Tip 36: Open big
At the time when you begin your presentation, your audience will be thinking about a whole range of different things. In the first few moments you must grab their attention and focus it on you and your presentation to the exclusion of everything else.
There are several ways to do this:
Make some dramatic or controversial assertions
Present a startling statistic
Give an interesting quote
Show an interesting slide
Ask a question
Quote a news headline
Relate a pertinent anecdote
Your objective is to make your audience sit up, take notice and say “Wow!”
You need to do whatever it takes to make a powerful opening with your first couple of minutes so that your audience is waiting on the edge of their seats to see what you have to say next. A strong opening assets your credibility, demonstrates your passion about the topic, and gives the impression that what you are about to say is worth listening to.
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