Give a Powerful Introduction in a Speech

Give a Powerful Introduction in a Speech

Give a Powerful Introduction in a Speech : Multi-thousand tips to make your life easier.

Giving a speech can be a frightening experience. The key is how you get the ball rolling. Apart from early preparation, which is an advantage for a successful speech, a speech can be memorable if you have a powerful introduction. How you start your speech makes a difference in building your authority and trustworthiness with your audience.

Here are some tips to help you give your speech a powerful introduction.

Prepare ahead of time. Make a list or an outline of the things you want to say. Think about your audience and where they come from. If they are kids, you can start your speech by coming up with something you just discovered or by asking them a question about the stars or the planets. If you are speaking in front of professionals, come up with a question about their profession that will make them hang on to your speech to find out the answer.

There are several ways to start your speech. A powerful introduction may use any of the following techniques, and it all depends on which of these you think suits your style and your personality.

• A story catches your listener's attention and leads into your speech proper.
• Cracking a joke is one of the most effective ways, but keep in mind that it is a very delicate approach.
• A drama is something like, “What I am about to say in a few seconds will definitely change the way you think about things.” Your line should be very catchy to get your audience's attention.
• Asking a question could be fascinating, absorbing, and intriguing. Ask a question that will focus them on your speech.

Use an index card to write key words for your introduction. Do not write long sentences. You will only refer to your index card to remind you of what you are going to say. Index cards are not there for you to read your speech. Reading parts of your speech might only get you distracted and eventually go off topic, losing your opportunity for a powerful introduction.

Know your speech by heart, especially the introduction. Once you memorize it, it will not be hard for you to recall every part just by looking at the keywords written on your index card. You can memorize your speech by practicing it every day.

Practice your speech in front of the mirror, taking note of your mannerisms and gestures. Your body language can make a great impact on your listeners. Recording your speech on video will give you a chance to review your pronunciation, clarity, and voice modulation. Correct pronunciation lends integrity; voice modulation radiates professionalism. You do not want to sound like an eight-year-old in front of stockholders, for example. Emphasize points by raising the tone of your voice, and you can generate curiosity and intrigue by toning it down. One good exercise is to ask some of your friends to listen to your speech and ask them for points that you can keep and those that need to be changed.

Walk to the podium with confidence when you are finally introduced. The walk from your seat to the lectern might be short, but how you do it will tell whether you have something worthwhile to say.