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Starting on the Right Foot!
Harveen Salaria, The Business Workshop

"I am not much of a speaker but here goes. First of all I am really sorry for starting so late. But the damn projector broke down and it took such a darn long time to get fixed. In fact I have something to share. I was on my way here and crossing the road when I saw this old lady who was carrying bags of all sizes, trying to wind her way through the traffic to cross the road. My sense of duty and respect for the aged called upon me and I just had to be the perfect citizen and help her cross the road. There is a definite lesson to learn in this....."

Needless to say - you just blew it! Those were all the things you should never begin a presentation with. An apology. An unrelated or rather an inappropriate anecdote. Equipment failure. Slang.

It is the first three minutes in which the audience judges you. That time can never come back. You need to grab their attention. You always hear of people starting with a "Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen". It is okay, except that it is very boring. Let us explore some beginnings that can really get the audience hooked. You have to give the audience respect - for their time, their feelings and opinion. You need to build rapport with them and between themselves. And do not forget that every audience loves entertainment!

Here are ten great ways to open your presentation, training workshop or speech.

• Current Event: A great beginning can be one linked with a current event. It relates to the real world and everyone will get interested. Point to note is to not take a controversial topic like politics or religion.
• Humor: Humor can get to your audience like nothing else would. But even in that you need to be careful. Avoid jokes - you might rub someone in the audience the wrong way. It is advisable to stick to a funny story or incident that relates to the topic of the presentation.
• Provoke them: Here is how James P. Grant, Executive Director of UNICEF, used this opening in an international development conference:
  " Permit me to begin with a few friendly provocations: First, I would suggest that nobody - not the West, not the United States, nobody - won the cold war."
  You need to be very careful with this one and should be very comfortable with your audience.
• Story or Anecdote: Everyone loves stories - especially if they are real, personal and relevant. Here again the point to remember is to keep it short and have the audience asking for more.
• Quotation: This is a smart and snappy way of grabbing attention. It is also fairly easy to find and the key is to make it relevant to your subject.
• Ask a Question: Questioning is a good idea because it requires a reply and so gets the audience involved. Ask a question and then tie it to a point that you wish to make.
• Create a situation: Any audience likes to see themselves involved. Conjure up a scene that the audience might be experiencing in their real life and use it to drive home a point.
• Statistics or little known facts: Presenting data or facts in an interesting manner can jolt any audience like a shot of adrenaline. Did you know that an average lightning bolt has enough energy to light up a whole city? Chances are that you did not and neither will your audience.
• Play Music: To set the right tempo and get the group to relax and actually enjoy what they are doing. Do not play music while you are speaking. Play it during an activity or a break.
• Mementos: People love to receive things for free. If nothing else it will serve as a great reminder of your training program. If you give it for a correct answer, you encourage active participation amongst the audience.

I wonder if at the end of this you are feeling like "Wow! I finally know how to begin!" or is it more like " Now that I know of so many great openings. Which one do I use?"

Here are four simple guidelines that would help you stay on track.

Your style. Use the opening that makes you feel comfortable. Some people can just not tell a joke. Then don't. Stick to the style that you have a natural flair for.

Your time limits. Do not have a lenghty beginning - especially if you are pressed for time. Also, it can make the audience restless.

Your relation to the audience. Do they know you? Do they know of you? The audience and their familiarity with you will help you decide which beginning to use.

Your rhetorical constraints. The occasion will guide you to decide on your openings. Some topics might be off limits. You need to be focused on your topic, the people you are presenting to and the occassion.

The bottom line is that the best opening that you can use is the one that works best for you.