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FutureofWorking.com | Career Advice for the Future When giving a speech or presentation, how you start can make or break you. You want the beginning to be strong and instantly pull your audience in so that you have their full attention from the get-go. Here are 25 effective ways to start a speech or presentation. 1. The Common Ground Open Opening with a real life experience, goal or interest is a great way to grab the attention of the audience to show them that they can gain something by listening to you. By establishing common ground with the audience, especially if it is done with humility and grace, you put yourself on the same level as your audience. If you are an elderly CEO of a company and you discuss finances with a group of younger entry-level employees, you have to share your own business experiences when you were younger so that the audience will better understand your message. 2. Ask a Question If you want to make your audience think right away, ask them a question to start your speech. Ask either a rhetorical or literal question. Whether or not an answer to that question is called for, when people are posed with a question that matters to them, they will intuitively answer. When you ask a question, raise your hand to indicate what you want the audience to do. After asking a question like "How many people here are self-employed?", see if any audience members raise their hands. Take advantage of this engagement by getting into the heart of your speech. 3. Quote Sometimes it is as easy as opening with a relevant quote. You can set the tone for the rest of your speech if you have a quote that is memorable. You should keep in mind that whoever you quote has to be well known by the audience because if it is someone like your next-door neighbor, the quote will fall flat with everyone. If you are discussing topics related to politics, for example, it is wise to quote a former United States President. "If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance." -Abraham Lincoln 4. The Contrast Open If speeches feel like boxing matches to you, this type of opening would often be used. Showcase the difference between diametrically opposed concepts, positions, ideas or words, and the end result will be that some audience members will feel persuaded to change their perspective or embrace something new. There are always two sides to every story, and both sides have to be equally presented. What are the differences between a need and a want? Obstacles and opportunities? Problems and solutions? Highlighting the differences will get audiences to understand the points you are trying to make. 5. Tell a Story Before making the key points of your speech, telling a story to start can draw your audience in. Some of the most powerful words that can immediately grab the attention of the audience would be "Once upon a time" because regardless of age people will love stories of any kind. When you start your speech with a line like "Once upon a time", the audience will know that a story is coming. People will immediately calm down, become quiet, and listen to what you have to say. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, telling a story will resonate with audience members. 6. Imagining Something If you want people to go on a unique journey with you, encourage them to imagine certain scenarios. For example, if you are working for a non-profit organization that brings water to people who lack the resources to get water, a good opener would be something like "Imagine being thirsty all the time, but never having anything to drink." By having them imagine scenarios like that, you make the audience a part of your presentation. They can actively empathize and engage with the content of your speech because they actually put themselves into that setting. 7. Humor Though this should never be forced onto the audience, when properly implemented you will put a lot of smiles on the faces of those you speak to. Being funny during a speech can be very difficult, but it is a way to give yourself relief as a public speaker. Telling jokes in your opening is a sign to the audience that you don't take yourself too seriously, and that they can relate to you in some way. One witty opener would be "If you can hear me, please start clapping as to confuse those that cannot make out what I am saying." 8. "This Day In History" Open One main reason why audiences gather to listen to speeches is that they can learn something. If you start your speech with a historical fact, the audience will immediately pay attention. For example, if the day of your speech falls on March 5, you would open your speech with "On this day, March 5, 1963: the Hula Hoop, a hip-swiveling toy that became a huge fad across America when it was first marketed by Wham-O in 1958, is patented by the company's co-founder, Arthur "Spud" Melin. An estimated 25 million Hula Hoops were sold in its first four months of production alone." 9. Thank the Organizers and Audience If you want to stick to the basics of public speaking, simply mention the people who made it possible for you to have a presentation. Thanking the event organizers and the audience compliments them, makes them feel proud and happy about your presence, and strongly connects you to the audience. Refer to the person who introduced you to one or more of the senior people in the organization in the audience, and compliment that person as a showing of respect. Be humble and genuine in your positive comments toward the organization. 10. Positive Statement Staying positive throughout a speech can be challenging, but it will become easier if you start your speech with a positive statement. You can begin by telling the audience how much they will like and appreciate what you have to say. For example, you could say something like "You're really going to enjoy the time we spend together today. I'm going to share with you some of the most thought-provoking ideas my company has ever made." The upbeat tone of this opening is enough to make the audience invested in whatever follows. 