signal transitions, while your energy and passion come alive through purposeful movement. Make your presentation dynamic and memorable – get moving!
To master the “remaining method,” Briefly introduce the controversy, dive deep with your side (logos & pathos!), acknowledge and dissect opposing solutions, and then unveil your “remaining solution” as the superior answer. Wrap up with a strong summary and a call to action. Guide your audience, earn trust, and win them over!
Ditch the dry facts! Captivate your audience with stories. Use classic structures like the hero’s journey or jump into the action with “in media res.” Craft your narrative with a clear plot, relatable characters, and a consistent tone. Tie it all back to your key points for maximum impact. Storytelling makes presentations memorable, engaging, and impactful – go forth and win hearts (and minds)!
Hook them, hit them, fix them! Problem-solution presentations start with a clear pain point, delve deep with causes and impacts (think logic and emotions!), and then unveil your solution as the hero and its amazing benefits. Finish with a call to action – tell them what to do next! Simple, powerful, persuasive.
Forget the slides; show and tell! Demo presentations explain the “what” and “why” of your product, then dazzle with a live showcase. Highlight problem-solving and potential uses to keep them hooked. Leave them curious and wanting more with a glimpse of what your product can truly do. It’s all about interactive understanding and engagement!
Q&A isn’t just an add-on! It’s a chance to clear confusion, recap key points, and answer burning questions. Wrapping up the discussion, offering deeper dives, and inviting audience participation – it’s the perfect way to seal the deal and connect with your listeners.
Ditch the tangents and deliver on your promises! The main body is where you unpack your points. Organize it clearly, hit each topic with evidence and examples, summarize as you go, and link your ideas. Keep it focused, relevant, and audience-friendly – take notes, stay on track, and make your impact!
Hook, roadmap, and expectations – that’s your intro! Briefly introduce the topic, explain why it matters and what you’ll cover, and tell the audience how long they’re in for and if they can participate. Set the stage, guide them through, and make them feel comfortable – then dive in!
Get organized, and get remembered! Structure keeps your audience engaged and learning while boosting your Confidence <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:305">In the context of <strong>public speaking</strong>, <strong>confidence</strong> refers to the belief in one's ability to communicate effectively and deliver one's message with clarity and impact. It encompasses various elements, including self-belief, composure, and the ability to manage one's <strong>fear of public speaking</strong>.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:16"><strong>Key Aspects:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-12:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:108"><strong>Self-belief:</strong> A strong conviction in your knowledge, skills, and ability to connect with your audience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:95"><strong>Composure:</strong> Maintaining calmness and poise under pressure, even in challenging situations.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:100"><strong>Assertiveness:</strong> Expressing your ideas clearly and concisely, avoiding hesitation or self-doubt.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:104"><strong>Positive self-talk:</strong> Countering negative thoughts with affirmations and focusing on your strengths.</li> <li data-sourcepos="11:1-12:0"><strong>Strong body language:</strong> Using gestures, posture, and eye contact that project confidence and professionalism.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="13:1-13:27"><strong>Benefits of Confidence:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="15:1-19:0"> <li data-sourcepos="15:1-15:99"><strong>Reduced anxiety:</strong> Feeling confident helps manage <strong>fear of public speaking</strong> and stage fright.</li> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:133"><strong>Engaging delivery:</strong> Confident speakers project their voices, hold eye contact, and connect with their audience more effectively.</li> <li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:137"><strong>Increased persuasiveness:</strong> A confident presentation inspires belief and motivates your audience to listen and remember your message.</li> <li data-sourcepos="18:1-19:0"><strong>Greater impact:</strong> Confidently delivered speeches leave a lasting impression and achieve desired outcomes.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="20:1-20:15"><strong>Challenges:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="22:1-26:0"> <li data-sourcepos="22:1-22:112">Overcoming <strong>fear of public speaking</strong>: Many people experience some level of anxiety when speaking publicly.</li> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:101"><strong>Imposter syndrome:</strong> Doubting your abilities and qualifications, even when objectively qualified.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:92"><strong>Negative self-talk:</strong> Internalized criticism and limiting beliefs can hamper confidence.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-26:0"><strong>Past negative experiences:</strong> Unsuccessful presentations or negative feedback can erode confidence.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="27:1-27:24"><strong>Building Confidence:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="29:1-36:0"> <li data-sourcepos="29:1-29:102"><strong>Practice and preparation:</strong> Thoroughly rehearse your speech to feel comfortable with the material.</li> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:101"><strong>Visualization:</strong> Imagine yourself delivering a successful presentation with confidence and poise.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:100"><strong>Positive self-talk:</strong> Actively replace negative thoughts with affirmations about your abilities.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-32:106"><strong>Seek feedback:</strong> Ask trusted individuals for constructive criticism and use it to improve your skills.</li> <li data-sourcepos="33:1-33:157">Consider a <strong>speaking coach</strong>: Working with a coach can provide personalized guidance and support to address specific challenges and confidence barriers.</li> <li data-sourcepos="34:1-34:114"><strong>Start small:</strong> Gradually increase the size and complexity of your speaking engagements as you gain experience.</li> <li data-sourcepos="35:1-36:0"><strong>Focus on progress:</strong> Celebrate small successes and acknowledge your improvement over time.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="37:1-37:282"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="37:1-37:282"><strong>Confidence</strong> in public speaking is a journey, not a destination. By actively practicing, embracing feedback, and focusing on your strengths, you can overcome <strong>fear of public speaking</strong> and develop the <strong>confidence</strong> to deliver impactful and memorable presentations.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/confidence/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">confidence and delivery. It’s a win-win for both the speaker and the listener!
To be an effective speaker or presenter, you must master how to start a presentation. Learn the basics and dynamics.
Earn persuasive skills and grasp how to start a PowerPoint presentation with the steps and tips above to disseminate the information in a free-lingual way effectively.
I hope you find this helpful; you are free to use these tips for any goals.
You can try Orai , an AI-powered Speech Coach <p data-sourcepos="3:1-3:411">A <strong>speech coach</strong> is a trained professional who provides personalized guidance and support to individuals seeking to improve their <strong>public speaking</strong> skills. Whether you aim to <strong>master public speaking</strong> for professional presentations, overcome stage fright, or simply hone your everyday communication, a <strong>speech coach</strong> can tailor their expertise to meet your needs and goals.</p><br /><h2 data-sourcepos="5:1-5:32"><strong>What Does a Speech Coach Do?</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="7:1-13:0"> <li data-sourcepos="7:1-7:124"><strong>Conduct assessments:</strong> Analyze your strengths, weaknesses, and communication style through evaluations and observations.</li> <li data-sourcepos="8:1-8:149"><strong>Develop personalized plans:</strong> Create a customized roadmap with exercises, techniques, and feedback to address your specific areas of improvement.</li> <li data-sourcepos="9:1-9:167"><strong>Offer expert instruction:</strong> We will guide you through various aspects of public speaking, including vocal control, body language, content delivery, and overcoming anxiety.</li> <li data-sourcepos="10:1-10:168"><strong>Provide practice opportunities:</strong> Facilitate mock presentations, simulations, and role-playing scenarios to refine your skills in a safe and supportive environment.</li> <li data-sourcepos="11:1-11:114"><strong>Offer constructive feedback:</strong> Identify areas for improvement and suggest strategies for achieving your goals.</li> <li data-sourcepos="12:1-13:0"><strong>Boost confidence and motivation:</strong> Encourage and support you throughout your journey, empowering you to become a confident and impactful communicator.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="14:1-14:40"><strong>Who Can Benefit from a Speech Coach?</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="16:1-20:0"> <li data-sourcepos="16:1-16:174"><strong>Professionals:</strong> Refining public speaking skills can benefit executives, entrepreneurs, salespeople, leaders, and anyone who presents in professional settings.</li> <li data-sourcepos="17:1-17:160"><strong>Students:</strong> Teachers, public speakers, debaters, and students wanting to excel in presentations or classroom settings can gain valuable skills with a coach.</li> <li data-sourcepos="18:1-18:176"><strong>Individuals who fear public speaking:</strong> Coaching can help those who experience anxiety or nervousness when speaking in public develop strategies and gain confidence.</li> <li data-sourcepos="19:1-20:0"><strong>Anyone seeking to improve communication:</strong> A coach can provide guidance to individuals seeking to enhance their communication skills for personal or professional development.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="21:1-21:28"><strong>Types of Speech Coaches:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="23:1-26:0"> <li data-sourcepos="23:1-23:110"><strong>Private coaches:</strong> Work one-on-one with individuals to provide highly personalized attention and feedback.</li> <li data-sourcepos="24:1-24:130"><strong>Group coaches:</strong> Offer workshops or classes in group settings, often at a lower cost but with less individualized attention.</li> <li data-sourcepos="25:1-26:0"><strong>Specialization coaches:</strong> Some coaches specialize in executive communication, storytelling, or presentation design.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="27:1-27:35"><strong>Finding the Right Speech Coach:</strong></h2> <ul data-sourcepos="29:1-33:0"> <li data-sourcepos="29:1-29:91"><strong>Identify your goals:</strong> What areas do you want to improve? What are your specific needs?</li> <li data-sourcepos="30:1-30:109"><strong>Research credentials and experience:</strong> Look for qualified coaches with relevant experience and expertise.</li> <li data-sourcepos="31:1-31:122"><strong>Consider availability and budget:</strong> Set a budget and explore options that fit your schedule and financial constraints.</li> <li data-sourcepos="32:1-33:0"><strong>Schedule consultations:</strong> Talk to potential coaches to assess their personality, approach, and compatibility with your needs.</li> </ul> <h2 data-sourcepos="34:1-34:418"><strong>Remember:</strong></h2> <p data-sourcepos="34:1-34:418">Investing in a <strong>speech coach</strong> can be a transformative experience, enhancing your communication skills, boosting your confidence, and empowering you to achieve your communication goals. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your journey, consider exploring the potential of working with a <strong>speech coach</strong> to unlock your full potential as a communicator and <strong>master public speaking</strong>.</p> " href="https://orai.com/glossary/speech-coach/" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" tabindex="0" role="link">speech coach that perfectly suits your budget! They provide instant feedback on you to help with your public speaking needs. Start your free trial with Orai today!
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Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Start a Presentation: 5 Strong Opening Slides and 12 Tricks To Test
Knowing how to start a presentation is crucial: if you fail to capture the audience’s attention right off the bat, your entire presentation will flop. Few listeners will stick with you to the end and retain what you have told.
That is mildly unpleasant when you are doing an in-house presentation in front of your colleagues. But it can become utterly embarrassing when you present in front of larger audiences (e.g., at a conference) or worse – delivering a sales presentation to prospective customers.
Here is how most of us begin a presentation: give an awkward greeting, thank everyone for coming, clear our throats, tap the mic, and humbly start to mumble about our subject. The problem with such an opening performance? It effectively kills and buries even the best messages.
Table of Contents
Let’s say you have all of your presentation slides polished up (in case you don’t, check our quick & effective PowerPoint presentation design tips first). Your presentation has a clear storyline and agenda. Main ideas are broken into bite-sized statements for your slides and complemented with visuals. All you have left is to figure out how you begin presenting.
The best way is to appeal to and invoke certain emotions in your audience – curiosity, surprise, fear, or good old amusements. Also, it is recommended to present your main idea in the first 30 seconds of the presentation. And here’s how it’s done.
When you don’t feel like reinventing the wheel, use a classic trick from the book – start with a quick personal introduction. Don’t want to sound as boring as everyone else with your humble “Hi, I’m John, the head of the Customer Support Department”? Great, because we are all about promoting effective presentation techniques (hint: using a dull welcome slide isn’t one of them).
Here’s how to introduce yourself in a presentation the right way.
To ace a presentation, you need to connect with your audience. The best way to do so is by throwing in a simple story showing who you are, where you came from, and why your words matter.
The human brain loves a good story, and we are more inclined to listen and retain the information told this way. Besides, when we can relate to the narrator (or story hero), we create an emotional bond with them, and, again – become more receptive, and less skeptical of the information that is about to be delivered.
So here are your presentation introduction lines:
My name is Joanne, and I’m the Head of Marketing at company XYZ. Five years ago I was working as a waitress, earning $10/hour and collecting rejection letters from editors. About ten letters every week landed to my mailbox. You see, I love words, but decent publisher thought mine were good enough. Except for the restaurant owner. I was very good at up-selling and recommending dishes to the customers. My boss even bumped my salary to $15/hour as a token of appreciation for my skill. And this made me realize: I should ditch creative writing and focus on copywriting instead. After loads of trial and error back in the day, I learned how to write persuasive copy. I was no longer getting rejection letters. I was receiving thousands of emails saying that someone just bought another product from our company. My sales copy pages generated over $1,500,000 in revenue over last year. And I want to teach you how to do the same”
This one’s simple and effective as well. Introduce yourself by sharing an obvious stereotype about your profession. This cue will help you connect with your audience better, make them chuckle a bit, and set a lighter mood for the speech to follow.
Here’s how you can frame your intro:
“My name is ___, and I am a lead software engineer at our platform [Your Job Title]. And yes, I’m that nerdy type who never liked presenting in front of large groups of people. I would rather stay in my den and write code all day long. [Stereotype]. But hey, since I have mustered enough courage…let’s talk today about the new product features my team is about to release….”
After sharing a quick, self-deprecating line, you transition back to your topic, reinforcing the audience’s attention . Both of these formulas help you set the “mood” for your further presentation, so try using them interchangeably on different occasions.
Wow your audience straight off the bat by sharing something they would not expect to hear. This may be one of the popular first-time presentation tips but don’t rush to discard it.
Because here’s the thing: psychologically , we are more inclined to pay attention whenever presented with an unexpected cue. When we know what will happen next – someone flips the switch, and lights turn on – we don’t really pay much attention to that action.
But when we don’t know what to expect next – e.g., someone flips the switch and a bell starts ringing – we are likely to pay more attention to what will happen next. The same goes for words: everyone loves stories with unpredictable twists. So begin your presentation with a PowerPoint introduction slide or a line that no one expects to hear.
Here are a few hook examples you can swipe:
It creates an instant jolt and makes the audience intrigued to hear what you are about to say next – pedal back, continue with the provocation, or do something else that they will not expect.
“You will live seven and a half minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.”
That’s how Jane McGonigal opens one of her TED talks . Shocking and intriguing, right?
Seasoned presenters know that one good practice is to ask a question at the beginning of a presentation to increase audience engagement. Rhetorical questions have a great persuasive effect – instead of answering aloud, your audience will silently start musing over it during your presentation. They aroused curiosity and motivated the audience to remain attentive, as they did want to learn your answer to this question.
To reinforce your message throughout the presentation, you can further use the Rhetorical Triangle Concept – a rhetorical approach to building a persuasive argument based on Aristotle’s teachings.
A clean slide with some mind-boggling stat makes an undeniably strong impact. Here are a few opening statement examples you can use along with your slide:
Compelling visuals are the ABC of presentation design – use them strategically to make an interesting statement at the beginning and throughout your presentation. Your first presentation slide can be text-free. Communicate your idea with a visual instead – a photo, a chart, an infographic, or another graphics asset.
Visuals are a powerful medium for communication as our brain needs just 13 milliseconds to render what our eyes see, whereas text comprehension requires more cognitive effort.
Relevant images add additional aesthetic appeal to your deck, bolster the audience’s imagination, and make your key message instantly more memorable.
Here’s an intro slide example. You want to make a strong presentation introduction to global pollution. Use the following slide to reinforce the statement you share:
“Seven of nine snow samples taken on land in Antarctica found chemicals known as PFAs, which are used in industrial products and can harm wildlife”
Source: Reuters
The “what if” combo carries massive power. It gives your audience a sense of what will happen if they choose to listen to you and follow your advice. Here are a few presentations with starting sentences + slides to illustrate this option:
Alternatively, you can work your way to this point using different questions:
“Imagine,” “Picture This,” and “Think of” are better word choices for when you plan to begin your presentation with a quick story.
Our brain loves interacting with stories. In fact, a captivating story makes us more collaborative. Scientists have discovered that stories with tension during narrative make us:
That’s why good action movies often feel empowering and make us want to change the world too. By incorporating a good, persuasive story with a relatable hero, you can also create that “bond” with your audience and make them more perceptive to your pitch – donate money to support the cause; explore the solution you are offering, and so on.
The curiosity gap is another psychological trick frequently used by marketers to solicit more clicks, reads, and other interactions from the audience. In essence, it’s the trick you see behind all those clickbait, Buzzfeed-style headlines:
Not everyone is a fan of such titles. But the truth is – they do the trick and instantly capture attention. The curiosity gap sparks our desire to dig deeper into the matter. We are explicitly told that we don’t know something important, and now we crave to change that. Curiosity is an incredibly strong driving force for action – think Eve, think Pandora’s Box.
So consider incorporating these attention grabbers for your presentation speech to shock the audience. You can open with one, or strategically weave them in the middle of your presentation when you feel like your audience is getting tired and may lose their focus.
