How to Create the Opening of Your Speech
The opening of your speech is exceptionally important. Not only do
you have to relay the topic of your presentation but also you only have
approximately thirty seconds in which to get the audience’s attention
and make them think, “This guy is going to be interesting”.
There are certain components that need to be addressed in the opening of
your speech. As well as including these components you need to connect
with the audience and build a rapport with them. Present a good opening
and you will have the audience hanging on every word. Deliver a dud and
they’ll be asleep before you get to the main message.
1. Greeting – This works as an attention getter as well. Think about how
you can get a reaction from the audience right from the start. You could
deliver a famous quote that is relevant to your speech. You could relate
an amazing statistic, (again a relevant one) or you could tell a funny
story. You may ask a provocative or even rhetorical question.
Alternatively you could thank your hosts for inviting you to speak or
pay the audience a compliment. There are many ways to greet your
audience. Some performers start with a joke but unless you are great at
delivering gags, stay clear of this greeting.
2. Thesis Statement – The main purpose of your speech comes under this
heading. If you are presenting a speech on writing for children, this is
where you state it. Your thesis statement is one sentence outlining the
purpose and topic of your speech. For example: “Writing for children is
a rewarding yet frustrating career choice.” Make it very clear what the
remainder of your speech will be on in the thesis statement.
3. Establish Credibility – Why are you an authority to speak on this
topic? What makes you the expert? In this part of the opening you will
explain why you are an authority on the subject. Are you a children’s
author or do you lecture on children’s literature at a university? State
your credentials so you are a believable speaker in your area of
expertise.
4. Overview – Here you will outline the main points of discussion in
your speech. Three to five main points are a good number and most
speakers try and stick to only three. Let the audience know what these
points will be.
5. Answer – You will aim to answer one specific question in your speech
– why this presentation will be useful to the members of the audience.
Answer this question in your opening with a statement like this: “You
are here today because you want to write for children. I’m going to tell
you about the ups and downs of this career path. My speech may help you
decide if this is the job for you.”
If you follow these steps, you will have created an attention-getting
and interesting opening for your speech.