The Best Ways to Open a Presentation

Research suggests that you have about 60 seconds to capture your audience’s attention, establish credibility, and motivate them to listen. That’s why it is so important that you make the most of those first precious seconds. Instead of wasting your opportunity with housekeeping details, thank-yous, or boring personal information, you need to develop an attention-grabbing opener that will captivate your audience right from the start. If you capture your audience right away, there’s a good chance they will listen to the rest of your presentation. Consider the following tips for crafting a powerful opener for your presentation. 

Tell a Captivating Story

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for delivering a successful opening. People are hardwired to enjoy and learn from stories. From bedtime stories as a child to campfire stories, novels, heroes, and villains that we grow to love as adults, stories will always draw us in and hold our attention. That’s why stories are a great way to open a presentation. You can tell a personal story from your own experience or a story that is relevant to your topic from which the audience can learn something. The idea is simply to craft a compelling narrative that captivates listeners and focuses on your core message. 

Ask a Rhetorical Question

When someone is posed with a question, whether it requires a verbal answer or not, the person intuitively answers. Questions are mentally stimulating and they can be a great strategy for emphasizing your point. Rhetorical questions are a great way to engage the senses and connect with your audience. 

Shock the Audience

Imagine that you work for a leading healthcare company and you are selling software solutions to hospitals. You start by telling your audience, “ Did you know that medical errors account for nearly 400,000 deaths per year? This is the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer.†This shocking statistic will surely grab the attention of your audience. Stating a startling statistic or headline or even showing a shocking photograph will surprise the audience and interest them enough to keep listening. 

Use a Powerful Quote

Quotes are another great way to start any presentation. Choose a quote that is relevant to your topic and stay away from quotes that are too cliche. Quotes can be really meaningful and thought provoking when used correctly. 

Use a Prop

A prop can be a great tool for hooking your audience and persuading them to keep listening. For example, one motivational speaker used a tennis racquet to emphasize working as a team and winning a grand slam through excellent customer service. This simple prop can set the tone for the rest of your presentation and can be a physical reminder of your message. 

Employ the “What If†or “Imagine†Scenario

You can immediately capture audience interest by asking a “what if†question. For example, “What if you could only take one item with you to a deserted island? What would you bring and why?†Similarly, you can also begin with an “imagine†scenario such as , “Imagine you knew you only had 2 weeks to live. How would you spend your time?†These questions invite the audience to ponder different scenarios and get them thinking. These are powerful tactics to keep your audience listening and waiting to hear more.