Here’s how you can use the curiosity gap during your presentation:
What would you do if you attended a presentation in which the speaker remains silent for 30 seconds after the presentation starts? Just the presenter, standing in front of the audience, in absolute silence.
Most likely, your mind starts racing with thoughts, expecting something of vital importance to be disclosed. The surprise factor with this effect is for us to acknowledge things we tend to take for granted.
It is a powerful resource to introduce a product or to start an inspirational presentation if followed by a fact.
In some niches, using statistics as the icebreaker is the best method to retain the audience’s interest.
Say your presentation is about climate change. Why not introduce a not-so-common fact, such as the amount of wool that can be produced out of oceanic plastic waste per month? And since you have to base your introduction on facts, research manufacturers that work with Oceanic fabrics from recycled plastic bottles .
Using facts helps to build a better narrative, and also gives leverage to your presentation as you are speaking not just from emotional elements but from actually recorded data backed up by research.
Related to our previous point, we make quite an interesting speech if we contrast a fact vs. a myth in a non-conventional way: using a myth to question a well-accepted fact, then introducing a new point of view or theory, backed on sufficient research, that proves the fact wrong. This technique, when used in niches related to academia, can significantly increase the audience’s interest, and it will highlight your presentation as innovative.
Another approach is to debunk a myth using a fact. This contrast immediately piques interest because it promises to overturn commonly held beliefs, and people naturally find it compelling when their existing knowledge is put to the test. An example of this is when a nutritionist wishes to speak about how to lose weight via diet, and debunks the myth that all carbohydrates are “bad”.
Think about a presentation that discusses the benefits of using alternative therapies to treat anxiety, reducing the need to rely on benzodiazepines. Rather than going technical and introducing facts, the presenter can play a soothing tune and invite the audience to follow an exercise that teaches how to practice breathing meditation . Perhaps, in less than 2 minutes, the presenter can accomplish the goal of exposing the advantages of this practice with a live case study fueled by the proper ambiance (due to the music played in the beginning).
Let’s picture ourselves in an in-company presentation about workspace wellness. For this company, the sedentary lifestyle their employees engage in is a worrying factor, so they brought a personal trainer to coach the employees on a basic flexibility routine they can practice in 5 minutes after a couple of hours of desk time.
“Before we dive in, let’s all stand up for a moment.” This simple instruction breaks the ice and creates a moment of shared experience among the attendees. You could then lead them through a brief stretching routine, saying something like, “Let’s reach up high, and stretch out those muscles that get so tight sitting at our desks all day.” With this action, you’re not just talking about workplace wellness, you’re giving them a direct, personal experience of it.
This approach has several advantages. Firstly, it infuses energy into the room and increases the oxygen flow to the brain, potentially boosting the audience’s concentration and retention. Secondly, it sets a precedent that your presentation is not going to be a standard lecture, but rather an interactive experience. This can raise the level of anticipation for what’s to come, and make the presentation a topic for future conversation between coworkers.
How many times have you heard the phrase: “Before we begin, I’d like to dedicate a few words to …” . The speaker could be referring to a mentor figure, a prominent person in the local community, or a group of people who performed charity work or obtained a prize for their hard work and dedication. Whichever is the reason behind this, acknowledgment is a powerful force to use as a method of starting a presentation. It builds a connection with the audience, it speaks about your values and who you admire, and it can transmit what the conversation is going to be about based on who the acknowledged person is.
Now you know how to start your presentation – you have the opening lines, you have the slides to use, and you can browse even more attractive PowerPoint presentation slides and templates on our website. Also, we recommend you visit our article on how to make a PowerPoint Presentation to get familiarized with the best tactics for professional presentation design and delivery, or if you need to save time preparing your presentation, we highly recommend you check our AI Presentation Maker to pair these concepts with cutting-edge slide design powered by AI.
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Curiosity Gap, Opening, Public Speaking, Rhetorical Triangle, Speech, What If Filed under Presentation Ideas
Filed under Presentation Ideas • August 22nd, 2024
The script of a speech is a vital aspect for a presentation’s success. Join us here to learn the process of writing a presentation script.
Filed under Presentation Ideas • September 5th, 2023
Business professionals, students, and others can all benefit from learning the principles of persuasive speech. After all, the art of persuasion can be applied to any area of life where getting people to agree with you is important. In this article, we get into the basics of persuasive speaking, persuasive speech writing, and lastly persuasive speech topics.
Filed under Presentation Ideas • August 5th, 2023
Sometimes even the best presenters procrastinate their work until the very last moment. And then, suddenly, they get a flow of ideas to complete their slide deck and present like they have been preparing for it for ages. However, doing so has drawbacks, as even professional presenters cannot always elude the side effects of […]
I love to follow the ideas, it’s good for a freshman
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Blog Beginner Guides How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]
Written by: Krystle Wong Jul 20, 2023
A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .
Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.
In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!
These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters.
No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.
Click to jump ahead:
Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.
When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:
No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.
Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion:
Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!
The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.
Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.
Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.
With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.
Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message.
Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!
Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.
Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.
Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.
A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.
Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.
Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.
In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations .
Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software .
Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.
Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!
Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.
No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.
Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.
Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong.
Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.
Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.
Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.
With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.
Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.
As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!
In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively .
Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!
From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.
Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence.
Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.
A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!
Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.
Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload.
Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.
Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.
Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.
Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!
Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.
Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.
To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.
For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.
To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.
In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started.
Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs.
Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:
Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account.
Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).
Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.
Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations.
Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!
By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!
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The HOUSTON OCTOBER 7-8 PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASS IS ALMOST FULL! RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW
Of course, we’ve all been there as a speaker. First, we design a powerful presentation. Then, we nervously walk out onto a stage or into the front of the room. The audience stares with skepticism written all over their faces. This stoic crowd has no patience for speakers who waste their time. And their demeanor is showing that fact right now. In a timid voice, we start with a simple, “Good morning.” We get no response from the audience — no warm welcome at all. As a result, our nervousness increases dramatically.
The good news is that your speech doesn’t have to start this way. Your first words will create first impressions.
So, in this session, I’m going to give you the best way to start a successful presentation so you can win over the audience members. Below are a few of my favorite ways to start a speech that will help you capture the attention of your audience and get even the most stoic crowd to want more from you.
Here is the list of effective presentation openers.
(1) give a summary and conclusion at the beginning of a presentation..
As a speaker, you have a lot going against you. The biggest challenge is that most of the people who are in your audience would really rather be somewhere else. So starting with the conclusion gives them a reason to tune in and pay attention to the content.
TV shows and movies do this a lot. The first scene in Titanic is 90-year-old Rose wheeling onto the salvage ship. Immediately, she asked the Captain to see her painting. “Wasn’t I a dish?”
We all know the story of Titanic, but by starting 70 years into the future, we already know that somehow, Rose was going to survive the tragedy. We pay attention because we want to see how she did it.
You probably also recall Netflix series that show a quick introduction and then a flashback to an earlier time.
You can create the same effect in your presentation introduction by making your title a conclusion that you want the audience to draw. Then, lay out each main point that will help them come to that conclusion.
For instance, “My topic today is Five Ways to Get Your Executives to Increase Your Department Budget, and the items we will cover are…” Of course, this technique works best when your title is a result that your audience really wants.
This is an easy way to start a presentation. You can use a single PowerPoint presentation slide as a visual aid to capture the audience’s attention right away! (FYI, you can also use this technique at the end of a presentation.)
More details about this are in Start with a Great Title .
I taught a private presentation class for Mitsubishi once. And I could tell walking into the room that this was going to be a tough crowd. The culture of the predominately Japanese company is fairly quiet and conservative. Most often, when I introduce myself to class members, people are warm and friendly. Since I’m a guest in their office, most try to make me feel at home.
By the way, the Mitsubishi organizer did this here as well. However, as the participants came into the room, each walked in without saying a word. Each sat down, opened their laptops, and quietly began typing on their keyboards.
I did my best to try to get them to open up. But very few of them were laughing at my jokes or smiling at me as I asked them questions. (Tough crowd.)
So, when I started the class, I knew I needed something that would help the group relate to me. I decided to go into a fairly detailed version of an experience where I totally bombed a speech. I added a lot of self-deprecating humor to the story. Afterward, the mood in the room lightened quite a bit. It was an easy way to get the audience to feel more at ease and become more relatable to them.
Stories are easy additions to any speech. For instance, if you are giving a project report, you can start with a memorable event that occurred on the project since the last meeting. Or, if you are giving a financial report where profit is up, just give a great example of something that caused profit to increase.
By doing a little research, you can often find a good (and or startling) statistic that can capture attention quickly. You can also create a good introduction by phrasing the statistic as a provocative statement.
For instance, let’s say you are giving a financial presentation where revenue for your company was up 2.5% last quarter. You might look up the statistics for your industry as a whole in the same quarter. Then, you can start your speech with that data. “The electronics industry as a whole was up 3.4% last quarter. However, our company underperformed the industry with only a 2.5% increase in revenue.”
The easiest way to find statistics about your topic is to just do a Google search [Your Topic} followed by the word “statistic”.
I’ll give some examples. I just did a Google search for “Popular Ted Talks” and came up with an article about the Top 25 Most Shared Ted Talk videos . I just pasted the names of the talks into Google with the word “statistic” added and this is what I came up with.
So, it is really easy to create compelling statistics to get your audience to think differently about your topic just as you begin to speak.
You can combine the last two tips for even more impact. Place a statistic along with a story of how you found the statistic at the beginning of your presentation. This is a great way to start your presentation. “I remember watching Jerry Seinfeld do a stand-up bit. He mentioned that the fear of public speaking was the number one fear in America. Then he looked down the list and saw that the fear of death was number five. So, you are five times more likely to rather be in the casket than up giving the eulogy at a funeral.”
The key to each of these first tips is that they increase the retention of information for your audience.
For instance, using the Summary technique, you give your audience an introduction with your presentation topic and key points. Then as you go through each point, they hear each one again. Finally, you summarize the points one more time at the end of your presentation. The audience is now more likely to remember your important points. because of this subtle repetition.
A good story will also increase retention. Stories have a way of creating visual images in the mind of the audience that is more memorable than just facts alone. A startling statistic gets the audience to think, “Is that really true?” so they pay attention more.
(4) a funny or motivational quote or one-liner..
“There are two types of speakers: Those who get nervous and those who are liars.” — Mark Twain
A powerful quote is an effective way to make a positive first impression. It also adds a little humor. You can find quotes like this for your presentations as well. Just like with statistics, you can Google your topic with the word “quotes” to get ideas.
Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” But have you ever thought to realize that every single invention ever created by man was once just an idea born from someone’s need?
“In a perfect world, if your team was able to present their ideas to your customers more effectively, what would they be doing that they are not doing now?”
This technique is more challenging for a presenter. You have to be able to take whatever your audience gives you and design a killer presentation on the fly. However, if you have done good research before the meeting, you shouldn’t be surprised by the answers you get.
Keep in mind that only the best presenters use this technique. So, when you add open-ended questions to your speech, you will increase your stature as a speaker as well.
By the way, the question should be open-ended, meaning that the audience is giving you their opinions. Rhetorical questions and show of hands questions can backfire. Your audience may think you are trying to manipulate them. So, the important thing to remember is to ask a question that asks for the opinion of the audience members. That way, as they answer, everyone can be correct..
I will then follow this statement with a list of different tips that people try that don’t work really well. (Things like picturing your audience naked.)
The funny thing is that many of the people in the room will question the truthfulness of the statement the first time I say it. It is a bold claim. They don’t confront me, though. However, when I look around the room, I can see the distrust on their faces.
However, as I begin to list the crazy tips one by one, they begin to realize the truthfulness of the statement. Internally, the checklist sounds like this…
Another shocking statement I use is to foreshadow a future behavior in the speech. When I lead team activities, I often have them play a game to divide into teams. So, I might start the presentation with, “In less than 15 minutes, some of you chivalrous men who opened a door for a young lady when she came into the room will actually be chicken-winging that woman to take something from her.” Of course, when something like that actually happens, everyone erupts in laughter.
Talk radio, television news, and reality TV shows do this brilliantly.
I remember years ago watching season one of Survivor. The season winner was an eccentric guy named Richard Hatch, who was a good fisherman, so he fed the group. However, he also did things to keep the other contestants a little off their game. At the start of one of the episodes, Richard was walking along the beach buck-naked with his bottom blurred out by the producers.
I remember doing a double-take when the image came on the screen. (There are some things that you just can’t unsee.) I didn’t particularly ever want to see Hatch’s bare bum ever again. However, I had an eager want to find how the heck this happened.
Talk radio guys do this by saying, “At the bottom of the hour, we’re going to…” The technique is like a cliffhanger. Everyone wants to know how the story will end. Will Ross marry Emily, or will Rachel stop the wedding? Will Jon Snow die of his stab wounds? Ken Jennings has won 74 times in a row on Jeopardy. When will he get beaten? What is going to happen now that DEA agent Hank realizes his brother-in-law broke bad? And finally, who shot J.R.?
This is a fun technique to use when you start a presentation. And there are many different ways to do this, depending on the purpose of your presentation.
For instance, you could tell your compelling story, as I suggested earlier. However, don’t tell the ending. Stop right as you get to the climax. Then tell the ending in your conclusion. (More details about this in How to End a Speech .)
Or, the hook can be a cliffhanger or foreshadowing of something later in the presentation. “As we did this research, we uncovered a single habit that, once we change it, will generate an extra quarter of a million dollars for our company. And I will share that secret with you in my final point.”
I actually do this on my podcast as well. I might start the episode by saying something like, “In the last ten minutes of this episode, I’m going to share with you my best, overall, foolproof presentation opener.”
(Which, by the way, is right now…)
For instance, one time, just after July 4th, my kids had some leftover fireworks. I also had some decorative mailing tubes left over from a failed marketing campaign.
The next morning, I was to speak at a business breakfast. I got to the hotel meeting room before anyone else and filled a trash can with water. Then, I left the can under the presentation table at the front of the room. I stuck one of the sparklers into the top of the mailing tube and waited until my time to speak. The emcee called my name, and I waited at the back of the room. She called my name one more time, and I waited just a bit longer. When she called my name the third time, I lit the sparkler and went rushing to the front of the room.
Of course, the visual aid looked like I was holding a stick of cartoon dynamite. I pulled the trash can from under the table and threw the prop into the can where it sizzled and smoked. The whole audience was looking around like, “What the heck?” I paused and then said, “Do you want to put some sizzle into your presentations?”
Okay, it was cheesy. It was over the top. But it got the whole audience laughing. Everyone in the room remembered who I was and what I did for a living.
Whatever method that you choose to start your presentation make sure to spend time on developing your content. You don’t want to spend a ton of time creating the perfect opener and then lose the audience with a lackluster presentation afterward.
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The beginning of a presentation is where you either capture or lose your audience’s attention. Whether you’re pitching to investors, leading a team meeting, or presenting at a conference, a powerful start sets the tone for the entire session. A strong opening builds rapport, establishes authority, and makes your message memorable.
Let’s explore ten effective strategies, tailored for different types of presentations .
Stories are one of the most engaging ways to start a presentation. They create an emotional connection and make complex ideas relatable. A well-told story can be a powerful hook, especially if it’s relevant to the audience and ties directly into your core message.
“Two years ago, our company was on the brink of failure. We were down to our last $1,000, and it felt like we were out of options. But then we discovered a new approach that completely turned things around, and that’s what I’m here to share with you today.”
Stories humanize your message and quickly establish a connection, making it easier for the audience to engage with your content.
Numbers can be powerful attention-grabbers, especially when they reveal something surprising or unexpected. Opening with a shocking statistic instantly engages your audience and primes them to pay attention to the problem or solution you’re presenting.
“Did you know that every year, over 2.8 million people die from obesity-related conditions worldwide? That’s more than car accidents, wars, and natural disasters combined.”
Startling facts spark curiosity and concern, setting the stage for your presentation by making the problem feel urgent.
Asking a question invites your audience to reflect and mentally engage from the start. It’s particularly effective in scenarios where you want your audience to think critically about their needs or challenges.
“What would it mean for your business if you could reduce operational costs by 30% while increasing productivity at the same time?”
A well-crafted question aligns the audience’s thinking with your message and prepares them to receive your solution.
A bold, declarative statement can grab attention and set the tone for a confident and assertive presentation. This approach works best when your presentation is built around a central argument or a new perspective.
“Leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about empowering others to lead themselves. And that’s the mindset shift we need to succeed in today’s world.”
Bold statements immediately communicate confidence and challenge the audience to rethink conventional wisdom, creating intrigue.
Sometimes, visuals speak louder than words. Starting with an impactful image, video, or prop can grab attention and set a strong visual context for what’s to come.
Displaying an image of a crowded cityscape
“This is the reality of urban living today—busy, congested, and stressful. Our product is designed to make this scene more manageable, efficient, and less chaotic.”
Visuals immediately engage multiple senses and can simplify complex ideas, making your message easier to grasp.
