How to Start a Speech Strong

I never set out to be a public speaker but somewhere along the way it became a big part of my work. In that time, I've found a four-part framework that is effective for teaching in a memorable way. I call it the four S's. Most public talks start with some version of “It’s great to be here.” That’s exactly when people start checking out. If you want to speak in a way that actually sticks, try this instead. 1. Surprise Start strong. Say something unexpected, provocative, or even a little weird. The brain is wired to notice novelty—don’t waste the first 30 seconds on pleasantries. 2. Story Once you’ve got their attention, don’t give them a thesis—give them a tale. People think in narrative. Stories are how we’ve made sense of the world for thousands of years. 3. Stats Now that they’re leaning in, show them the receipts. Back your claims with data, studies, or vivid real-world examples. Credibility matters—but only after curiosity. 4. “So what?” Inspiration is nice, but application is better. End with a clear, compelling takeaway that answers the question: What should I do with this information today? Hope this framework helps a bit the next time you're asked to get in front of a crowd!

You’ve been asked to speak at a conference. One side of your brain says, "You rock! This is awesome. Wow for me!" The other side of your brain says, "I think I'm gonna hurl. What the heck am I going to say for 45 minutes? Does anyone care what I have to say?" Here's some quick relief... You don't need a TED Talk. You don't need 100+ slides. You need a structure that works to make this process easier on you and most importantly, high impact for the audience. Here’s how to outline your first 45-minute speech (easily adjusted for shorter or longer events): → Start with a story. Think about some analogy or story that relates to your core point and big idea Let's say your core concept is about "simplification". Here's some starter ideas for a story... “I walked into the cafe and was presented with a menu with dozens of options...” “Last week my daughter came to me…” “I was driving on a foggy highway in a new city, and suddenly driving under 4 highway signs. I needed to quickly assess and decide...” Hook them with a story, then hit them with the point. → Define the problem. What is the real and undeniable challenge your audience is facing? Call it out in a way that helps them immediately know that you "get them." It could be stating the problem specifically, along with how it makes you or others feel. Add a stat or research nugget to prove it's legit. → Show them why you are the one to guide them through it. Share your perspective. Your credibility. Share the scars and experience that give you authority. → Break it down into 3-5 core ideas. These are the building blocks of your message. Each core idea should include: ✔️ A data point ✔️ A real-world story (about you, a client, or someone they know) ✔️ A tangible takeaway → Bring it all home. Remind them of the core idea. Reconnect to your opening story. Leave them with one thing to remember, and one thing to do. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection. Your story, your lessons, your voice - they’re powerful when you put structure behind them. Okay, now go get to work!

Executive Utterances — On Presenting The fastest way to lose a room is to start talking before you’ve said anything worth hearing. Whether you’re presenting to an audience of 1,000 or speaking to your own work group, the first words you choose determine whether your audience leans in or checks out. Over the years, I learned that fully scripted speeches kept me from connecting, reacting, and speaking with authenticity. What follows is the methodology I developed — a balance of structure, informality, and clarity that helped me become a more effective presenter. If there’s interest, I’m happy to expand on any of these in detail. For now, here are the principles that shaped my approach: * Grab from the Beginning Start with a powerful sentence or a question that sets an emotional stage the audience can’t turn away from. A recent example came from a presentation to law enforcement officers on child abduction: “At one of the most difficult moments in any parent’s life, they call you. You become their hope.” * Speak from the Inside Charles Dickens once wrote, “Make me see.” Facts and data are necessary, but they don’t move people on their own. Speak from inside the information — bring it to life, make it human, make it matter. Use slides or handouts for the heavier details but speak to the story behind those details. Americans love a story; give them one worth remembering. * Just Start When building your presentation, don’t obsess over the perfect beginning. Just start typing.Your first draft may look nothing like your final version — that’s a sign you’re refining your message, not a problem. * Read It Out Loud Read your notes out loud. Better yet, read them to someone you trust or have them read your notes back to you. You’ll hear clarity issues and pacing problems you won’t catch on a screen. * Block It Hand-draw two columns of blocks on a piece of paper: Column One: Break your presentation into sections, and label each with a few key words that will become your notes Column Two: Decide which supporting bullets, facts, or simple visuals that will become your slides or handouts and just note what will be in the slides. This creates flow and structure without forcing you into a script. Then start filling the blocks * Do Not Make the Slides Your Notes Slides support your presentation — they are not your presentation. Speak from your notes (large print, double-spaced), and let the slides reinforce what you’re saying. Never read from them; you can’t tell a meaningful story while narrating bullet points. A visual image such as a photograph, can be a great addition if it reinforces your opening theme or emotional hook. * Close Strong and Quick Tie your closing sentence directly back to your opening. Keep it short, powerful, and intentional — because once people sense you’re closing, their attention starts to drift. Start with something worth hearing, and you’ll keep the room until the very end.

