Comments on: Electrify Your Audience with a Shocking Speech Opening

By: Joy Ha Kyung Lee

Joy Ha Kyung Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:54:24 +0000

Thank you for some great tips. I think this has a highly exotic impact on the audience! I think I need to practice this to become an amazing public speaker. What would be the best way to practice does anyone know?

By: Lauren

Lauren — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:00:58 +0000

Thanks for the tips!
You write things in a very down-to-earth way that can easily be understood. I never thought of opening a speech in that way.

By: Presentationsteknik: skapa en intresseväckande inledning @ I huvudet på Håkan Fleischer

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:28:42 +0000

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By: fredmiller

fredmiller — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:51:21 +0000

RT @6minutes How to Open a Speech: A Shocking Speech Opening http://bit.ly/31lHGn

By: Keith Davis

Keith Davis — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:39:35 +0000

I’ve never used a shocking speech opening.

I’ve used most of the other types… quotes, story etc, but never a shocker.

Thanks for the idea and the example… I might give it a try.

great site by the way.

By: CK

CK — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:59:21 +0000

Great post !

I remember a speaker in an anti smoking seminar begin this way ” Smoking helps you lose weight ! One lung at a time !”
there was widespread laughter and the speaker was able to hold the attention inspite of it being a pre-lunch session !

By: sdavis

sdavis — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:34:11 +0000

Good article. For an alternate opening that grabs attention try telling you audience three things you “could” tell them. For example, in a speech introducing youself to a new group start by telling your audience “I could tell you that I was born in Decatur, AL ; the first of 9 boys; that I received my Doctorate in Social Science from Harvard in 2004; graduating with honors, or that I recently completed an assignment as a member of the national security advisory panel to President Bush. Instead, let me tell you… At this point you have the audiences attention and are credible without sounding like you are tooting you’r own horn. Just be careful not to sound like you are impressed with yourself.
I’ve received a very warm response when I have used this technique. Try it for yourself.

By: Andrew Rondeau

Andrew Rondeau — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:19:53 +0000

I have chosen this post for my weekly GreatManagement Inspirational Articles – The Best Advice From Around The Web.

Andrew

By: Terry Gault

Terry Gault — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:05:12 +0000

Andrew,
Your example is an excellent opening. There are a number of various techniques that work consistently to ‘hook’ an audience in opening a speech. I recommend that my clients use these technique not only in their opening but peppered throughout their presentations to keep the audience engaged:
1) Personal stories are perhaps the most compelling way to open. Even a good story needs to have a good hook. Here are some examples I use in stories I tell regularly:
– “Stan rarely spoke before the age of 14.”
– “The first time Bonnie stood up to speak in our presentation skills workshop, tears were pouring down her face.”
– “Your predecessor was fired for 3 reasons …”
2) Ask a question or take a poll:
– “How many of you have ever misplaced your car keys?”
– “Who here is wondering why there is a stuffed dog on this table”
– “Is (organization name) officially out of ideas?”
3) A provocative opening statement (as you suggested).
– “67% of companies that go through major disaster such as fire, flood, burglary or sabotage resulting in loss of data are out of business in 2 years.”
– “The average company loses a third of its customers every year.”
4) Read a compelling quote
– “Presentation of ideas is conversation carried on at high voltage – at once more dangerous and more powerful.”
from “Moving Mountains” by Henry M Boettinger
5) Engage the audience in an activity, such as a quiz.
– “Whoever can guess the significance of these 3 numbers on the board will get this $5 bill.”
– Call up a volunteer to engage in acting out a scene.
6) Use a prop.
One client sent me an email telling the story of
using an analogy, comparing his software’s “scalability and availability via redundancy to the design of a semi-trailer, which has dual axles and dual wheels on each axle for load capacity (scalability) and safety in case one tire gets a flat (availability).”
He opened by holding up the toy truck as a prop.

By: Andrew Rondeau

Andrew Rondeau — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:31:22 +0000

Great post and totally agree. Great openings take effort and courage. I remember once, dancing (like a dad) to James Brown ‘I Feel Good’ only for 30 seconds but did I get the audiences attention – you bet!