Quotes, especially from recognized experts or thought leaders, can lend authority and credibility to your presentation. They work well when your audience values the wisdom of established figures.
“As Albert Einstein said, ‘In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.’ Today, I’ll show you how to turn your challenges into your biggest opportunities.”
Quotes set a thematic tone for your presentation and can instantly align your audience with the principles you’re about to explore.
Directly addressing a common pain point your audience faces helps you immediately connect and position your solution as relevant and valuable.
“I know you’re frustrated by how much time is wasted on repetitive manual tasks. What if I told you there’s a way to automate those processes and free up 20% of your team’s time?”
When you articulate a problem your audience is currently experiencing, they’re more likely to be receptive to your proposed solutions.
A light joke or humorous observation can break the ice and create a relaxed atmosphere, especially when addressing a familiar audience or a casual setting.
“I know everyone loves a good Monday morning meeting—especially after a weekend filled with anything but spreadsheets. But trust me, this one’s different!”
Humor disarms the audience, making them more open to your message while fostering a positive, engaging atmosphere.
Diving straight into a live demonstration or interactive example is a great way to showcase the value of your product or concept from the very beginning.
“Instead of telling you about how intuitive our new app is, let me show you in real-time how it works.”
Hands-on demonstrations provide immediate value and clarity, leaving no room for doubt about the benefits of what you’re offering.
Sometimes, a creative or unexpected introduction can set you apart and establish rapport with your audience from the get-go.
“Most people introduce themselves by their job title. But if you ask my team, they’d say I’m the person who brings donuts on Fridays and won’t stop talking about customer experience. Let’s talk about why that passion matters.”
This approach humanizes you, breaks the ice, and provides a unique perspective on your expertise.
The way you start your presentation is crucial—it determines whether your audience leans in or tunes out. Tailoring your opening to the context and goals of your presentation will set the tone for a successful session. Whether you’re telling a story, asking a question, or making a bold statement, the key is to make your audience feel engaged, intrigued, and ready to listen.
By mastering the art of a strong start, you ensure that your presentation captures attention from the first moment, making it easier to keep your audience invested as you deliver the rest of your message. Tailor your approach to fit your content and audience, and you’ll consistently start your presentations on the right foot.
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You can mess up any presentation, no matter how good, or useful, or well-researched your content may be.
How? By delivering it without confidence . Opening a presentation confidently means you're off to a good start.
Imagine going up on stage, your shoulders hunched, head bowed. At the podium, you clear your throat and say:
“Yeah. Hi. I’m Jake. (Laughs nervously.) Um… Is this on? So…”
You notice the audience cringing in their seats. You wish you could just die!
At the end of your presentation, you say:
“So, yeah… I mean, that’s what I think,… And, uh, yeah… Questions? Or, um…”
You shrug, put your head down, hunch your shoulders, and shuffle off the stage. The audience gives you polite applause.
All your research, prep, and hard work have gone to waste! But it doesn’t have to be that way. Presentations need not give you the frights or turn your stomach into a knot.
The secret is knowing how to start a presentation strong and end it powerfully. And that’s exactly what we’re going to look at today.
You'll also feel more confident when you use professionally-designed slides like the ones from Envato Elements and GraphicRiver .
Before jumping into this tutorial, c heck out our guide on how to beat anxiety during your presentation:
Also, be sure to grab our free eBook: The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It'll help you master the presentation process, from idea, through to writing, design, and delivering with impact.
Read on for presentation strategies and killer tips to grab and hold the attention of your audience. First up is how to start your presentation strong. Then, we'll dig into tips on commanding the middle. We'll finish with how to end a presentation powerfully—so that your points resonate with unforgettable surprise.
Starting a presentation strong means being unpredictable .
Research shows that when we know what to expect from a cue, we don’t pay attention to what happens after the cue.
But when we don’t know what to expect, we pay more attention. That's why we love movies with a twist: the unpredictability engages us more deeply.
How can you incorporate unpredictability at the start of a presentation?
There are several ways to achieve this. The choice will depend on your topic, the circumstances, and your presentation style.
The techniques below guide us on how to start a presentation strong.
Everyone knows the “I Have a Dream” speech of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The speech doesn’t begin with “I have a dream.” That's the climax. The speech starts like this:
“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.”
The above claim may seem “normal” to us today. We already know the events of history. But can you imagine what it must have been like hearing that claim on that very day?
Bold, to say the least.
Could anyone in the audience help but pay attention after that?
If you're confident your presentation will make a measurable and immediate impact on your audience, don't save that claim for the end.
State it at the beginning and state it with confidence. When your audience understands the gains, they can't help but pay attention to your every word.
Let's look at another way of how to start a PowerPoint presentation in an interesting way. Consider contradicting expectations. This is a classic application of the unpredictability principle.
Start with a claim that contradicts what people expect. That will make them sit up and pay attention. Then use the attention you've earned to ease into your topic.
Sir Ken Robinson does this marvelously in the most-watched Ted Talk of all time. Coming onto the stage after all the other speakers, Robinson says:
“It’s been great hasn’t it? I’ve been blown away by the whole thing. In fact, I’m leaving.”
You can hear in the way the audience laughs that this statement catches them by surprise. And the speaker uses that surprise to lunge into the topic.
Pamela Meyer achieves similar results through a slightly different technique. Meyer begins a presentation on how to spot a liar by accusing the audience of being liars themselves!
“Okay, I don’t want to alarm anybody in this room, but it’s just come to my attention that the person to your right is a liar! Also the person to your left is a liar.”
The audience laughs. They weren't expecting to be called liars. But the contrarian claim isn't off-putting; it's captivating. "Why are we all liars?" they want to know, and now they're paying attention.
One of the most powerful ways to start a presentation is to stimulate curiosity. The human brain relishes curiosity. In fact, research has shown that curiosity prepares the brain for better learning. And that's good news for your presentation.
Why? Because once our curiosity is piqued, we want to know the answer. We must solve the puzzle. So, we pay attention looking for the right clues. It’s simply the way we were built to think and operate.
So how can you stimulate curiosity at the beginning of your presentation?
You could announce that you've got a secret to confess, like Dan Pink does in a famous Ted Talk :
“I need to make a confession, at the outset here. A little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret. Something that I am not particularly proud of. Something that in many ways I wished no one would ever know, but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal. In the late 1980s, in a moment of youthful indiscretion, I went to law school.”
The announcement of this confession piques our curiosity. What's the secret? And the contents of the confession heighten it. Why is going to law school such an embarrassing confession? We must solve this puzzle!
And so, there's no option but to pay close attention to every word to find out!
A simple yet effective approach to start a presentation that grips attention is to ask a question. Few things are more unexpected than a speaker beginning a presentation with questions. Isn’t the speaker supposed to be answering our questions?
But these questions are rhetorical. They're not meant to be answered with a simple yes or no. They intend rather, to plant the seed of an idea into our heads. The speaker can then focus our attention on that idea throughout the presentation.
Simon Sinek does this in a talk on how great leaders inspire action. Sinek begins by asking the audience:
“How do you explain when things don't go as we assumed? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions? For example, why is Apple so innovative? [...] Why is it that Martin Luther King led the civil rights movement?”
By this point, we’re all sitting there scratching our chins going: “Huh, how do they do that?”
So, we perk our ears and pay attention.
One of the most gripping ways of start a presentation is to tell a compelling story, especially one that surprises.
Stories are not just an entrainment mechanism. They're a survival mechanism humans have developed and refined over thousands of years. That means as humans, we're naturally wired to pay attention to stories.
And one of the best ways to start your presentation strong is by telling a story. This can be a story about something that happened to you. Or something you heard about. Either way, it should relate to your topic and why you’re giving your presentation.
That's how Brené Brown opens a now-famous Ted Talk about vulnerability . Brown relates the funny story of working with an event planner who didn’t know how to classify Brown for an event. Turns out, Brown didn't know, either!
Should Brown be called a researcher (which sounds boring) or a storyteller (which sounded something like a magic pixie to Brené Brown at the time)? In the end, Brown calls herself a researcher-storyteller.
The story delights and intrigues: What's a researcher-storyteller? And how does research tell a story?
We pay attention to find out.
Before we get to how to end a presentation powerfully, we should mention a few strategies about holding the audience’s attention through the middle of your presentation.
If you’ve watched even a few minutes of the presentations mentioned above, you'll have noticed two things: pauses and visuals .
Good speakers know how and when to pause.
After you’ve made a big claim, pause. Give the audience a few seconds to take in what you said.
Same if you're adding a touch of humor, somewhere. Pause. Let the audience laugh and relax momentarily without missing anything important.
After concluding a section and before moving on to the next point, pause.
If you rush through your presentation, the audience will feel lost. They'll stop paying attention.
For an in-depth view of how to write the main body of your presentation, read the following tutorial:
Even the best Ted Talk presenters who seem to have a natural way with words, use PowerPoint presentations.
Why is that?
Because visuals help us grasp an idea and understand the point better.
By engaging our eyes and our ears, visuals help direct all our attention to the presentation. This eliminates the possibility of getting distracted by something else.
The right PowerPoint presentation can also guide your audience through the various sections of your speech. As a result, they won't feel lost or confused.
To learn how to create a persuasive PowerPoint presentation, have a look at the article below:
The easiest way to create an impressive PowerPoint presentation is to begin with creative slide templates from Envato Elements. All the templates are fully customizable, from the fonts and colors to the special effects.
What's more, your Elements subscription gives you unlimited downloads of PowerPoint templates. You also get everything else you need for a powerful presentation : fonts, photos, videos, icons, and music tracks. You get all that for one low price.
Envato's GraphicRiver allows you to download PowerPoint templates one-at-a-time. It's a good choice if you're looking for a pay-as-you-go template solution. Check out the amazing pay-per-use PowerPoint templates on GraphicRiver, with one of our most popular PPT designs.
You can find more great PPT design options in our Ultimate Guide to the Best PowerPoint Template , or browse through the article below:
No matter what’s the topic of your presentation, one thing is certain. You’re going to need a stellar slide deck to complement your presentation and captivate your audience.
Here’s how you can quickly customize a premium PPT template in five easy steps. For the purposes of this tutorial, I’ll be using the Soaring template from Envato Elements.
The first thing you should do to customize your presentation is to design your cover. The template already comes with a stunning full background image. So, all you've got to do is replace the photo with your own and then change the title of your presentation.
To change the photo, right-click on it and select Change Picture > From File . Locate the image you want to use and select it to use it. Then, double-click the title to enter the title of your presentation.
Next, add the content of your presentation onto the slide. Simply, double-click the text on the slide you’re currently working on, press CTRL+A to select it all, and delete it. You can then paste in or type in your text.
To change out the images used on the slides, right-click on the image. Select Change Picture > From File . Then, select a picture from your computer and press Insert .
To add break slides to signify that the next point is coming, you can simply duplicate the title slide. Right-click on the first slide and select Duplicate . Then, drag it down to the correct position using the sidebar on the left.
The last step is to customize the slides. You can change colors as well as the fonts.
To customize fonts, simply select all the text and then select a different font from the drop-down menu.
To change colors, right-click on a colored area and select Format Shape . Then, choose a different color under the Fill tool. From there you can figure out how to end a presentation effectively.
As mentioned earlier, Envato Elements is the best place to find modern, premium PowerPoint templates for all your presentation needs. Here are the top five PowerPoint presentation templates that you can access with your subscription:
The Nicola PowerPoint presentation has an elegant design. It’s suitable for all kinds of business or portfolio presentations. The template comes with a lot of visual slides and plenty of elements such as infographics, charts, and more. You’ll get more than 30 slides based on master slides. All the slides have been designed in full HD resolution and are easy to customize.
If you’re looking for a minimal and clean PowerPoint template, consider Balance. This template would work well for any type of presentation thanks to its minimal design. The template includes more than 145 slides and several color themes to choose from. The template was designed in full HD resolution. It comes with fully editable vector shapes.
The Navajo PowerPoint template has a clean and corporate design. It’s a perfect choice for business presentations as well as pitch decks. The template includes vector shapes and maps as well as charts, graphs, and other visual elements. It comes with 50+ slides including a gallery and portfolio slide.
As the name suggests, this PowerPoint template has a clean and modern design. It can be used for any type of presentation. The template comes with 50 slides designed in full HD resolution. It also includes image placeholders for easy editing.
The Parana template is a creative minimal PowerPoint template. It would work well for a portfolio or a lookbook presentation. It comes with 100+ unique slides based on master slides. This template comes in widescreen and standard screen resolution.
Remember our example at the beginning? Where the speaker ends their speech mumbling, “yeah, so… like… that’s it…” and other such incoherencies?
That’s no way to end your killer presentation! Or you’ll end up killing all the hard work you did in your opening and throughout the main body.
Instead, you should end your presentation in a powerful way that the audience will remember long after you leave the stage.
Again, there are many ways to learn how to end a presentation that are effective. You should choose the one that best fits your presentation and personal style.
If you like these tips, you'll find even more PowerPoint tips here:
If you want to compel your audience to action, you need to take initiative with your closing and the end of the presentation Don’t leave your audience sitting there wondering what to do with all the wonderful information you’ve given them.
Tell them exactly what to do with it and how they’ll benefit from it with a clear and direct call to action.
For inspiration, watch how Brené Brown does this in the speech (starting at 19:01). Once Brown tells the audience:
“There’s another way, and I'll leave you with this.”
And Brown then goes on to explain exactly how the audience can apply the principles of vulnerability to their work and everyday lives.
For more ideas on how to inspire your audience to action, check out the following article:
What will happen if the audience follows the advice or plan of your presentation?
Whether your presentation aims to change your entire community or benefit your customer's business, one way how to end a presentation is to paint a vision of that future with your closing words.
When your audience sees that visions in their mind, they’ll remember it. More than that, they’ll start to believe it as a possibility.
That’s how Martin Luther King, Jr. finishes the legendary “I have a dream” speech . King imagines the day when:
“...all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
But your speech doesn’t have to change the history of the world to end with a vision.
For a different example, listen to how Dan Pink ends the speech (from 17:17 forward) on the vision of strengthening businesses and changing the world. And looking to opening and closing presentation examples for further guidance.
Here's a great example of how to end a presentation dynamically. Sir Ken Robinson moves into the ending crescendo of the Ted Talk with a bleak quote by the American virologist Jonas Salk (starting at 18:13):
“If all the insects were to disappear from the earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end. If all human beings were to disappear from the earth, all forms of life would flourish.”
Robinson then goes on to tell the audience that the virologist is right.
This contrarian quote goes against our expectations of the human species as a positive force on earth. So, we pay attention. Will we really destroy the earth?
No, Sir Ken Robinson goes on to say, but only if we learn to use our imagination and creativity in a positive and constructive way. And then Robinson goes on to recapitulate the main advice about reforming education.
The contrarian example shakes us out of our comfort zone about the positive impact we've got in the world. It makes for a powerful ending that we're sure to remember long after the presentation is over.
Read this article and dive deeper into how to end your presentation:
Your presentation can only be successful if you capture your audience's attention.
The best way to do that is, to begin with a bang. Make a bold statement, contradict their expectations, and stimulate their curiosity. Ask a rhetorical question or spin a fascinating story. In other words, do something that will intrigue them into finding out what exactly you've got to say.
As for how to end a presentation? It should end also, with a bang.
Don't just leave your thoughts trail off. Call the audience to action and paint a vision of what the future will look like based on your suggestions. Startle them into awareness by using a contrarian example. Whatever you do, make sure you leave a memorable impression when you walk out the room.
If you're currently working on a presentation, think carefully about how you can start your presentation strong and end it powerfully.
What example, quote, claim, or story will you use to capture your audience's attention?
Download The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations eBook now for FREE with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter. Get your ideas formed into a powerful presentation that will move your audience!
The beginning and end of a presentation are incredibly important, but so too is the middle—which makes up the bulk of your presentation. You don't want to neglect it.
You'll have more confidence in your presentation when you know you've got a riveting slideshow, made possible with one of thousands of PowerPoint templates in Envato Elements. Remember, with an Elements subscription, you get unlimited downloads of slideshow templates as well as stock photos, fonts, icons, infographics, and so much more.
If you prefer to pay as you go, then browse through our best-selling PowerPoint templates in GraphicRiver. With the vast selection available, you're sure to find one with a powerful design that you can customize quickly.
Also, you can find more awesome PPTs in our Ultimate Guide to the Best PowerPoint Template . It includes many PowerPoint options and tutorials to help you get started fast.
Editorial Note : This post was originally published in 2016. It's been comprehensively revised to make current, accurate, and up to date by our staff—with special help from Lexi Rodrigo and Brenda Barron .
Let’s face it: getting started is half the battle. by following simon’s advice, you'll not only prepare less and stress less but also captivate your audience from the very beginning..
Knowing how to start a presentation is a critical skill when delivering a speech to any audience or any setting, whether it’s a boardroom, an auditorium, a classroom, or even a rehearsal dinner. Not only does a successful start help settle your nerves, but it also builds confidence.