Your first words can make or break your presentation. Here are 12 ways to introduce your idea powerfully: 1. Start with a myth-busting question: Example:  Take a common myth related to your industry. Ask: "How many of you believe this is true?" Then say: “I’m here to bust this myth!” 2. Quote a thought leader to “borrow” authority: Example: "Steve Jobs once said, 'Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.'" 3. Share a surprising statistic to hook the audience: Example: "Did you know that 90% of the data in the world today was created in the last two years alone?" Bonus: To enhance impact, repeat the number afterwards (e.g. “90%!”) 4. Tell a story to connect emotionally. Example: "Let me tell you about a little girl who changed her community with a simple idea." 5. Show a captivating visual to spark conversation. Example: "This is what the future might look like" Bonus: If you used AI to create the image, credit it. 6. Ask a question the audience relates to. Example: "By a show of hands, how many of you have experienced this issue personally?" 7. Use humor to lighten the mood. Example: Use a relevant joke or funny observation about the topic or industry. Watch-out: Don’t use a clichéd joke and expect the audience to laugh. 8. State a bold claim to challenge assumptions. Example: "I'm here to tell you that the traditional schooling system is failing our students today." 9. Play an audio clip to engage the senses. Example: "Listen to this sound—it's the rate of a heart beating in a high-stress situation." 10. Begin with historical context for background. Example: "Back in 1920, this technology was just a wild idea—today, it's a reality that's changing everything." Watch-out: Don’t use a long, boring historical fact. 11. Present a problem to highlight a need. Example: "What if I told you 70% of our project failures stem from a single overlooked factor?" 12. Use a prop to help visualize concepts. Example: "This ordinary-looking pen has a story that might just change how you view writing forever." A powerful starter makes a great first impression. And creates momentum to spark off your talk. Remember: Fortune favors the prepared. So save this- it'll come in handy before your next presentation. Want to impress the next time you speak? Follow Nausheen I. Chen to never miss a tip. P.S. Which starter will you pick?

Here are three of the most powerful openers you can use for your presentation (with real-life examples): 1. Relational Daniel Pink started his TED Talk with a confession: “I need to make a confession at the outset here. A little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret, something that I'm not particularly proud of.” By leading with vulnerability, he earns trust. It’s not his data or credentials that draw people in; it’s his honesty. Use it when:  You need to build warmth and credibility fast. 2. Disruptive In her TED Talk, Pamela Meyer walked on stage and said: “Okay, now I don’t want to alarm anybody in this room, but it’s just come to my attention that the person to your right is a liar. Also, the person to your left is a liar. Also, the person sitting in your very seats is a liar. We’re all liars.” The audience laughs, but they’re hooked. She has just reframed the topic of deception in a way they didn’t expect. Shock. Humor. Curiosity. All in the first ten seconds. Use it when: Your audience feels complacent or distracted. 3. Authority Martin Luther King Jr. began his “I Have a Dream” speech with: “Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation.” By echoing Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, King immediately positioned the Civil Rights movement as a continuation of America’s founding ideals. He then continued by pointing out how the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation had yet to be completely fulfilled. This stark contrast created a dilemma… American ideals weren’t being upheld, and that was a problem. This intro grabbed his audience’s attention and set him up perfectly to deliver his core message. Use it when: The moment calls for gravity. Every audience asks three questions in the first 30 seconds: - Do I like you?  - Do I trust you?  - Do I need to listen? Any of these three openers can help you address each question. #PresentationSkills #BusinessStorytelling #PublicSpeaking

