How to Start a Presentation

Tips On How To Start a Presentation

Presentation is the sole thread which binds a firm or organization with its audience, clients, etc. In today’s tech-savvy world presentation is the ultimate weapon to win the attention of your audience. Communication and presentations skills are part and parcel of each other.  Effective presentation skills are an inevitable part of your communication. Further, you need to possess effective communication skill to present your ideas, strategies, plans among your audience, clients, colleagues, etc. In this interaction, you need technical and non-technical skills to hit your target.

Not all corporates use presentation skills; that’s why many fails to be effective while communicating in meetings, interviews, presentations, etc. So, presentation skill is a vital aspect of communication which effectively broadcast your message in the minds of your audience, readers, audience. Presentation knowledge is not only about diverse knowledge of PowerPoint applications, Google slide, etc. But also on how to start your speech. Why need to focal on how to start your speech? Because studies show that if you can capture someone’s attention while in the beginning. Then it’s likely your audience will listen to the rest of your presentation.

Do you still begin your presentation with these types of lines? 

• Hi, I would like to introduce myself?
• Thank you all for coming
• Hi, I am _ _ _ _ I am going to discuss on topic….

If you still do so. Then you are wasting the most efficacious time of your speech or presentation. This is because your audience forms an opinion within a few seconds of your presentation. So, its immensely important to hook your audience attention immediately. According to psychologists, your audience is more likely to remember the first bits of information they hear. Therefore, you need to be concise about what you speak in opening lines. It should clearly state your key message. Its truly said, ‘’the first impression creates the last impression.’’ Similarly, in your presentation, too, you get a single chance to convince your audience.  So, you need to act smartly. Within a few minutes, you need to grab your audience attention, establish your credibility, and project your message with confidence.

ATTRACT YOUR AUDIENCE

As a modern-day leader, it’s not only a great communication skill, content, or visuals are vitally important.  Its also how to start a presentation is as just as important as other factors.  Knowing how to gear up your presentation is intensely important. If you fail to grab your audience attention right to the bat. Then your presentation is a flop. All your hard work, research, prep goes in vain if you fail to give a kick start to your presentation. So, don’t need to turn your stomach into a knot. Here we will discuss the secret which will assist you in starting your presentation strong and ending it powerfully.

• Setting Up Your Stage: The most crucial aspect of your presentation is how you appeal to your audience.
  • Stay Confident: Take a moment before you go out and acknowledge your audience. Be assured you have a perfect body language.  Don’t be slouching. Stand straight and tall as you can as it reflects confidence.
  • Organize Notes and Other Related Materials: Don’t let interruptions break the flow of your presentation. A well-organized podium with quick notes and other related materials lets you eliminate the unnecessary fumbling as you speak. Take a moment before you pitch a presentation, arrange your notes, and even distribute any handouts which your audience may need.
  • Making Eye-Contact with Your Audience: Making eye-contact with your audience lets you appear more confident and authoritative. As you commence a presentation, don’t forget to make eye-contact with someone at the back of your audience for a few seconds.  Then as you continue divert it over other audience.
  • Skip the Usual Intro: Skip the traditional intro, like greeting your audience by saying, ‘’good morning’’, ‘’My name is’’, etc. It’s one of the most boring starts of your presentation. Instead, welcome them using striking notes.

• Opting Great Opening Lines: You need to be judicious while opting words for your presentation. Your words are the prominent tool which speaks up your presentation.
  • Storytelling: Who doesn’t like a story? Stories are the best way to grab the attention of your audience.  Keep your story for almost 90 seconds and then continue with your presentation.
  • Questionnaires: Questionnaires spikes interest among your audience. Inviting your audience to participate in your audience will get them interested in your subject.
  • Shock Your Audience: Sharing shocking thoughts or statistic among your folks never fails in stunning them. Instead grabs their attention and get them interested to hear more. Just be honest, don’t makeup statistic just to shock your audience.

• Speaking from The Gut: If your audience can’t hear you, you will surely lose them. Speaking from the gut, not in low pitch or from throat adds more volume or authority to your messages. Often this factor is overlooked. But it’s the most important technique speakers use.
• Be Thorough with Opening Words: It, not a wise idea to memorize the whole speech. However, it can be a wise idea to memorize the beginning of your presentation about 4-10 sentences. As it lets, you feel dominant over your subject. Even makes you ride over the wave of confidence as you approach your presentation.
• Ask Your Audience to Imagine: Here is the best way to keep your audience glued to your presentation topic.  Letting the audience to imagine something opens the mind of your audience.  It makes your audience to participate in your presentation actively and engage with the content of your speech as they are actually putting themselves in your presentation.
• Pause for Effect: Good speakers know how and when to stop. But if you are newcomer don’t get anxious this guide will surely help you. As you give a big claim, pause for seconds, let your audience take a few seconds to take in what you said.  If you rush in your presentation, your audience will feel lost and stop paying attention.

FIND AWESOME BUSINESS PRESENTATION TEMPLATES

• Add Visuals: Give a break to your speech using attractive visuals. As visuals enable you to convey your points better. Visuals direct all attention of the audience towards the presentation eliminating the possibilities of the audience being distracted.
• Tell A Joke: Jokes can be great as a follow-up to silence or as standalone. Tell jokes to elicit laughter from the audience.  Joke swings the minds of your audience. It enables to lighten the pressure in the room and become more connected to the audience. Don’t ever overdo it as it can steer away from people from the purpose.
• Using Statistics & Data: Showcasing data & statistics to prove your points lets you to explicit your messages authoritatively. Although statistics can be boring if you have compelling data, then adding it can help you to further the conversation.
• Share Personal Experiences: Share your personal experiences or stories if relevant to the presentation theme. Audience enjoying hearing stories which are directly about you as it gets you to see the human side of you. Tell about the mistakes you have made. Your audience will relate to it as we all have experienced failures.

• Craft a Vision for tomorrow: Give your audience a vision about what would happen if they follow your action plan. When your audience sees the vision in their minds, they tend to remember it. Moreover, they start believing it a possibility.

These are some of the greatest techniques which can be applied throughout your presentation to engage and persuade your audience. Apt different techniques and find out which works best for you. With Powerful opening, you feel less anxious throughout the presentation.