Surprisingly, over 70% of Americans fear public speaking more than death itself, as revealed by a study conducted by the National Institutes of Mental Health . This fear can be traced back to our evolutionary past, says The Harvard Business Review , where being watched triggered a survival instinct to avoid predators. However, with the right techniques and strategies, you can overcome this fear and engage your audience right from the beginning. By implementing effective opening techniques, you can capture attention, establish credibility, and set the tone for a memorable and impactful presentation.
Unlock a treasure trove of career-boosting tips, from top-notch leadership advice to discovering workplace bliss, at The Optimism Library today.
With the guidance of Simon Sinek , a renowned public speaker with more than a billion views, we’ll share valuable tips on how to start a presentation the right way, instantly engaging your audience and winning them over. So, keep reading and get ready to shine!
And if you’re eager to learn everything about delivering an amazing presentation, including advanced storytelling techniques, practical exercises, and expert PowerPoint advice, don’t miss out on Simon’s bestselling course, The Art of Presenting. Click here to explore it further .
Simon emphasizes the significance of reframing our nervousness as excitement, and he is not alone in this belief. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology demonstrates that shifting our mindset from “feeling anxious” to “feeling excited” can have a positive impact on our outlook, making us feel more optimistic, confident, and in control.
As Simon explains, the physiological symptoms of both emotions are nearly identical. It is our mindset and how we choose to interpret these physiological responses within ourselves that can make all the difference. By embracing the idea that you are excited rather than nervous, you can harness that energy in a positive way and captivate your audience right from the beginning.
A simple technique to employ is to look into the mirror and say aloud, “I’m excited!” This small action can go a long way in helping you start your presentation and get into the flow.
If we had to guess, you’ve probably endured countless presentations that begin with the same old boring stuff. “Today, we’ll be discussing the KPIs…” Or, “Hello, my name is Bob, and I will be presenting a comprehensive overview of the quarterly sales data.”
But let’s break free from the monotony! Instead of following the crowd, let’s explore a more captivating approach to starting a presentation. So, how do you start a presentation in a way that truly engages your audience?
According to Simon, the key is to artfully incorporate your WHY. In his bestselling book, Start with WHY , Simon introduces the concept of the Golden Circle , which consists of three layers: your WHATs, your HOW, and your WHY. While all three are important, Simon emphasizes the significance of the WHY. Your WHY is the driving force behind your HOWs and WHATs. It’s your purpose, cause, or belief that sets you apart. (If you’re interested in discovering your WHY, check out our course here .)
By infusing your presentation with authenticity and purpose, you instantly grab the audience’s attention and create an emotional connection. In fact, one study published by Stanford University has shown that “the top 10% of authentic speakers were considered 1.3 times more trustworthy and 1.3 times more persuasive than the average communicator.”
So, let’s leave the mundane introductions behind and embrace the power of starting with your WHY. It’s time to captivate your audience from the very beginning and make your presentation truly memorable.
According to Simon, there are several effective ways to start your presentation: with a question, a surprising fact, a bold statement, or by telling a story. These strategies instantly capture the audience’s curiosity and motivate them to pay attention, eagerly seeking answers throughout your presentation. So, how do you start a presentation in a way that truly captivates your audience?
Take, for example, author Susan Cain, who begins her TED Talk on the power of introverts with the line, “When I was nine years old, I went off to summer camp for the first time.” By launching into a personal story that illustrates a key point from her talk, she establishes a connection with the audience right from the start, as they can relate to the shared experience of summer camp.
When it comes to storytelling, specificity is key in capturing your audience’s investment in your message. In fact, a study conducted in 2009 revealed that emotionally engaging narratives inspire post-narrative actions. This means that if you can tell a story that resonates with your audience, they will not only remember your presentation better but also be more inclined to act upon your intended message.
So, when considering how to start a presentation, remember the power of a well-crafted question, a surprising fact, a bold statement, or a compelling story. These techniques will help you grab your audience’s attention and set the stage for a memorable and impactful presentation.
You’re Using Jargon
To avoid alienating your audience, refrain from using jargon or technical terms that may not be universally understood. The key to effective communication is making your audience feel included and part of the conversation. Therefore, use familiar terms and take the time to explain any unfamiliar ones, ensuring that everyone feels engaged and included in your presentation.
You’re Memorizing Your Material
Memorization can hinder your ability to connect with your audience authentically and make you sound robotic. Instead, focus on deeply understanding the key concepts and ideas you want to convey, allowing for flexibility and natural conversation during your presentation. Studies have shown that being intimately familiar with your material, rather than relying on memorization, better prepares you to speak confidently and effectively.
You’re Relying Too Much on Your Slides
While slides are a common tool in presentations, it’s important not to rely on them as a crutch. Your visuals should support your message, but it’s your responsibility to deliver it effectively. Depending too heavily on slides can lead to failure if technical issues arise or if you forget necessary equipment. Being well-versed in your topic reduces the need to rely on slides to speak on your behalf.
You’re Expecting Perfection
Perfection is unattainable, and it’s important to remember that mistakes can happen to anyone, including yourself. Whether it’s a technical glitch or a momentary lapse, embrace the fact that we are all human and errors are a natural part of the process. As Simon can attest, nobody is immune to making mistakes.
Using slides and visual aids can enhance your presentation, as 65% of individuals learn best visually. To make a strong first impression, create a visually appealing slide that provides a clear overview of your topic. Avoid clutter and excessive text, opting for graphics and key points that engage your audience. Remember, knowing how to start a presentation can be daunting, but with the right mindset and preparation, you can succeed.
If you’re eager to become a master presenter, there’s a whole world of skills and techniques waiting for you to explore. Dive deeper into the art of presenting by enrolling in The Art of Presenting with Simon course. This comprehensive program covers everything from preparation and storytelling to creating impactful slides. Embark on your journey towards delivering unforgettable presentations today!
Good luck on your presentation journey!
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A spark is something quite small and, by itself, not very powerful. But a spark has the ability to ignite. An idea is like a spark; alone it is just a set of words, but it too can ignite. A great idea can inspire others to dream bigger. Let us all work together to ignite something greater than ourselves.
Let us all be a Spark of Optimism.
By Al Boicheva
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3 years ago
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No matter how well-crafted and planned the body of your presentation, its impact depends on its opening and ending. On one hand, you have 30 seconds to grab your audience’s attention so people would be interested in hearing what you have to say. On the other, your ending is what your audience will be left with and will shape how they feel about your presentation and how they’ll remember it. This might be like a lot of pressure but the truth is, it’s easier than it sounds. This is why, in this article, we will help you achieve this and more with 10 practical tips on how to start and end a presentation effectively .
Article overview: The Opening: 5 Tips To Get Your Audience Invested 1. The Hook 2. Transition 3. Personal Story 4. Build Tension with Silence 5. Use Startling Statistics The Ending: 5 Tips To Make an Impact 1. The Rule of Three 2. Come Full Circle 3. Food for Thought Question Ending 4. Inspire with Personal Involvement 5. Make Your Audience Laugh
Imagine you spent weeks preparing an amazing presentation with lots of valuable insight that you just can’t wait to share with your audience. Unfortunately, only a few minutes in, you notice that most of your viewers are on their phones scrolling and barely paying any attention to what you have to say. What happened?
Presenters and speakers often start with a long introduction. They introduce themselves, share how excited they are, thank the audience for attending, explain what they’re going to speak about in a minute, why the topic is important, etc. This might take only one or two minutes, however, when it comes to presentation, two minutes without telling anything interesting might result in losing your audience. In fact, you only have 30 seconds to grab your audience’s attention .
This is why, no matter the topic and goal of your presentation, you must always captivate your audience’s attention first. Leave the introductions and summaries for later .
In this section, we’ll talk about ways to hook your audience in the first 30 seconds and get them invested in what you have to say in your presentation.
Anything unpredictable that catches you off-guard, will get your attention.
This tactic, masterfully named as a metaphor for attracting fish with a juicy worm on a hook, refers to a few-second short story, metaphor, shocking fact, statistics, analogy, controversial statement, or anything unconventional and unexpected that will capture your viewer’s imagination. We’ll have a look at three examples for hooks.
“Here’s all you have to know about men and women: women are crazy, men are stupid.” This opening line by stand-up comedy legend George Carlin is a great example of a hook in the form of a bold claim. If you’re confident enough with your presentation and you have a bold claim up to your sleeve, don’t save it for the end. Instead, shoot that bullet confidently the second you start your presentation. It will immediately catch your audience off-guard and you will have it paying attention to your every word after that.
Here are some examples for bold claim starters in presentations and public speaking.
One of the greatest ways to get attention and start strong is through storytelling. People love stories and are always interested in hearing one. In fact, many presentations may revolve around a story or just use small anecdotes to enhance their message. With this being said, amongst the best methods to create a compelling story is to get your audience involved. To do so, make them imagine themselves in the shoes of the main character. This attention-grabber invites your viewers to create a mental image and get emotionally invested.
Here are examples of speeches starting with the Imagine play:
Great stories have unexpected plot twists. The best stories, however, have a funny plot twist. Depending on your topic, you can start by telling your story, get your audience in the mood for a serious talk, and then contradict all expectations with a hilarious spin.
Your next step would be to make an organic transition between your hook and the main point of your presentation. You can do this seamlessly or by linking directly with “I tell you this, because”, “This brings us to…”. Mohammed Qahtani, for example, does this transition so smoothly, that you’ll never even catch it.
First, as a hook, he chooses to use a prop. He literally goes on stage and lights a cigarette, capitalizing on unpredictability, originality, bold statement, humor, and immediately uses the second hook in the form of a provocative question, asking the audience “You think smoking kills?”. The third thing he does is strike with shocking data that he immediately admits to being fake. He already has the audience on the tip of his fingers. Having accomplished that, Mohammed Qahtani is ready to finally move to the body of the presentation and reveal his actual message.
Another storytelling technique besides making people from your audience imagine themselves in a particular situation, is to start with your own personal story. One that is relevant to the topic of your presentation. Your personal involvement and experience give you credibility in the eyes of the viewers, and, as we mentioned, everyone loves to hear an interesting story. This is because stories are relatable, easy to identify with communicating honesty, openness, and connection.
Interestingly enough, saying nothing is also a very powerful option. In fact, standing in front of an audience and confidently keeping silent is as powerful as making a bold statement. Silence will definitely build tension and pique your audience’s curiosity about what you have to say. Be careful, however, as this technique requires knowing your timing.
Sometimes you just can’t think of a story, a joke, or a specific statement that is bold enough. And that’s okay. As a last resort, but also a pretty effective one, you can always rely on curious shocking statistics, related to your topic, to instantly gain people’s attention. Take your time researching curious statistics that will emphasize the seriousness of your topic or as a tool to start over the top.
To sum it up, your presentation opening follows 5 steps:
Keep in mind, that your opening, consisting of these 5 steps, should be brief and ideally not exceed 2 minutes . If you manage to make a great hook, transition, introduction, review and list the benefits in 2 minutes, you already have your audience’s full attention and they will be listening to your every word throughout the body of your presentation.
Let’s consider this situation. You start watching a movie that instantly opens with a jaw-dropping suspenseful scene that raises questions and makes you want to unravel the mystery. This scene will certainly make your stay through the movie. You are very invested, you love the story, the build-up keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end when the reveal is so underwhelming, you feel disappointed. The ending doesn’t fit the intensity of the story and feels incomplete and rushed. How does this relate to your presentation?
Having a great start for your presentation is what will keep your audience interested in what you have to say. However, the end is what your audience will be left with and will shape how they feel about your presentation and how they’ll remember it. In short, if you fail your opening, you will still be able to catch up with your presentation and capitalize with a great closing line. But an underwhelming conclusion can kill the velocity of a good presentation and ruin the overall experience.
Let’s look at some practical tips and examples by great presenters to get inspired and never let that happen.
This powerful technique in speech writing refers to the collection of three words, phrases, sentences, or lines. In photography, there’s a similar rule, known as the Rule of Thirds, that serves to divide an image into three. In writing, the Rule of Three combines a collection of thoughts into three entities with combined brevity and rhythm to create a pattern.
Information presented in a group of three sticks in our heads better than in other groups. This is why this principle presents your ideas in more enjoyable and memorable ways for your audience. It also serves to divide up a speech or emphasize a certain message. Let’s see a couple of examples where the rule is applied in different forms.
In Veni Vidi Vici, the rule serves to divide the concept of Caesar’s victory into three parts to prolong the conclusion in order to give it more power. The “came” and “ saw” parts are technically obvious and unnecessary in terms of context. However, they serve to build up the conclusion of conquering, creating a story, rhythm, and, ultimately, a memorable and powerful line. A single “I conquered” wouldn’t impress the Senate that much, let alone become such a legendary phrase preserved in history.
Lincoln’s famous speech ending shows an excellent practice of the Rule of Three in the form of repetition to emphasize the new role of the Government. “That Government of the people shaw not perish from the earth.” would still be a good line, however, the repetition makes it way more powerful and memorable.
And last, Steve Job uses the Rule of Three in the form of repetition to accomplish building up the conclusion and emphasizing what “it means”. This repetition gives rhythm and helps the audience to be more receptive, stay focused, and follow the speaker to the final conclusion.
You can also use the Rule of Three to close your presentation by giving your audience two negatives and ending with a positive . Typical structures would be “This is not… this is not… but it is”; “You wouldn’t… you wouldn’t… but you would..”, etc.
For example, you can conclude a speech about self-growth with something similar to “Your future isn’t a matter of chance, it isn’t a matter of circumstances, it’s a matter of choice.”
In short, this means capitalizing on your message by ending your presentation the exact way you started it . If done right, this is a powerful tool to make an impact. Usually, you begin your presentation with a statement that piques your audience’s curiosity. You use it to set the topic and start building on it. You take your audience on a journey, you make them start at one point, follow them through the entire journey, and make them end at the same point. By repeating the opening line as an ending, now the message makes more sense, it’s way more personal and makes a satisfying logical conclusion .
A good example of this comes from Yubing Zang in her speech “Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone.” The speaker opens her TED talk with that same line to take you on a journey. You experience her story, you learn how fear is the biggest thief of dreams while comfort is a drug that keeps you from following them. After that strong message, she finishes with that same phrase. In the end, this phrase isn’t just an abstract quote, now it makes more sense and feels more real and personal.
You can also use the full circle method to start and finish your presentation with the same question. As an opening line, your question will make your audience think. It will compel them to listen to your presentation and learn the answers. As an ending, however, this same question will become rhetorical .
And speaking of questions…
The easiest way to end a speech on a good note is to leave your audience with a question. The kind of open-ended question that will inspire your audience to reflect on . Such questions can be so inviting, they will give your audience something exciting to think about and even think of throughout the day.
Examples of open-ended questions, depending on your topic, could sound like this.
Unlike close-ended questions that the viewers can answer immediately on the spot and forget about your speech later, interesting open-ended questions that give them food for thought will inevitably surface on occasion.
For example, Lera Boroditski closes her topic on “How Language Shapes the Way We Think” with ” And that gives you the opportunity to ask: why do I think the way that I do? How could I think differently? And also, what thoughts do I wish to create?”
In order for your open-ended question to become food for thought, make sure your presentation raises it organically . It should sound like a relevant and logical conclusion to what you’ve built during your speech. Otherwise, the question would be forced and would seem like coming from nowhere. The best way to think of such an open-ended question is to reflect on what is the question you wished to answer during your presentation but couldn’t. Something that doesn’t have a solution yet.
This will give a great puzzle for your audience to solve and something to remember your presentation with, for a long time.
If you have a story to share, don’t hesitate to inspire your audience with it during your own presentations.
This method is most powerful when we share a personal story or experience . Our vulnerability and personal touch are what will help you inspire your audience without sounding insincere or forcing them a piece of advice out of nowhere. The key here is to have credibility and personal involvement . It might come from your degree, accomplishments, or from your life’s story. Also, make sure the story is relatable and encourages empathy from your audience.
Steve Jobs gave a commencement speech at Stanford University sharing his personal experiences in order to inspire change in his audience’s mindset. He uses his authority and credibility to shape the spirit of leadership and entrepreneurship in young people. He aims to inspire people that they should learn to color outside the lines instead of following the patterns and structure of society. And he serves as a great example with his own life story and accomplishments .
Which makes the ending memorable and impactful: “ Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. Stay hungry. Stay foolish. ”
In conclusion, the entire speech builds up to this conclusion making it powerful as the personal involvement and experience make it sincere and inspirational.
If your topic allows it, one of the best ways to make your presentation memorable and a great experience for your audience is to end with a joke. Just make sure to craft a joke that relates to the main point of your presentation.
As an example for this tip, we chose the TED talk of webcartoonist Randall Munroe where he answers simple what-if questions using math, physics, logic, and -you guessed it- humor.