“Let me tell you a story…” One of the most underrated, and powerful ways to open a talk. You have 30 seconds to capture attention. That’s it. And nothing builds instant connection like a personal story. But here’s where most speakers go wrong: They ramble. They over-explain. They forget the point. Here’s a structure I share with clients who want to open strong and stay memorable: The LENS Formula: L – Location: Set the scene. E – Emotion: Share what you felt, not just what happened. N – Narrative Shift: What changed in that moment? S – Segue: Connect it to the message of your talk. This simple framework turns a personal story into a powerful entry point. Because when done right, stories don’t just engage, they build trust. So next time you take the stage, skip the generic “Good morning…” Start with the moment that changed you. That’s what your audience will remember.

You lose the room in the first 30 seconds. Use these 9 openings to take control. I didn’t learn this from theory. I learned it by losing rooms. Early in my career, I walked on stage with polished slides and strong logic. The content was good. The opening wasn’t. No one challenged me. No one pushed back. They just disengaged. That’s when I understood a simple rule: Presentations aren’t won by what you say. They’re won by how you start. If you don’t claim attention immediately, you never fully get it back. These are 9 opening mechanisms I use and teach to take control fast: 1. The Disruptive Statistic: breaks assumptions in one sentence 2. The Dangerous Question: uncomfortable, forces internal dialogue 3. The Uncomfortable Truth: challenges what the room believes 4. The Relatable Moment: makes them see themselves 5. The Visual Shock: one image that does the talking 6. The Short Story: 5–20 seconds, zero fluff 7. The Bold Promise: specific outcome, clear payoff 8. The Interactive Trigger: involvement before explanation 9. The Silent Pause: tension before authority Most speakers try to build attention. Professionals take it. Save this. Use one opening in your next presentation. And watch how fast the room shifts. 💬 Which one are you using and which one are you avoiding? — Natan Mohart

You have 8 seconds. That’s it. Not to sell. Not to impress. Just to keep someone listening. Because in today’s world, attention isn’t earned. It’s lost quickly. The average human attention span? Just under 8 seconds. That’s less than a goldfish. So if you start with a long-winded backstory, a weak intro, or a “quick thought” that takes two minutes to land? You’ve already lost them. Here’s the truth: The first 8 seconds of anything you say determine whether people will keep listening. This isn’t about gimmicks. It’s about clarity. Intent. And how you show respect for someone’s time. Want to master the 8-second rule? Here’s how: 1. Start with the point, not the preamble. “Let me back up a bit…” = disengagement. “Here’s what I think we should do.” = engagement. People don’t need buildup. They need value—fast. 2. Drop your best line first. Don’t bury the insight. Don’t save the story’s punchline for the end. Lead with the line that makes them look up. 3. Use contrast. “This worked last year. It’s failing now.” Contrast creates tension. And tension creates attention. 4. Ditch filler words. If it starts with “I just wanted to say…” you’ve already wasted 3 of your 8 seconds. Be direct. Be kind. But cut the fluff. 5. Ask a question. Real curiosity pulls people in. “What would happen if we flipped the script?” That’s how you make ears perk up. 6. Get visual. Stories, metaphors, images; they light up the brain. “Saying yes to everything is like trying to run with bricks in your backpack.” Now they’re listening and picturing it. 7. Own your voice. Speak with calm, clear conviction. People don’t just hear your words. They feel your certainty. 8. Leave them wanting more. Not “Let me explain for 15 more minutes.” Try: “There’s a deeper layer to this; happy to unpack it if helpful.” Curiosity is a more powerful hook than explanation. You’ve been in those meetings. Someone starts rambling. You check your phone. They lost you at hello. Now flip it. You say one sentence that hits. Someone looks up. You’ve earned the next 8 seconds. And then the next. This isn’t just about being polished. It’s about being intentional. Because in a noisy world, clarity feels like leadership. So before your next pitch, update, or conversation, ask yourself: What can I say in 8 seconds that will make someone want to hear 80 more? Master that, and people won’t just listen. They’ll remember. ❓ Do you enjoy public speaking? ♻️ Repost to help others. ➕ Follow Nathan Crockett, PhD for daily posts about leadership, culture, and family.

