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ElevatEd- Public-Speaking
- April 19, 2022
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People never forget the first impression you make. The first lines of a welcome speech in English are critical for making an impact on the audience. Creating excitement in the first few words keeps the audience interested until the conclusion. The most effective presenters make it a point to make the first impression and captivate their audience's attention..
Before speaking, try to understand the audience, the topic, and the setting of the event. If the audience is familiar or young, informal language is preferred. If it's the other way around, a more formal language is necessary. Here are some options for opening lines in your speech. The sentences you choose at the beginning can have a significant impact on the audience.
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Steps to follow for a great impact
There are some simple hacks that one can follow while giving a speech. These help create a positive impact with the audience while helping them to be captivated and find relativity. let's check out some of the useful tips-
Quotes Work Wonders
Quotes from famous people can be excellent speech openers in cases where the quote is familiar to the subject of the speech. Quotes bring some sense of authority to the speech.
Look at one such example -
Steve Jobs once said "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking." Opening the speech with lines like these can be quite powerful and add credibility as a speaker. One can also quote recent events or research from any publication. It does not necessarily have to be a quote from a famous person. For instance, "According to Forbes, people who are knowledgeable about personal finance are wealthier."
Talking About A Famous Personality
One might begin the speech by sharing an inspiring tale about a well-known individual. When one recalls the journey, hardships, and accomplishments of someone who was once just an average human like everyone else, the audience is usually deeply moved.
For example, “J. K Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, lost her mother when she was 25 and had just begun writing Harry Potter ..."
Referring to a Historical Event
Our diverse historical events have supplied us with several excellent examples, allowing us to adapt and improve substantially. Perhaps making a reference to historical events, especially in a cultural context, might be an ideal beginning point for a speech.
Fun Element
Everyone appreciates a good chuckle. It rapidly makes people feel better. Engage the audience with comedy, which not only clarifies the situation but also energizes the audience. Opening the speech with a funny story is a very efficient way to get the audience's attention.
Here is one example of a funny joke by a famous Comedian Ellen DeGeneres - “Life is short. If you doubt me, ask a butterfly. Their average life span is a mere five to fourteen days.”
“Life is short” sounds like a clichéd statement. Ellen, however, adds a funny element to the whole statement and makes it more refreshing. Now that is a solid example of how to use humor in public speaking.
Start with Powerful Words
Not all events are funny or normal. When one wants to express a grave problem, one needs to use more powerful words as an opening statement.
For example, the climate change problem was highlighted when Greta Thunberg, an environmental activist, stated at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit: "This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all look to us young people for hope? "How dare you!"
Stats and Facts
When one opens a speech with a statistical fact, it creates an impression that one has done good research and has valid information.
Furthermore, employing statistical statistics helps to make the speech more memorable and less repetitive. For example, if one is making a speech on "How to be a better speaker," one might begin with well-researched statistics regarding speaking, such as this one: "According to studies, 61% of people are nervous before giving a presentation. Here's how to..."
Personal Touch
Opening the speech with a personal story creates an immediate connection with the audience. It improves impact and piques curiosity in learning more. It is one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience, and there is a strong chance that the audience or listener will be more interested in what you say if they notice a connection in the story.
For instance, one can always start the speech in such a manner by recalling one’s story -
"When I was 16, a high school student, my parents merely had the money to afford school, but I was a good student, I worked really…"
Make it a point to use your real-life stories to create interest and familiarity in the audience.
Ask the audience to imagine
Effective storytelling is asking the audience to imagine a certain event. It also creates anticipation (in a good manner!) about what the speaker will say in the speech by allowing them to visualize the content of the speech.
e.g., "Imagine you get excellent grades and perform well at school, all because of the work you put in and follow a disciplined routine ..."
This remark will assist the audience picture and relate to the speech's setting.
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Outstanding Anecdotes
Starting a speech with an interesting story that highlights the topic might help you connect with your audience. While telling the story, it is not necessary to begin with "Let me tell you a story of a man who had no limbs, yet..." One can keep the tale concise and to the point concerning the problem.
"In 1965, Joey was one of the first mountaineers with no limbs to conquer the summit of Mt. Everest... " might be a better starting point. It provides more background in only the opening two lines of the speech.
Beginning the speech with meaningful phrases sets the tone and theme for the rest of the speech. Make a more thoughtful first impression in order to have an impact on the audience. As the cliche goes, first impressions last. Make the finest first impression possible.
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