He ends by sharing an allegedly personal experience about receiving an email from a reader with a single subject line “Urgent”. “And this was the entire email: If people had wheels and could fly, how would we differentiate them from airplanes? Urgent. And I think that there are some questions math just cannot answer. ”
In conclusion, the start and end of your presentation are crucial to its success. No matter the topic and goal of your presentation, you must always captivate your audience’s attention first, leaving the introductions and summaries for later. Having a great start for your presentation is what will keep your audience interested in what you have to say. However, the end is what your audience will be left with and will shape how they feel about your presentation and how they’ll remember it. We hope we managed to inspire your inner public speaker to rock your presentation like a pro.
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Anete Ezera July 01, 2022
You’re about to click on the Zoom link, walk into a meeting room, or step onto a stage where you’ll be addressing hundreds of people. Wherever you’re presenting, once you’re in that spotlight, you should already know how to start off a presentation. If you’re hoping to wing it, think twice. The first few minutes (and even seconds) of your presentation are more crucial than you think.
A study by Microsoft regarding transient attention spans found that the average attention span for people is only around 8 seconds (in the study, it refers to the average time spent on a web page). It doesn’t mean that each of us can only focus for 8 seconds, but it means that we need to develop curiosity in these 8 seconds to continue listening, watching, or reading. If that doesn’t up the stakes for your intro, we don’t know what does.
If you’ve successfully engaged your audience in the first 8 seconds, you still need to keep them as interested as possible. We all know how easy it is to lose attention in today’s information-saturated environment.
So, before stepping on stage, whether virtually or in person, carefully plan out the first few minutes to capture your audience’s attention. Learn how to start a presentation with these five tips so you can grab and hold your audience’s attention throughout your presentation.
Did you know that our brains process visual information 60,000 times faster than text ? This makes visuals an excellent strategy for how to start a presentation, engaging your audience right from the beginning.
For example, instead of opening with a sentence, saying how much plastic is dumped in our oceans every year, showcase an image of The Great Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean. You can accompany your image with a sentence or two, pointing out some shocking numbers and facts to really drive your point home. With a visual, you’ll be able to make a greater impact and evoke strong emotions that will captivate your audience.
You can also showcase a short clip of the garbage patch or display a data visualization with a shocking statistic. Consider what kind of visual showcases the subject matter best and what makes the most impact.
If you’re presenting online, avoid sharing your screen to showcase your visuals. The extra time it takes to share your screen can also create an awkward pause and make your presentation less exciting. Plus, you’ll be hidden behind your content, so people won’t be able to read your emotions or body language while you speak. Instead, show your visuals next to you using Prezi Video , our video presentation software. You’ll be able to easily go from topic to topic while maintaining eye contact with your audience, making your presentation much more engaging. If you want to give Prezi Video a try, create your first video here or watch this video to see it in action:
Storytelling is a powerful technique to engage your audience and stir emotions, making it an excellent strategy for how to start off a presentation. Starting your presentation with a story can take your audience to a different time and place, and fully immerse them in the topic you’re about to cover. A study on neural coupling found that people’s brain waves can start to synchronize with those of the storyteller as they’re listening to the story unfold. So, not only can you mentally transport your audience to a time and place of your choosing, but you can also literally be on the same wavelength.
To make this fascinating impact, you can’t just start telling a story without thinking about the plot line and the way you’re going to go about it. You’ll have to practice your storytelling skills beforehand and go over the plotline several times to get it right.
It’s important to choose a story that reflects what your presentation is going to be about. For example, talk about your personal experience or mention a historical event, but always tie it in with what you’re going to present. It’s best to keep it short so your audience doesn’t get bored or distracted.
To enhance your storytelling, use visuals, like images or videos. You can also add some entertaining aspects to your story by including stickers or GIFs.
Elena Valentine shows how to start a presentation with a story in her video. See how she grabs attention here, and watch till the end for more storytelling tips.
Incorporating Prezi into storytelling elevates this experience, transforming narratives into visually captivating journeys. Prezi’s dynamic platform allows speakers to integrate visuals seamlessly into their stories, from compelling images and engaging videos to interactive stickers and GIFs. This visual integration serves not just as decoration but as a narrative enhancement, providing visual cues that enrich the storytelling, making abstract concepts tangible, and emotionally charging the narrative.
Prezi’s non-linear presentation format is particularly suited for storytelling. Unlike traditional slide-based tools, Prezi offers the freedom to navigate through the story in a way that mimics the human thought process — fluid and interconnected. To make your storytelling with Prezi more effective and engaging, consider these easy-to-follow tips:
Pick pictures, videos, and animations that fit well with what you’re talking about. Prezi lets you zoom in and move around these visuals at the right times, making your main points more interesting and easier to remember for your audience.
Set up your Prezi so you can move around your story, not just go straight from the start to the end. This way, you can change parts of your talk based on what your audience seems to like or pay attention to, making your presentation more lively and fun.
With Prezi, you can place parts of your story in certain spots to show how they’re related. This helps make tricky ideas simpler and your overall presentation more powerful because it’s clearer how everything fits together.
Involving your audience is how to start a presentation in the most interactive way possible. Active participation is great for establishing a closer connection with your listeners and obtaining their attention right away.
An effective method to start a presentation is by weaving in a personal anecdote that is both relevant and relatable. This technique fosters an immediate connection with your audience, as personal stories resonate more deeply, making your message more memorable. By sharing a bit of your own experience, you break down the barriers between speaker and audience, inviting them into your world from the first words you speak.
As you brainstorm how to start off a presentation, think about setting the stage with a bold statement or provocative claim related to your topic. This method instantly grabs your audience’s attention and sparks curiosity about where your argument or narrative will lead. Following this opening with a brief overview of what led you to this conclusion or claim helps to build anticipation and prepares your audience for the journey ahead, making them more invested in the presentation from the very beginning.
One of the simplest ways to involve your audience is to ask a question. For example, you can ask: “Who has ever felt anxious about public speaking? Raise your hand!” In a virtual presentation , you can ask the same question and ask people to respond in the chat. If you’re using Prezi Video, your team will be able to react with a “waving hand” emoji that appears next to them in their video feed. See how it works .
Make sure to ask a relevant question that ties in with your topic and will get a reaction from the audience. For example, don’t say: “Raise your hand if you’re always on the edge of your seat.” It’s doubtful that you’ll get a huge reaction from your audience as this statement refers to a very small group of people. Also, avoid open-ended questions, like “How are you feeling today?” or “What do you think about this topic?” right at the beginning of your presentation – you’ll probably just get an awkward silence. People need to warm up to answering or asking questions, that’s why it’s best to ask questions in the middle of your presentation or towards the end.
Resonating with your audience demands thoughtful preparation and insight into their preferences and knowledge. Opt for questions and interactions that spark curiosity, stir emotions, or challenge viewpoints, always linking back to your main message. This ensures that your audience is deeply engaged and actively contributing to the discussion, rather than passively observing.
But the potential of Prezi to foster audience involvement extends far beyond simple Q&A. Live feedback loops and collaborative brainstorming sessions can all be done within the Prezi platform, turning each presentation into a dynamic, participatory event. This level of interaction not only keeps the audience engaged but also allows the presenter to tailor the content in real-time, responding to the audience’s interests and questions.
Did you know that 71% of mobile users in the U.S. usually sleep next to their phones? Or that Millennial smartphone users in the U.S. unlock their devices about 63 times a day? It looks like the strongest relationship many of us will have is with our phones.
Starting your presentation with a shocking statistic is a great way to capture your audience’s attention from the get-go and introduce the topic right away. To make an even greater impact with the statistic, include a data visualization that illustrates the numbers in an engaging way. Again, visual components will work in your favor to help your audience comprehend the information and make it more memorable. Also, make sure to use visual metaphors like icons or stickers to make your data visualizations more appealing to the eye.
The platform’s innovative tools offer a way to present data that is not just informative but also inspiring. This not only captures your audience’s attention from the start but also keeps them engaged throughout your presentation. Through Prezi, your presentation becomes more than a collection of facts and figures; it becomes a compelling story that educates, entertains, and resonates with your audience, leaving a lasting impression long after the presentation concludes.
Try this template
Those who know how to start off a presentation with a hook are good at evoking curiosity. You can do it, too. Introduce a problem that you’ll solve during your presentation. Point to a topical issue that your audience can relate to, state it in the first moments of your presentation, and accompany it with visuals.
Starting with a problem statement will put your audience into action mode to try to solve it. They’ll be curious to know possible solutions and your take on it. Introducing a problem that you know a lot of people are struggling with is especially effective in holding everyone’s attention. You want the audience to care about the issue and want to solve it. For example, if you’re talking about climate change, make it more personal by pointing out how it can and will affect everyone individually. Bringing the problem closer to our daily lives and experiences will intensify the need to solve it and people will be interested to know more about possible solutions.
Kicking off your presentation with a problem statement is a masterful way to immediately engage your audience and set a compelling tone for your discourse. Here’s how to begin a presentation by focusing on a problem statement:
Begin by introducing a topical issue that resonates with your audience. This approach is pivotal in learning how to start a presentation with impact. State the problem within the first few moments, and accompany it with striking visuals to dramatize the issue further. This strategy not only grabs attention but also sets the stage for a solution-oriented discussion, making your presentation immediately relevant and engaging.
Connect the problem to everyday experiences to intensify the audience’s need to find a solution. By making the issue relatable, you ensure that your audience cares deeply about the subject, thereby heightening their engagement and interest in the potential solutions you will discuss.
Incorporate stories or case studies that highlight the problem’s effects on individuals or communities. Personal anecdotes or narratives can transform abstract issues into tangible realities for your audience, fostering a deeper emotional connection to the topic at hand.
After setting up the problem, shift towards presenting viable solutions in an empowering manner. Showcase how individuals or communities have successfully addressed the issue, offering your audience a clear path to action and involvement.
Conclude the opening segment of your presentation with a clear and motivating call to action. Be specific about what your audience can do to contribute to solving the problem, leaving them feeling inspired and equipped to make a difference.
By integrating these strategies into the way you begin your presentation, you emphasize not just the importance of the initial moments but also your commitment to engaging your audience deeply and meaningfully. Understanding how to start a presentation with a clear problem statement, personal connection, and a pathway towards solutions can set the tone for a memorable and impactful session.
Starting your presentation right is crucial. It defines how much attention your audience will dedicate to your speech and slides. It also establishes how confident you’ll feel and appear in front of everyone. For example, if at the beginning of your presentation you get lost in your story or appear underprepared, you’ll get anxious and the audience will notice it (and it may just go downhill from there). You want to avoid that scenario at all costs. So, preparing how to start off a presentation ahead of time will ensure that you make the best of the first 8-plus seconds that you have to wow everyone in the audience. Regarding confidence, we have a great video on public speaking tips to build your confidence by the founder and CEO of Soulcast Media, Jessica Chen.
To further enrich your presentation and ensure it remains engaging from start to finish, consider these additional strategies for maintaining audience interest throughout your presentation.
In today’s digital era, leveraging technology can significantly boost audience engagement. Tools like live polls, interactive quizzes, and social media prompts can transform your presentation into a dynamic conversation. For example, you could use a live poll to gauge the audience’s initial thoughts or feelings about the issue. This not only makes the presentation more interactive but also provides valuable insights into your audience’s perspectives, allowing you to tailor your content in real-time.
Encouraging collaboration among your audience can amplify the impact of your presentation. After setting the stage with a compelling problem statement and engaging visuals, invite your audience to share their own experiences or solutions related to the problem. This can be facilitated through breakout sessions, discussion forums, or collaborative workshops. By creating a collaborative environment, you empower your audience to become part of the solution, enhancing the relevancy and impact of your presentation.
Building on the initial storytelling, structure your presentation around a clear story arc, including a beginning that introduces the problem, a middle that explores the problem’s implications and potential solutions, and an end that encourages action and resolution. This narrative structure can help keep your audience engaged by providing a clear, cohesive journey through your presentation. Each segment of your presentation should build on the previous, leading your audience to a satisfying conclusion that reinforces your key messages and call to action.
Maintaining visual consistency throughout your presentation helps reinforce your message and enhances brand recognition. Use a consistent color scheme, font, and style in your visuals and slides. This visual branding can be subtle, but it plays a crucial role in creating a professional and cohesive presentation. Prezi offers the flexibility to customize your presentation’s design to align with your brand or theme, ensuring that every aspect of your presentation reflects your message and identity.
To ensure that your audience retains the key points of your presentation, use repetition and callbacks throughout your talk. Revisit the main topics and the solutions you’ve proposed at various points, especially before transitioning to new sections. This technique helps reinforce the importance of the problem and the value of the solutions you’re presenting, making it more likely that your audience will remember them after the presentation concludes.
Your presentation’s conclusion should be as strong as its beginning. End with a powerful call to action that inspires your audience to take the next steps. Whether it’s adopting a new perspective, changing behavior, or contributing to a cause, make sure your audience leaves with a clear understanding of how they can make a difference.
By weaving these strategies into your presentation, from a compelling start to a powerful conclusion, you ensure that your presentation is not just heard but felt and remembered. Engaging your audience from the first moment and maintaining that engagement is key to delivering a presentation that not only informs but inspires and motivates change. This holistic approach to presentation design and delivery underscores the importance of every moment and interaction, setting the stage for a truly impactful session.
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Table of contents.
We’ve all experienced a bad presentation. We’ve listened to bad speakers, heard boring information, and read slides that don’t keep us engaged.
A bad presentation is often bad for both the speaker and the audience members.
Grabbing the audience’s attention for the very beginning is key to keeping your audience engaged and running an effective presentation speech.
In this article we will look at what a presentation introduction is and how to start a presentation effectively.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” That is the opening line of the book Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and it is known as one of the most famous opening lines in a book ever written.
A good opening line can do a lot for books and the same goes for presentation introductions.
Loyola University Chicago breaks down a presentation introduction into 4 key elements: “ 1) capture your audience’s interest, 2) give them a context for your work, 3) pose your central question, problem, or issue, and 4) offer the most concise answer or argument you can give.”
When it comes to any public speaking engagement, grabbing your audience’s attention is the most important thing.
For a presentation, this could make or break your presentation.
Before you begin presenting, you should have a strong idea for how you will start your presentation. Here are a few strong ways you can begin your presentation and create interest within your audience.
One of the most basic, yet effective ways you can draw attention is through introducing yourself to your audience. This is effective for both smaller and larger audiences and can be a way to create a connection between you and your audience.
Some of the best presenters introduce themselves through a personal story, a relevant quote, a job title, or a relevant yet funny video.
Ideally, your introduction should motivate your audience to listen and buy into what you are saying.
Your introduction should use effective body language and eye contact, and should relate to the general messaging of the presentation.
Sometimes you can sit through an entire deck of presentation slides and leave without really understanding the purpose of the presentation.
A great intro will pre-emptively answer audience questions about the purpose of your presentation. Doing so creates interest in the information you will be sharing and engages your audience right from the start.
The purpose can be introduced through rhetorical questions, a thought provoking question, a bold and provocative statement, or through more personal stories.
You might even consider opening with an “imagine” statement (Example: “Imagine you’re lying on a beach sipping a drink…”).
Another thing that many speaker use to engage their audience is with a captivating visual representation of the purpose of the presentation. This is often done through an attention-grabbing video or image and well-designed presentation slide decks.
Not only can visuals get your audience paying attention, it can also present key information or ideas that you will call back to throughout your presentation.
Audience participation is also vital to the effectiveness and overall performance of your presentation.
While audience engagement can be strengthened through professional practice or learning how to be a better presenter , there are a few things you can do to inspire participation right from the get-go.
One of the best ways to encourage participation is through direct questions that need responses from the audience.
When you begin with a direct question to introduce your presentation, message, or speech, you force the people in the room to pay attention and provide answers.
Some examples of relevant direct questions you can ask might start with:
Who has ever experienced….
How many of you agree with…
When was the first time you.. .
These opening questions don’t have to necessarily be deep or require a lot of thinking. Instead, think about questions that can be answered through the raising of hands, yes or no, or a by audience members yelling out an answer.
Finally, a good rule of thumb when doing any kind of presentation is to tell a story .
A good story that relates to the everyday lives or problems of your audience can have a dramatic impact on the effectiveness of your presentation and the overall audience participation and impression.
For example, if you are going to be talking about a business strategy you are proposing to a client, you might start with a compelling story of this strategy in action.
Think of how many TedTalks start. In many of these presentations, many speakers will introduce their key idea or speech through a story that directly relates to its message and purpose.
Stories can evoke certain emotions in your audience that will motivate them to engage and participate throughout the presentation.
Some of the best opening lines in presentations enable the audience to fully participate and engage with your material.
Here are a few reasons why starting strong is so important to your speech, message, or presentation.
For one, a strong introduction can create and set the tone for the rest of your speech or presentation . Setting a tone is important for audiences to follow the message and relevant points outlined in your presentation slide.
For example, if you are presenting a sales pitch, you want to start with something that can motivate your audience to understand the appeal of what you are selling.