📣 Speakers: Do you struggle with how to open your speech? My 5th grade English teacher taught me how to write an essay: 1. Tell them what you're gonna tell them. 2. Then tell them. 3. And then tell them what you told them. ✅️ At a 20,000 foot view, it's how all great communication is structured. ❌️ But as a speaker, I used to take this advice literally, and accidentally ended up with a rather predictable speech. Consider a speaker who begins a talk on 'peak performance' like this: "Today, I'm going to tell you about the science of peak performance, how to achieve it, and why it matters." Sure, it's clear and direct, which I love. ❌️ But it doesn't invite curiosity! Instead of immediately laying out a roadmap of your speech, at Conquer the Red Dot®️ our speakers find that it's often more effective to begin by identifying a: ✅️ PROBLEM or QUESTION that your audience can relate to, and that your speech will address. This approach accomplishes two things: 🔹️It immediately engages the audience's interest 🔹️ It creates a promise or expectation that will keep them listening. In the words of David Mamet, "The only thing keeping the audience in their seats is wondering what's going to happen next." For example, our client Sneha Mandala was delivering her talk at TEDxReno on peak performance. Here's how she opened: "Go to school. Study hard. Get a job. Work hard. Get a promotion. Work harder. And then you'll be successful, right? I thought so, too." 🔥 It's so much more interesting! The audience immediately understands the problem that this talk will be address - working yourself to pieces in hopes of feeling successful - and starts to wonder what direction or shape the talk will take. Want more like this? Two more misguided openings and what you can try instead in this week's article: #speechwriting #speakingskills #communicationskills

90% of presentations fail before they even begin. Why? Because most often the opening falls flat. Whether you're in a boardroom, a pitch meeting, or your child’s classroom on career day, your first 15 seconds determine whether your message lands or loses. ✅ Grab attention ✅ Set intention ✅ Spark curiosity A weak start—like “Hi, I’m Jack from finance”—sends your audience straight to their phones. But a strong start? That’s how you own the room. 🎁 Think of your presentation as a gift. The audience sees the wrapping, but it’s your opening hook that makes them want to unwrap it. In my newest YouTube video, I share: ✅ 3 proven ways to start any talk with energy and purpose ✅ 3 common opening mistakes that dull your impact ✅ Pro speaker tips to elevate your presence—before you even say a word You’ll learn why you should be the lead singer and your PowerPoint slides just backup vocals. Here’s a taste: 👉 Start with a bold fact 👉 Ask a provocative question 👉 Tell a short, true story Energy is contagious. Curiosity is magnetic. Attention is earned. Want to level up your openings and captivate from the first word? 🎥 Watch the video below. 💬 Tell me in the comments: What’s the most powerful opening you’ve ever heard—or delivered? #PublicSpeaking #PresentationSkills #ExecutivePresence #ExecutiveCommunication #Leadershipcommunication #publicspeakingcoach #SpeakWithImpact #OwnTheRoom https://lnkd.in/ePd8Ushc