October
2008
Tips for Standing Ovations: Grab the attention of your audience with a fascinating opener
Posted by: Monika
Sugiarto
comments
Topic: Public Speaking
The bodies are sitting in front of you do not let their minds wander with boring openers like: ’Today my speech is about…’ or ’I haven’t really had a chance to prepare’. Tickle their interest by introducing your topic in an out of the ordinary way. Use a well know quote that fits your point, use humor, ask a rhetorical or unusual question, establish rapport with the audience. Since you know your audience, you have tailored the speech to their needs and are able to introduce your topic with something your audience will be interested in. The opening should take less than 10 percent of the entire speech. Some speakers introduce their topic only in the body of their speech, they hope that by delaying mentioning the reason for the talk they create anticipation and arouse curiosity. In most cases the audience will have tuned out by then, since they are not kept in the loop why they should listen. Go, keep their attention from beginning to the end!