Additionally, a strong opener can help you avoid losing the audience’s attention. As a rule of thumb, you should periodically use some of your opening strategies to engage your audience throughout the entirety of the presentation.
If you just keep talking and talking for too long, it’s very easy for your audience to lose interest. Instead, grab them from the start and continue to grab them from beginning to the end.
A strong opening can leave a lasting impression even hours and days after you finish.
However you begin your presentation, consider how you might stick in your audience’s mind after you wrap up. This could be through a funny and memorable story, a shocking fact, or a generally appealing tone throughout your presentation.
As you prepare your next presentation using the strategies noted above, here are a few common mistakes you should avoid.
Confidence is key when you are presenting a speech or talk. Starting with an apology of any kind can create an untrustworthy vibe that is hard to shake.
In general, you should inspire trust and excitement in your audience, not distrust through an apologetic statement.
One of the most common mistakes people make when presenting is reading off their slides. Not only is this incredibly boring for your audience, it also shows your audience you aren’t well-prepared or particularly excited about what you are saying.
Reading off your slides is so important to avoid because it does nothing to engage your audience. You want to have your audience view you as an engaging person to listen to, not a boring voice reading words that aren’t inspiring.
You can utilize the opener strategies listed above throughout your whole presentation to motivate and engage everyone in the room.
Imagine spending an hour in a meeting and leaving without a clear understanding of the purpose. That would be extremely frustrating and would feel like a waste of your precious time.
This is why it’s so important for every person in the room to have clarity on the purpose of your talk from the start. You want them to leave with a full understanding of what they learned and heard. Not doing so will result in confusion, disengaged audience members, and a lack of excitement overall.
To get to the point, starting strong is extremely important for every presentation. Grabbing your audience from the very start can lead to more sales, more interest, and better public speaking skills overall.
Are you ready to create captivating visuals and slide decks that will leave a strong impression on your audience members? Are you looking for a team of experienced designers who can build engaging presentations for you and your business? PresentationGeeks is here to help!
Our team of designers have decades of experience building slide decks that cater to your target audience and that engage viewers from the very beginning.
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June 27, 2018 - Dom Barnard
Why should you focus on the start of your speech? Because many studies show that if you can capture someone’s interest straight away, there’s a good chance they’ll listen to the rest of the presentation. If you don’t, the majority of listeners will focus on something else.
This article discusses different ways to start a presentation and keep your audience engaged, as well as example videos you can watch which illustrate these points.
Depending on the event, a facilitator may introduce you to the audience or you may have to introduce yourself.
People came to the event knowing that there would be speaker or they may have even known that you specifically would be speaking. This should fill you with some confidence as the audience will want to listen to you.
Wait until the majority of the audience are paying attention before you introduce yourself and launch into your speech.
When watching this video, compare how the speakers:
Ensure that you welcome the audience and introduce yourself by stating your name, your job title and where you work. Follow this with a brief biography, including what experience you have – this will help draw attention to your ethos (credibility) because it’s the best way to demonstrate your credentials to that particular audience on that particular day.
Afterwards:
It’s vital to engage the audience from the start. Here are techniques for beginning a presentation:
There are many ways to shock your audience, for example, you can show a funny video, use a prop, start by talking to audience members, ridicule something etc.
But ensure that your shock will have the desired effect – you want the audience to remain engaged because they liked the surprise or they found it interesting and not because you’ve upset them so they’re looking for faults in your argument. Again, the shock must be suitable for your presentation’s purpose and your audience.
Jamie Oliver opens his TED Talk with a starting statistic: “Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead through the food that they eat.”
Asking your audience to imagine something or think ‘what if’ gets them to visualise and use their imagination. You can use this technique to evoke certain emotions which are usually the feelings you experience over the same thing.
Emotions are a great way of ensuring that people will continue listening as they are now involved in what you’re saying.
Symbouleutikon/deliberative rhetoric is when the speaker tries to get the audience to take action by talking about a possible future. Politicians often use this technique and a well-known example is Martin Luther’s “I have a dream” speech.
You can also produce a similar reaction from the audience by talking about the past – using lessons from things that were done well, or things that didn’t work. For example, you might remind the audience of when the country was economically thriving or when mistakes were made which led to the country experiencing economic turmoil.
If you’re struggling to create a strong opening sentence consider quoting someone. However, you must be careful as you can risk sounding cliché and the quote must be meaningful and relevant to the audience and the purpose of your presentation.
If you’re using slides show a photo instead of text when you’re quoting. This will help the audience:
You could start with a story to highlight why your topic is significant. For example, if the topic is on the benefits of pets on physical and psychological health, you could present a story or a study about an individual whose quality of life significantly improved after being given a dog. The audience is more likely to respond better to and remember this story than a list of facts.
Well-known historical events are good reference points, both to illustrate a point, and to get the audience using their imagination.
More experienced and confident public speakers may start a presentation with a joke. The audience will be incredibly engaged if you make them laugh but caution must be exercised when using humour because a joke can be misinterpreted and even offend the audience. Only use jokes if you’re confident with this technique and it has been successful in the past.
As aforementioned, the audience enjoy hearing stories and they’re even more interested when the story is directly about you, the speaker, because they get to see the human side of you.
Consider telling a story about a mistake you made or when life wasn’t going that well – if relevant to your presentation’s aim. People will relate to this as we all have experienced mistakes and failures. The more the audience relates to you, the more likely they will remain engaged.
These stories can also be told in a humorous way if it makes you feel more comfortable and because you’re disclosing a personal story there is less chance of misinterpretation compared to telling a joke.
Watch this great presentation from Conor Neill on how to start a speech and engage your audience. Permission given to reuse this work – read more about Conor Neill and his services on his website: conorneill.com
Putting your finger on your audience’s pain point is another way of gaining their attention because you’re triggering an emotional reaction again. For example, you might ask “Have you found it difficult to stick to a healthy diet?” The audience will now want to remain engaged because they want to know the solution and the opportunities that you’re offering.
A pre-prepared video can provide a strong presentation opening and get people to pay attention before you start speaking. Some speakers show a video as the audience are arriving and getting settled – they may begin by reflecting on the video.
You can conduct polls using your audience or ask questions to make your audience think and feel invested in your presentation. There are three different types of questions:
Direct questions require an answer: “What would you do in this situation?” These are mentally stimulating for the audience. You can pass a microphone around and let the audience come to your desired solution.
Rhetorical questions do not require answers, they are often used to emphasises an idea or point: “Is the Pope catholic?
Loaded questions contain an unjustified assumption made to prompt the audience into providing a particular answer which you can then correct to support your point: You may ask “Why does your wonderful company have such a low incidence of mental health problems?” The audience will generally answer that they’re happy. After receiving the answers you could then say “Actually it’s because people are still unwilling and too embarrassed to seek help for mental health issues at work etc.”
You could begin by sharing a surprising statistic which you can personalise to the audience for a larger impact, for example, you could say “In this room, over 70% of us are going to…” or “Look to the person on your left…”
You can also combine a statistic with a leading question, for example “What percentage of the population do you think…?” The audience should be shocked when you provide them with the actual answer.
Make sure you don’t go overboard with statistics or use complicated data especially in the introduction as you may lose the audience.
These techniques don’t only apply for introductions – they can also be used throughout your presentation to engage and persuade your audience. Try different techniques to find out what works best for you and practice as much as possible. With a powerful opening prepared you’ll feel far less nervous during the rest of your presentation.
Lawrence Haywood • 13 September, 2024 • 17 min read
What are the perfect presentation openers? Did you know this? Knowing how to start a presentation is knowing how to present .
No matter how brief, the first moments of your presentation are a huge deal. They have a massive impact not only on what follows but also on whether or not your audience follows along with you.
Sure, it's tricky, it's nerve-wracking, and it's crucial to nail down. But , with these 13 ways to start a presentation and appealing presentation starting words, you can captivate any audience from your very first sentence.
The slide that is used to introduce a topic and set the tone for the presentation is called the | Title Slide |
What is the role of the audience in an oral presentation? | Receive and feedback |
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So, how to start a speech presentation? Let me ask you this : how many times have you opened a presentation with a question?
Furthermore, have you ever wondered why an immediate question might be a great way to start a presentation?
Well, let me answer that one. Questions are interactive , and interactive presentation is what audiences bored to death of one-way monologues crave the most.
Robert Kennedy III , the international keynote speaker, lists four types of questions to use right at the beginning of your presentation:
1. | ? |
2. (To be shown alongside something else) | |
3. | ? - |
4. | - |
While these questions might be engaging, they're not really questions, are they? You don't ask them in the hope that your audience will stand up, one-by-one, and actually answer them.
There's only one thing better than a rhetorical question like this: a question that your audience truly answers , live, right in the moment.
AhaSlides lets you start your presentation with a question slide, then gather actual answers and opinions from your audience (via their phones) in real-time. These questions can be word clouds , open-ended questions , rating scales , live quizzes , and so much more.
Not only does opening in this way get your audience immediately paying attention in starting a presentation, it also covers some of the other tips mentioned in this article. Including ...
Click below to make a fully interactive presentation for free on AhaSlides.
Kich off the right way
How to start a presentation about yourself? What things to include in an about me presentation? Some great, all-encompassing advice on how to introduce yourself in a presentation comes from Conor Neill , serial entrepreneur and president of Vistage Spain.
He likens starting a presentation to meeting someone new at a bar. He's not talking about quaffing 5 pints beforehand to establish Dutch courage; more like introducing yourself in a way that feels friendly, natural and most of all, personal .
Imagine this : You're in a bar where someone piqued your interest. After a few furtive glances, you build up the courage and approach them with this:
Hi, I’m Gary, I’ve been an economic biologist for 40 years and I want to talk to you about the microeconomics of ants . - Your introduction slide about yourself ! And you're going home alone tonight.
No matter how attractive your topic is, no one wants to hear the far-too-commonly-used ' name, title, topic' procession, as it offers nothing personal to latch onto.
Imagine this : You're in the same bar a week later, and someone else has piqued your interest. Let's try this again, you think, and tonight you go with this:
Oh hey, I’m Gary, I think we know someone in common... - You , establishing a connection .
This time, you've decided to treat your listener as a friend to be made rather than as a passive audience. You've introduced yourself in a personal way that has made a connection and has opened the door to intrigue.
When it comes to introduction ideas for presentation, we recommend checking out the full 'How to start a presentation' speech by Conor Neill below. Sure, it’s from 2012, and he makes some dust-coated references to Blackberries, but his advice is timeless and incredibly helpful. It’s a fun watch; he’s entertaining, and he knows what he’s talking about.
How to start an introduction for a presentation? If you did watch the full video above, you'd know that Conor Neill's absolute favourite tip for starting a presentation is this: telling a story .
Think about how this magical sentence makes you feel:
Once upon a time...
For pretty much every child that hears these 4 words, this is an instant attention grabber . Even as a man in his 30s, this opener still makes me wonder what might follow.
Just on the off-chance that the audience for your presentation isn't a room of 4-year-olds, don't worry - there are grown-up versions of 'once upon a time' .
And they all involve people. Just like these:
Remember this 👉 Good stories are about people ; they're not about things. They're not about products or companies or revenue; they're about the lives, the achievements, the struggles and the sacrifices of the people behind the things.
Aside from conjuring an immediate surge of interest by humanising your topic, there are several other benefits to starting a presentation with a story:
💡 Going virtual with your presentation? Check out seven tips on how to make it seamless !
There are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on earth.
Did your mind just explode with questions, thoughts and theories? That's how to start a presentation, as the best way for the powerpoint Presentation Introduction!
Using a fact as an opener to a presentation is an instant attention grabber.
Naturally, the more shocking the fact is, the more your audience is drawn to it. While it's tempting to go for pure shock factor, facts need to have some mutual connection with the topic of your presentation. They need to offer an easy segue into the body of your material.
Here's an example I recently used at an online event ran from Singapore 👇 "In the U.S alone, around 1 billion trees' worth of paper are thrown away yearly."
The speech I was giving was about our software, AhaSlides, which provides ways to make presentations and quizzes interactive without using stacks of paper.
Though that's not the biggest selling point of AhaSlides, it was super easy for me to connect that shocking statistic and what our software offers. From there, segueing into the bulk of the topic was a breeze.
A quote gives the audience something tangible , memorable and understandable to chew on, all while you proceed into a presentation that will likely be a series of more abstract ideas.
There's a reason I chose the GIF above: it's a mix between a fact and an engaging visual .
While facts grab attention through words, visuals achieve the same thing by appealing to a different part of the brain. A more easily stimulated part of the brain.
Facts and visuals usually go hand-in-hand regarding how to start a presentation. Check out these facts about visuals:
It's the last stat here that has the most significant implications for you.
Think about this 👇 I could spend all day telling you, through voice and text, about the impact of plastic on our oceans. You may not listen, but the chances are that you will be more convinced by a single image:
That's because images, art in particular, are way better at connecting to your emotions than I am. And connecting to emotions, whether through introductions, stories, facts, quotes or images, gives a presentation its persuasive power .
On a more practical level, visuals also help make potentially complex data super clear. While it's not a great idea to start a presentation with a graph that risks overwhelming the audience with data, visual presentation material like this can certainly be your best friend later on.
Like a fact, a single quote might be the best way to start a presentation as it can add a vast deal of credibility to your point.
Unlike a fact, however, it's the source of the quote that often carries a lot of the gravitas.
The thing is, literally anything anyone says can be considered a quote. Stick some quotation marks around it and...
...you've got yourself a quote. Lawrence Haywood - 2021
Starting a presentation with a quote is pretty great. What you want is a quote that starts a presentation with a bang. To do that, it has to check these boxes:
For mega-engagement, I've found it's sometimes a good idea to go with a controversial quote .
I'm not talking about something completely heinous that gets you thrown out of the conference, just something that doesn't encourage a unilateral 'nod and move on' response from your audience. The best opening words for presentations might come from controversial opinions.
Check this example 👇 "When I was young, I thought that money was the most important thing in life. Now that I am old, I know that it is" - Oscar Wilde.
This certainly isn't a quote that elicits total agreement. Its controversial nature offers immediate attention, a great talking point and even a way to encourage audience participation via a 'how much do you agree?' question ( like in tip #1 ).
One more thing a quote can offer you is the chance to get people laughing .
How many times have you, yourself, been an unwilling audience member in your 7th presentation of the day, needing some reason to smile as the presenter plunges you head-first into the 42 problems of stopgap solution bring ?
Humour takes your presentation one step closer to a show and one step further from a funeral procession.
Aside from being a great stimulator, a bit of comedy can also give you these benefits:
Not a comedian? Not a problem. Check out these tips on how to start a presentation with humour 👇
My name is (name) , I am a (title) and (pun) .
And here it is in action:
My name is Chris, I'm an astronomer and lately my whole career has been looking up. You, getting off on the right foot
People have different expectations and background knowledge when they attend your presentations. Knowing their objectives can provide a value that you can use to adjust your presenting style. Adapting to people’s needs and meeting the expectations of everyone can result in a successful presentation for all involved.
You can do this by holding a small Q&A session on AhaSlides . When you start your presentation, invite attendees to post the questions they are most curious about. You can use the Q and A slide pictured below.
Some questions that I am happy to be asked:
This is another easy way to boost the excitement levels and creativity of everyone in the room! As the host, split the audience into pairs or trios, give them a topic and then ask teams to make a list of possible responses. Then have each team submit their answers as fast as possible to a Word Cloud or Open-Ended question panel on AhaSlides . The results will show up live in your slide show!
The topic of the game does not need to be the topic of the presentation. It can be about anything fun but provokes a lighthearted debate and energises everyone.
Some good topics for a presentation are:
Get free templates to wow your audience with a great introduction in your next presentation. Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!
If you’re worried that the above games have too much “typing”, then an icebreaker with a live poll will capture everyone’s attention but take much less effort. The questions can be funny and silly, industry-related, and debate-prompting, and are designed to get your audience networking.
Another idea is to start with easy-going, essential questions and move on to trickier ones. In this way, you lead the audience toward the topic of your presentation and thereafter, you can build up your presentation based on these questions.
Don’t forget to organise the game on an online platform like AhaSlides . By doing this, responses can be displayed live on the screen; everyone can see how many people think like them!
🎊 Tips: Use the idea board to organise your options better!
Spin more fun to your session! This is a classic icebreaker game with a straightforward rule. You have to share three facts, only two of which are true, and the audience must guess which one is the lie. The statements can be about you or the audience; however, if attendees have never met before, you should give out prompts about yourself.
Collect as many sets of statements as possible, then create an online multiple-choice poll for each one. On D-Day, present them and let everyone vote on the lie. Tip: Remember to hide the correct answer till the end!
You can get ideas for this game here .
Or, check out the 'real' Get to Know me Games
Icebreakers mostly center around you – the presenter – handing out questions and requests to the audience, so why not mix it up and have them take turns challenging each other? This game is a physical task that gets people moving. It’s a beautiful way to rock the whole room and get people interacting.
Give out paper and pens to the audience and ask them to think of challenges for the others before crumpling them into balls. Then, count down from three and throw them into the air! Ask people to grab the one nearest them and invite them to read the challenges.
Everyone loves winning, so you can’t imagine how challenging this can be! The audience will be even more motivated if you put up a prize for the most exciting questions!
How to make a presentation fun? Nothing can beat games at hyping people up. Knowing this, you should have your audience jump straight into a fun quiz at the beginning of your presentation. Wait and see how energised and hyped up they become!
The best thing: This is not limited only to entertaining or easy-going presentations, but also more “serious” formal and scientific ones. With several topic-focused questions, attendees can get a clearer insight into what ideas you are about to bring them while becoming more familiar with you.
If you are successful, the preconception that a presentation must be painstakingly nerve-wracking disappears almost immediately. All that is left is pure excitement and a crowd eager for more information.
Need more interactive presentation ideas ? AhaSlides got you covered!
Starting a presentation effectively is crucial because it sets the tone for the entire presentation and can capture the audience's attention and interest. If you fail to engage your audience at the beginning, they may quickly lose interest, be bored and tune out, making it difficult to get the message across effectively.
A few ways to make it unique include Telling a Story, Starting with a Surprising Statistic, Using a Prop, Beginning with a Quote or Starting with a Provocative Question!
Engaging Opener, Inspiring Stories with a Clear Call to Action
Good morning/afternoon everyone, welcome to my presentation Let me start by saying a few words about myself. As you can see, our main topic for today is...... This talk is designed to ...
Cite every source clearly, during speaking, in handouts to participants and also on the slides.
Make it interactive
Former ESL teacher and quiz master converted to the wild slide. Now a content creator, traveller, musician and big time slider preaching the good word of interactivity.
Tips to Engage with Polls & Trivia
Guru - April 18, 2023 - Leave your thoughts. 11 min read
How you start a presentation is crucial, as it can make or break the entire experience for the audience.
It's crucial to grab the audience's attention from the get-go. Otherwise, they'll lose interest and tune out.
This is especially important when presenting to larger crowds, like at a conference or when trying to win bids over prospective customers.
Most of us would have watched videos of how influential people have addressed their audience.
Steve Jobs’s presentation for the launch of the iPhone in 2007 was one of the most successful product launches to date.
Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” is another prime example of a powerful speech.
Not to forget former President-Elect Obama’s term-winning speech in Chicago!
We have observed and learned a lot from these powerful presentations, how these legends addressed a large audience and kept their speech engaging throughout.
In this blog, we have listed the 11 proven strategies on how to start a presentation and hook your audience until the end like a Pro.
So, if you are nervous about starting a presentation or often find yourself stumbling over your words and forgetting what you want to say, you have come to the right place!
Don't let the fear of starting a presentation hold you back. With our expert strategies, you'll be able to start like a pro, impress your audience, and leave a lasting impression.
So, let's get started!
One of the easiest ways to grab your audience’s attention is by using a powerful quote.
A well-crafted quote can be a powerful tool in a presentation. It helps to set the tone for a long presentation and as well as rekindle the audience’s attention when there’s a dip in their concentration.
Have a look at this video below,
The speaker starts off her presentation with a quote - “Letting go can make you unstoppable!”. Through this the speaker gives a strong narrative to her topic and ropes in the audience.
Selecting a quote relevant to your topic and that resonates with your audience is essential. You have to keep in mind that your audience should be able to understand and remember it.
Therefore, avoid complex quotes that might confuse them. Instead, choose a quote that is simple, clear, and has an emotional appeal.
Hence, with a thoughtful quote and the right visual aid, you can effectively capture your audience's attention and set the stage for a memorable presentation.
Facts and figures can be compelling, but visuals can be more appealing and stimulate your audience's emotional response.
An appealing image-based content receives more percentage of views than text-based content.
Images, in particular, can help you connect with your audience's emotions and convey complex data clearly and concisely.
Have a look at this presentation, the speaker displays an alluring image to help the audience understand her topic - “Does photographing a moment steal the experience from you?”
This helps the audience to immediately understand and related to their own life experiences. Eventually forming an emotional connection to the problem that the speaker is presenting.
A strong focus on the topic of the presentation can be established almost instantly through an image , making it a powerful tool for conveying important information.
When giving a presentation, engaging your audience and making them feel invested in your message is essential. One effective way to do this is by conducting polls or asking questions.
Take a look at this video below,
The speaker starts off his presentation with an open-ended question and then proceeds to introduce himself and his topic. This intrigues the audience to listen and participate in the presentation.
Similarly, in your presentations, you can ask any relevant direct questions requiring a response, such as "What would you do in this situation?"
These questions are mentally stimulating and can encourage audience participation. You can even pass a microphone around and let the audience come up with the desired solution.
Rhetorical questions, on the other hand, do not require answers. Instead, they're often used to emphasize a point.
With this approach, you can create an interactive and memorable presentation that leaves a lasting impact on your audience.
One definite exciting way to kick off your presentation is by sparking curiosity with a little test amongst the audience right at the beginning.
Have a look at this video,
The presenter builds up curiosity right off the bat by saying, ‘I have a test for you.’ This creates excitement and curiosity about what that test might be.
You can also incorporate a thought-provoking statement, fact, or poll in your presentation right at the start to hook the audience’s attention very closely.
Do this with an air of authority and knowledge. With a confident delivery and a fascinating fact, you can draw your audience in and set the stage for a captivating presentation.
While slide presentations can be informative, they can also be dull and uninspiring. That's why you must consider starting your presentation with a short, relevant story.
The presenter starts off his presentation with a short story about his immigration journey. This helps him to attract the audience and make them eagerly anticipate the series of events and the end result.
Using a good story in your presentation can build rapport with your audience and create an emotional connection. Whether it's humorous, romantic, or thought-provoking, make sure it's 30 seconds to a minute and is relevant to the presentation.
So, before diving into your slide presentation, take a moment to tell a story that will grab your audience's attention and create a connection with them.
Let your audience in on your personal experience, and watch as their interest in your presentation grows.
Using humor in your presentation can have numerous benefits beyond just making people laugh.
One of the most significant advantages of incorporating humor into your presentation is that it can help to ease tension and anxiety, especially for you as the presenter.
Have a look at this video below
The presenter engages with the audience by cracking relevant jokes as he shares stories from his life. He uses the element of humor to keep the audience emotionally engaged and also to convey a heartfelt message at the end.
Likewise, starting your presentation with a light-hearted joke or an anecdote can help you relax and feel more confident.
If you can make your audience laugh, they're more likely to remember your key takeaways. So don't be afraid to inject a bit of humor into your presentation - it might help to make it a hit!
As a presenter, sometimes you need to tap into your audience's imagination to make your point. This is where the commands "imagine," "think of," or "picture this" can come in handy.
In this video, the presenter starts off his presentation by using the hook word “Imagine..” Through this, the presenter gets hold of their attention and takes them on an imaginary journey with him.
Similarly, in your presentation, by prompting your audience to imagine or consider different scenarios, you can stimulate their creativity and engage them in a deeper level of thinking.
This can also evoke emotions that are relevant to your topic, making it more impactful and memorable for your audience.
Remember, emotions are a powerful tool in keeping your audience engaged and attentive throughout your presentation.
By leveraging your audience's imagination, you can create a more interactive and dynamic experience that will leave a lasting impression.
If you’d have to do a presentation online and none of the above suggestions work for your set of audience, then you can use an Animated version of yourself and spark interest.
Yes! You read it right. You can now create and add custom Animated Characters to your slide decks with the online presentation software Animaker Deck .
Forgo the very old presentation styles and give life to your slide decks with the help of Animated Characters.
Animaker Deck offers various choices and an option to create custom characters, from children to adults and even animal characters.
You can create a look-alike of yourself as an Animated character, choose facial expressions and add actions to the character. There are plenty of customization options available for you to choose from.
Check out this video to learn how to make animated presentations
Starting your presentation with Animated characters will surely be refreshing for your audience, and they will be intrigued to see what comes next in your presentation! So do give it a try from here!
If you are presenting to a group of students or upcoming entrepreneurs or simply a young crowd, the OG way of starting a presentation is stating your expertise on the topic and introducing yourself largely.
Watch this example presentation below,
The speaker establishes credibility and sets the stage for the rest of the presentation by claiming his authority and expertise as a doctor who worked closely on addiction problems.
Similarly, during your presentation, when introducing yourself, include your name, your position or area of expertise, and any relevant qualifications or experience you have.
This will help your audience understand why you are qualified to speak on this topic.
Next, introduce your topic and briefly overview what you will discuss. This will help your audience understand the purpose of your presentation.
This is one great way to begin your presentation and set the tone for the rest of the decks in-store.
One way to capture your audience's attention and keep them engaged throughout your presentation is by incorporating a shock factor to surprise and intrigue your audience.
For instance, in the recent Marvel Comics Con 2022, the MCU presenter took the audience by storm by unveiling the plans for phase 6 of the Marvel Movies. It entirely shook the audience and caught them off-guard.
Have a look at the audience’s reaction in this video.
That’s a splendid way to keep your audience entertained throughout the presentation, right?
Similarly, you can also instill a surprise element at the start of your presentation and hook your audience throughout the end.
However, it's essential to ensure that your shocking tactic is effective and well-suited for your audience and the purpose of your presentation.
The last thing you want is to shock your audience in a way that offends or upsets them, which can lead to a disengaged and uninterested audience.
Instead, your shock factor should be designed to elicit a positive response from your audience, such as a sense of excitement, interest, or humor. If done correctly, this would help you effectively kick off your presentation.
Silence can be a powerful tool for commanding a room during a presentation. While it may be daunting to use silence as a technique, it can be incredibly effective when executed properly.
In this video, the presenter starts with Silence. This gets the audience thinking different things and anticipate what’s going to happen.
Silence is another effective technique to draw attention to a prop or visual aid.
By holding the audience's attention with silence, you create a dramatic moment that keeps them engaged and eager to hear what you have to say next.
Incorporating silence into your presentation may feel uncomfortable, but with practice and confidence, it can become an incredibly valuable tool in commanding the room and keeping your audience engaged.
In conclusion, starting a presentation on the right note is crucial for capturing your audience's attention and keeping them engaged throughout your talk.
By following the 11 proven ways we've discussed in this blog, you can create a powerful opening that sets the tone for the rest of your presentation and leaves a lasting impression on your audience.
Don't be afraid to experiment with different opening techniques and find what works best for you and your audience.
So go out there and take the first step towards becoming a confident and engaging presenter!
Now that you have learned the pro strategies of how to start a presentation, take a look at this guide on “How to end a presentation” as well and nail your presentation from start to end!
Do you have more pointers to start a presentation like a pro? Feel free to add them in the comments section below!
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By Paola Pascual on November 29, 2021
Giving professional presentations is a fundamental skill to succeed in any global business environment, regardless of your role. And the beginning of your presentation, together with the end of your presentation , might be the most important part of your speech. It can also be the most awkward part, too. In this post, you will learn an easy-to-apply yet effective framework to start your next presentation.
The reason why the beginning and the end are so important is called the Primacy and Recency Effects, which means that people remember the beginning and end best.
Also read: 21 Helpful Tips For Remarkable and Outstanding Presentation Skills
Soft start. Depending on the nature of your presentation, you may be able to do a soft start before actually kicking off your presentation. You can have some small talk with the audience before politely transitioning into your hard start. These few initial minutes will help you engage those who arrived early and allow a brief time for latecomers.
Hard start. Your hard start is your ‘official’ introduction, where you welcome everyone, introduce the people involved and the topic at hand, and transition to the body of your presentation.
Welcome everyone and thank them for attending your presentation. If you feel comfortable, use a hook or a catchy opening to capture the audience’s attention right off the bat . You can use a surprising stat, a famous quote, or a rhetorical question.
When you introduce yourself, establish credibility by describing your relevant experience, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Why should we listen to you?
Make a clear and general statement to explain what benefit the audience will gain from your presentation (this refers back to your WHAT and your WHY, which we covered in our previous lesson).
Use signposting language to tell the audience where you are going and what they can expect next. Use a segue or transition phrase to move smoothly to whatever follows without pause.
Think about your next presentation and use this framework to draft the first few minutes of your presentation and paste it in the comments. Make sure you include all the sections and employ a variety of phrases!
This article works as supporting material for our podcast episode on how to start a presentation effectively. You can read the transcript below. Make sure y ou check out all our other Talaera Talks episodes and subscri be to get new episode alerts.
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Intro Welcome to Talaera Talks , the business English communication podcast for non-native professionals. My name is Paola and I am co-hosting this show with Simon. In this podcast, we’re going to be covering communication advice and tips to help express yourself with confidence in English in professional settings. So we hope you enjoy the show!
0:24 Welcome to a new Talaera Bit. This is Paola and, in this episode, you will learn an effective way to start your presentation.
0:32 Now, why the start? Well, it turns out the beginning, the start of your presentation, together with the conclusion, are the most important parts of your presentation. And this is due to what’s called the Primacy and Recency effects. Don’t worry, you don’t need to remember the names. But it means that people remember the beginning and the end, best. So today, this is what we will cover –the different parts of the introduction or how to start your presentation so that everyone’s listening to you and actually wanting to hear.
1:11 Depending on the nature of your presentation, you may be able to start or to do like a soft start before actually kicking off your presentation. Here’s where you have a little bit of small talk with the audience before politely transitioning into your heart start. So these few initial minutes where you get to talk a little bit with the audience will help you engage with those who arrived early, but also allow a brief time for late commerce. So that’s a bit the first few minutes a soft start with small talk.
1:51 And then you do have the hard start, which is your official introduction. And I usually this is the part where we will focus on today. And I usually divide this hard start into four small sections, where you welcome everyone you introduce the people involved, and also the topic at hand, and then you transition to the body of your presentation. So let’s have a look at each of those four sections and make sure you pay attention to all the phrases I’m going to provide.
2:25 Alright, so we said the first section is the welcome. Here’s where you welcome everyone and thank them for attending your presentation or talk. And if you feel comfortable, you can also use a hook, which is like a catchy opening to capture the audience’s attention right off the bat. You can use like a surprising stat or a famous quote or a rhetorical question. And here are some phrases you can use for this welcome or first section: “Hi, everyone, thank you so much for joining us today and welcome to the session”, or “In the 30 minutes that it will take me to give this presentation, 7000 businesses in the US will close down”. That’s a bit like a surprising stat, right? Or like a famous quote, as I said, “Somebody once said, ‘A brand is a promise’, but what happens when that promise is broken?” So now you have the first section, the welcome.
3:25 Now you move on to the people involved. This is when you introduce yourself, or perhaps even your co hosts if there are any. And here is where you establish credibility by describing your relevant experience, your responsibilities, your accomplishments, why should we listen to you, here’s where you have to provide the evidence or reasons. And you can use phrases like just the simple ones such as, “My name is Susan and I’m part of the design team here at Globex corporation”, or something like “I was fortunate enough to be part of the team at Globex that developed the original Datatronic 2000”. Or here’s another phrase, “In my 15 years in Silicon Valley, I learned quite a bit about managing risk, and I learned the hard way”.
4:19 So you have number one, the welcome, number two, you introduce the people involved (and if there’s someone else giving the talk or co hosting with you, make sure you introduce them as well), and number three, you can introduce the topic. And here you need to make a clear and general statement to explain what benefit –and I cannot highlight this enough– the benefit that the audience will gain from your presentation. What is your presentation about and why should they listen to it? And here are some phrases: “Today I’d like to talk about…” or “The main goal of this presentation is…” or “What is I hope you’ll get from this afternoon session is a clear idea of how CRM works”. Or “By the end of this morning’s talk, you will know how to say no and feel good about it”. Whatever benefit they will get, make sure you tell them in this heart start.
5:19 And the very last bit is the transition to the main point. Here you can use signposting language, which is what you use to tell the audience where you’re going, and what they can expect next. Something like “Alright, let’s dive right in!” Or “Shall we get the ball rolling?”, or “Great, let’s get down to it”.
5:40 So those are the different parts of the beginning of your presentation. Remember, starting with a soft start is a nice way to engage people at the beginning and allow a little bit of time for those who are late. And then with your hard start, you have the welcome (“Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us today”). Number two, you introduce the people involved, then you introduce the topic, giving them a clear benefit of your presentation. And number four, you transition to the main point. And that’s it, I hope you’re able to use all these phrases and tips and I look forward to our next episode.
And that’s all we have for you today. We hope you enjoyed it, and remember to subscribe to Talaera Talks . We’ll be back soon with more! And visit our website at https://talaera.com for more valuable content on business English. You can also request a free consultation on the best ways for you and your team to improve your communication skills. So have a great day and keep learning!
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In this blog, discover essential strategies on How to Begin a Presentation. Learn effective techniques to captivate your audience from the start. Master the art of engaging introductions and set the stage for a successful Presentation that leaves a lasting impression. Start your Presentation journey with confidence.
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When it comes to delivering a Presentation, the beginning is arguably the most crucial part. A strong start can capture your audience's attention, set the tone, and establish your credibility. However, it can be daunting to figure- out How to Start a Presentation effectively. In this blog, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of How to Start a Presentation, and help you craft a compelling introduction for your Presentation. So, read ahead to learn more!
Table of Contents
1) What is an introduction in Presentation?
2) Steps on How to Start a Presentation?
a) Understand your audience
b) Define your objective
c) Introduce yourself confidently
d) Craft a powerful opening statement
e) Incorporate storytelling techniques
f) Utilise visual aids
g) Engage the audience with questions
h) Use humour wisely
i) Showcase data and statistics
j) Create smooth transitions
3) Common mistakes to avoid in the opening of a Presentation
4) Tips on how to finish your Presentation
5) Conclusion
A Presentation introduction serves as the initial phase of your Presentation, aimed at acquainting your audience with your identity and the topic you will be discussing. It's an opportunity to establish credibility and pique interest.
Before you step up to deliver your Presentation, take the time to understand your audience. Conduct research or surveys to grasp their interests, needs, and prior knowledge related to your topic. By understanding your audience's demographics and preferences, you can tailor your content and approach to resonate with them effectively.
Identify the main demographics of your audience, such as age, gender, educational background, and professional expertise, as a crucial step to prepare a presentation that resonates effectively. Consider what they might already know about your topic and what information would be new or valuable to them. Understanding their expectations and interests will allow you to create a Presentation that meets their needs and keeps them engaged from the outset.
Every successful Presentation must have a clear objective. Ask yourself: What do you want your audience to take away from your talk? Are you aiming to inform, persuade, inspire, or entertain? Defining your objective will serve as a guiding light and help you structure your content coherently.
Consider the primary message that you want to convey and the specific actions or reactions you hope to elicit from your audience. Once you have a clear goal in mind, you can build your Presentation around it. This way you can also ensure that every point and example aligns with your intended outcome.
As you step onto the stage or stand before your audience, confidently introduce yourself. Share your name, position, and any relevant qualifications or experience that establish your authority on the topic. A strong introduction not only builds credibility but also creates a sense of trust between you and your audience.
Keep your introduction brief, but don't shy away from mentioning relevant accomplishments or experiences that directly relate to your Presentation. A confident introduction sets a positive tone and signals to your audience that they are in capable hands.
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The opening moments are critical for capturing your audience's attention. Craft a powerful and attention-grabbing opening statement that sparks curiosity and curiosity. You can begin with a compelling question, a surprising statistic, or a thought-provoking quote.
A robust opening will draw your audience in, letting them hear what comes next. Aim to create an emotional connection or resonate with their interests right from the start, setting the stage for an engaging and impactful Presentation. One must also be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of presentations .
Humans are naturally drawn to stories. Weave storytelling techniques into your Presentation to create emotional connections with your audience. Share relevant anecdotes, personal experiences, or case studies that illustrate the points you want to make.
A well-crafted story can evoke emotions, making your Presentation memorable and relatable. It helps your audience resonate with your content on a deeper level, increasing their receptiveness to your message.
Visual aids are powerful tools for enhancing your Presentation's impact and clarity. Use slides, images, charts, or videos to visually illustrate complex concepts, data, or processes. Well-designed visuals complement your spoken words and reinforce key points, making them easier to understand and remember.
Remember to keep visual aids simple, uncluttered, and relevant to avoid overwhelming or distracting your audience. Visuals should support your narrative and amplify your message, not compete with it.
Engaging your audience is crucial for maintaining their attention and involvement. Incorporate rhetorical or interactive questions to encourage participation and critical thinking.
Ask thought-provoking questions that prompt your audience to reflect on the topic or relate it to their own experiences. This fosters a sense of involvement, making your Presentation more interactive and memorable.
Appropriate humour can be used as a powerful tool for connecting with your audience and breaking the ice. Use light-hearted anecdotes or witty remarks that align with your content and maintain a professional tone.
Humour can help ease tension, make your Presentation more enjoyable, and create a positive atmosphere. However, avoid jokes that could be offensive or distract from your main message.
Supporting your points with data and statistics can strengthen your credibility. Use reliable sources to present relevant facts, figures, or research findings that back up your arguments.
Data-driven evidence reinforces your expertise on the subject and adds substance to your talk. It also gives your audience a tangible basis for understanding the importance or relevance of your topic.
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Confidence comes from thorough preparation. Rehearse multiple times to familiarise yourself with the flow and content. Practise in front of a mirror or record yourself to identify areas that need improvement.
Rehearsing helps you refine your delivery, ensure smooth transitions, and become more comfortable with the material. The more you practise, the more confident and natural you will appear during the actual Presentation.
Identify the pain points or challenges your audience may be facing related to your topic. Addressing these concerns early on shows empathy and understanding, making your Presentation more relevant and valuable to your listeners.
Acknowledging their needs and offering solutions or insights builds rapport and trust with your audience. Show them that you understand their struggles and have valuable information to share.
Creating smooth transitions is the art of seamlessly linking ideas and concepts, ensuring a logical and coherent flow. Transitions act as bridges between different sections or points, guiding your audience through the journey of your talk with ease.
To achieve smooth transitions, use transitional words and phrases that indicate shifts in thought or direction. Examples include "now let's move on to," "in addition," "on the other hand," and "finally." Additionally, consider using visual aids or anecdotes to connect ideas smoothly. Slides, images, or short stories can act as visual cues that guide your audience from one topic to another. By carefully crafting transitions, you create a cohesive and engaging Presentation that keeps your listeners attentive and receptive throughout.
Feeling nervous before a Presentation is natural and can even be beneficial. Embrace the adrenaline as energy to fuel your enthusiasm and passion for your topic.
Practise relaxation techniques, like deep breathing, to help calm your nerves. Remind yourself that your audience is supportive, and a little nervousness shows that you care about delivering a great Presentation.
Emphasise the benefits your audience will gain from listening to you. Address the "What's in it for me?" question by showcasing how your content is relevant and valuable to their lives or work.
Highlight the practical applications or positive outcomes they can expect from implementing your ideas or recommendations. Demonstrating the value of your Presentation keeps your audience engaged and motivated to act on what they've learned.
Introducing a powerful quote can add credibility and impact to your Presentation. Select a quote from a respected authority or renowned figure in your field that aligns with your audience and encapsulates the essence of your message. A well-chosen quote can inspire, motivate, or challenge your listeners, prompting them to reflect on the significance of your topic and its relevance to their lives or work.
Opening with a bold statement or challenge can pique curiosity and provoke thought among your audience. Make a provocative assertion or pose a compelling question that challenges conventional wisdom or prompts re-evaluation of existing beliefs. By presenting a bold statement or challenge at the outset, you can grab attention and set the stage for a thought-provoking discussion that stimulates critical thinking and exploration of new ideas.
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Frame your Presentation by highlighting a relevant problem or challenge and then proposing a solution or course of action. Clearly define the problem statement, emphasising its significance and implications.
Then, transition to your proposed solution, outlining its benefits and addressing potential objections. By presenting a clear problem-solving framework, you can demonstrate your expertise and provide actionable insights that resonate with your audience.
Offering a brief outline of your Presentation structure can help orient your audience and set expectations for what's to come. Clearly articulate the main sections or topics you'll cover, along with any key points or themes you'll address within each section. Providing a roadmap upfront allows your audience to follow along more effectively, helping them stay engaged and focused throughout the Presentation.
Establishing a personal connection with your audience from the outset can foster rapport and trust. Share a brief personal anecdote, relate a relevant experience, or express genuine enthusiasm for your topic. By demonstrating authenticity and relatability, you can create a sense of camaraderie and mutual comprehension that strengthens the bond between you and your audience, enhancing receptiveness to your message.
Now, that you know How to Start a Presentation, let’s check the common mistakes to avoid. In the initial moments of a Presentation, it's crucial to captivate your audience and set the tone for a successful delivery. Avoiding common pitfalls can ensure a strong start and engage your audience from the starting. Let's see what should not be done to maintain the importance of presentation throughout the session.:
Beginning a Presentation with apologies can undermine your credibility and detract from your message. Instead, focus on projecting confidence and enthusiasm, acknowledging any minor hiccups gracefully, if necessary, but swiftly transitioning to the core content.
Relying too heavily on reading directly from slides can result in a lacklustre Presentation and disengage your audience. Instead, use slides as visual aids to complement your spoken points, providing additional context or highlighting key takeaways to reinforce your message.
Bombarding your audience with excessive information right from the start can overwhelm them and hinder comprehension. Opt for a concise and structured approach, gradually introducing key concepts and building upon them throughout the Presentation to maintain audience engagement and understanding.
Failing to acknowledge or connect with your audience can create a disconnect and diminish their interest in the Presentation. Start by establishing rapport through a warm greeting or a brief introduction, and strive to maintain audience engagement through eye contact, interactive elements, and addressing their interests and concerns.
Unclear or ambiguous communication at the beginning of a Presentation can confuse your audience and undermine the effectiveness of your message. Prioritise clarity in your opening remarks, clearly articulating the purpose, objectives, and structure of your Presentation to provide a roadmap for your audience to follow.
Refrain from grabbing your audience's attention with a compelling hook or opening statement to avoid a lacklustre start to your Presentation. Begin with a thought-provoking question, a startling statistic, a relevant anecdote, or a captivating visual to pique curiosity and draw your audience into the topic, setting the stage for a memorable and impactful Presentation.
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1) Summarise your key points: Begin your conclusion by summarising the main points you covered. This helps reinforce the key takeaways and ensures that your audience remembers the most important aspects of your talk.
2) Reiterate your main message: Restate your central message or call to action clearly and concisely. Emphasise why your topic is relevant and why your audience should care about it.
3) Use a powerful closing statement: End with a memorable closing statement that encapsulates the essence of your talk. This could be a thought-provoking quote, a powerful statistic, or a compelling question that lingers in your audience's mind.
4) Circle back to the opening: If you started your Presentation with an attention-grabbing anecdote or question, consider revisiting it in your conclusion. Connecting the end to the beginning creates a sense of closure and completeness.
5) Encourage action: Motivate your audience to take action based on the information you've shared. Whether it's implementing your recommendations, seeking more information, or joining a cause, inspire them to act on what they've learned.
6) Leave room for questions: Before you conclude, let your audience know that you welcome questions or further discussions. This encourages engagement and shows that you are open to addressing any lingering doubts or curiosities.
7) Use a strong closing slide: End with a visually appealing and impactful closing slide. Include your main message, contact information, or any relevant call-to-action buttons.
8) Thank your audience: Express gratitude to your audience for their time and attention. Acknowledge their presence and let them know that you appreciate their interest in your topic.
9) Stay confident: Maintain a confident and positive demeanour throughout your conclusion. Your body language and tone of voice should reflect your enthusiasm for the topic and your belief in the importance of your message.
10) Practise your conclusion: Just like the rest of your Presentation, rehearse your conclusion to ensure a smooth and impactful delivery. A well-practised conclusion will leave a lasting impression on your audience.
Crafting an impactful Presentation requires a combination of thoughtful preparation and effective delivery. By understanding your audience, defining your objectives, and incorporating engaging techniques such as storytelling and visual aids, you can Improve Your Presentation Skills and captivate your listeners from the start. Practising and addressing pain points further enhance your credibility and connection with the audience. Hope we provided you with all the information you needed to know about How to Start Presentation!
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While memorising can ensure a polished start, focus on understanding and connecting with your audience. Familiarise yourself with key points, allowing flexibility for natural delivery and engagement. Remember, authenticity breeds connection, fostering a genuine rapport with your audience from the outset.
Seamless transitions are pivotal. Use attention-grabbing statements, anecdotes, or questions to bridge the opening to the main content. Maintain coherence, guiding your audience smoothly into the heart of your Presentation. A well-crafted transition sets the stage for an engaging discourse, retaining the audience's attention effectively.
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19. "I'm honored to present to you this comprehensive look into…". 20. "Without further ado, let's get started on a journey through…". 21. "Thank you for carving time out of your day to join me for this presentation on…". 22. "It's wonderful to see such an engaged audience ready to tackle the topic of…". 23.
3. " State of the Cloud 2023—The AI era ". Image Source. This is the opening slide of a presentation that explores the impact of the "AI era" and the "cloud economy" on the financing ecosystem. What we like: This is another excellent example of opening a presentation with an attention-grabbing hook.
1. Tell your audience who you are. Start your presentation by introducing yourself. Along with sharing your name, give your audience some information about your background. Choose details that are relevant to your presentation and help establish you as an expert in your chosen topic. Example: "Good morning.
Use humor or wit. Sprinkle some humor and wit to spice things up. Cracking a clever joke or throwing in a witty remark can break the ice and create a positively charged atmosphere. If you're cracking your head on how to start a group presentation, humor is a great way to start a presentation speech.
Part 1: Premise, Objective, and Goal Part 2: Argument and Background InformationPart 3: Expected Result and Resolution (others.) In summary of the whole presentation, the topic leaves a remarkable ending. How to Start Business Presentation and Other Samples. For all entrepreneurs, this portion is for you.
Financial PowerPoint Template with Calculator by SlideModel. 5. Use the Word "Imagine". "Imagine," "Picture This," and "Think of" are better word choices for when you plan to begin your presentation with a quick story. Our brain loves interacting with stories. In fact, a captivating story makes us more collaborative.
Apply the 10-20-30 rule. Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it! 9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule. Simplicity is key.
Here is the list of effective presentation openers. 7 Dynamic Ways to Start Your Next Presentation. Give Your Presentation Summary and Conclusion First. Start the Presentation with a Compelling Story. Use a Startling Statistic to Start a Presentation. A Funny or Motivational Quote or One-Liner. Start with an Opinion Asking Question.
1. Open with a Compelling Story: Ideal for Funding Pitches and Inspirational Talks. Stories are one of the most engaging ways to start a presentation. They create an emotional connection and make complex ideas relatable. A well-told story can be a powerful hook, especially if it's relevant to the audience and ties directly into your core message.
Knowing how to start a presentation—be it a sales presentation, an investor pitch, a conference keynote, or an internal team update—sets the tone for everything that follows. The best way to open your presentation? Forget about overly complicated introductions, because you'll want to use your initial seconds to pique genuine curiosity and ...
Replacing images in the Soaring template from Envato Elements is another way to simplify learning how to start a PowerPoint presentation. To change out the images used on the slides, right-click on the image. Select Change Picture > From File. Then, select a picture from your computer and press Insert. 4.
Using slides and visual aids can enhance your presentation, as 65% of individuals learn best visually. To make a strong first impression, create a visually appealing slide that provides a clear overview of your topic. Avoid clutter and excessive text, opting for graphics and key points that engage your audience.
This is why, in this article, we will help you achieve this and more with 10 practical tips on how to start and end a presentation effectively. Article overview: The Opening: 5 Tips To Get Your Audience Invested. 1. The Hook. 2. Transition. 3. Personal Story.
Connect with a personal anecdote. An effective method to start a presentation is by weaving in a personal anecdote that is both relevant and relatable. This technique fosters an immediate connection with your audience, as personal stories resonate more deeply, making your message more memorable.
Have a presentation coming up? The last thing you want is to bore your audience. To help you feel more confident, we've put together 12 tips on how to start ...
A great intro will pre-emptively answer audience questions about the purpose of your presentation. Doing so creates interest in the information you will be sharing and engages your audience right from the start. The purpose can be introduced through rhetorical questions, a thought provoking question, a bold and provocative statement, or through ...
Here are techniques for beginning a presentation: 1. Shock the audience. There are many ways to shock your audience, for example, you can show a funny video, use a prop, start by talking to audience members, ridicule something etc. But ensure that your shock will have the desired effect - you want the audience to remain engaged because they ...
How to start a presentation. 9. Poll your audience - Different Way to Present a Presentation. This is another easy way to boost the excitement levels and creativity of everyone in the room! As the host, split the audience into pairs or trios, give them a topic and then ask teams to make a list of possible responses.
11 Ways To Start Your Presentation. Use an inspiring quote. Use the power of image. Open with a leading question. Start with a little test. Start with a short story. Start with a touch of humor. Start with "Picture this..". Spark interest with Animated Characters.
How to Start a Presentation: 3 Tips for Starting a Presentation. Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Mar 10, 2022 • 3 min read. When sharing a presentation, capturing the audience's attention from the get-go is key to making your subject matter memorable and your presentation a success.
Giving professional presentations is a fundamental skill to succeed in any global business environment, regardless of your role. And the beginning of your presentation, together with the end of your presentation, might be the most important part of your speech.It can also be the most awkward part, too. In this post, you will learn an easy-to-apply yet effective framework to start your next ...
1) Summarise your key points: Begin your conclusion by summarising the main points you covered. This helps reinforce the key takeaways and ensures that your audience remembers the most important aspects of your talk. 2) Reiterate your main message: Restate your central message or call to action clearly and concisely.