11. The Skeptical Audience Open A doubting audience is a difficult audience to handle. From the start, they may not trust your ideas or they could be against what you are proposing. Whether they were disappointed in the past or if they are simply stuck in their ways, they will put up a brick wall in front of you. The more hostile the crowd, the faster you must address the gap. Blending your goals and the needs of the audience requires a careful combination of anticipating the major objections, avoiding defensiveness, acknowledging the obvious truths early, and understanding the divided loyalties between the intractable, the undecided, and the supportive. Identify which of those must hear your message and adjust accordingly. 12. The Puzzle Open Brain teasers and mind puzzles tend to capture the attention of audiences that like to be given mental exercises. As the audience tries to figure out what it will take to solve them, they become highly engaged with the practice. Capitalize on this behavior by proposing a riddle, asking a puzzling question that you promise to reveal in the end, and suggesting that the audience complete a mathematical equation and promising to give the answer context as you go along during the speech. Alternatively, reveal one puzzle piece after another throughout the course of your speech to help your audience find the right solution. 13. Refer to Current Events Bringing documentation of something that is currently relevant to the public will help you to illustrate your point the way you want to. Use a current event story that is on the front page of your local newspaper to transition into your subject, and hold it up as you refer to it in your introduction. This serves as a visual image to the audience that they will keep in their minds as they see you hold up this documentation. When they hear you recite or read a key point of the news story, they will carefully pay attention to you. 14. Refer to a Recent Conversation One way to keep the topic you wish to talk about relevant to the audience is to refer to a recent conversation you had with someone attending this public speaking event. Hours or minutes before you get on stage to address the audience, you could be engaging in a thought-provoking conversation with someone in a lobby, and that person might tell you that this is one of the best times to be working in a specific industry. It is likely that many audience members will share the same view as that person, so when you mention this conversation in your introduction they will have something to relate to. 15. The Activity Open An active audience is one that will be more likely to keep listening to you after you finish your introduction. Keeping an audience preoccupied with an activity works well during training sessions and workshops when you are trying to teach a specific skill. Engaging in activity right from the start allows the audience to recognize the benefits of listening to your message. The activity has to be fun but also challenging enough. If they quickly get through it they will spend the rest of the workshop sitting in their chairs doing nothing. 16. The Study Hall Open If you are someone who loves using data-heavy charts and graphs to illustrate your points, you have to be careful about how you present your data to the audience. While they want to be informed, people in the audience also don't want to be bombarded with too much information all at once. Establishing a school setting and distributing paper handouts of data to your audience to begin your session helps them to follow along. Ask them to read the charts and graphs, and following their review you are well on your way to making your key points. 17. The PowerPoint Open When PowerPoint technology is used correctly it is a highly effective tool for the audience. Otherwise, it immediately makes your presentation feel boring. Slides that are overly literal will fall flat, but conceptual and eye-catching images give strength to your words. Pick captivating and intriguing images. If you present a talk on how to make ice cream, you could begin with a slide that shows the finished product of your ice cream brand. Describe the process of making ice cream in your introduction, and as you proceed you show slides in reverse, moving from final product to the very beginning. Along the way, you guide the viewer through each step. 18. The Audio Clip Open Your voice remains front and center for your talk, but additional sounds can bring more clarity to your message. Your words will be given more meaning with the help of a short audio clip as it makes your message more memorable. If you are teaching a music school, you can include two brief audio excerpts, a before and after of student instruction. Though your words do matter, these clips can have a better impact in persuading students to join your school. Audio testimonies, song recordings, oral accounts, and speech snippets all make for good audio clips. 19. Silence A subtle pause of silence, even if it extends to only 10 seconds, gives your audience enough time to sit and quiet down. Most audiences expect a speaker to begin right away. If you want to get the attention of an audience, taking that extra pause will help your cause. People will start wondering why you are being so quiet as they gather around, and when you break your silence and start speaking you can use that pause to illustrate a key point. Sometimes the main challenge in public speaking events is to get the audience into a silent state. 20. The Challenge Open Audiences want to be challenged and motivated to contribute to something they feel passionate about. Open your speech with a challenge if you are looking to increase sales, raising money for a project, asking for volunteers, or wanting legislative change. It isn't just about buying into your message but also taking the actions to manifest it. Start your speech with something like this: "Leaders see possibilities where followers see obstacles. I am here today to call for leaders to encourage those who are unsure about the project to look past the stumbling blocks we face in the development of this local park and consider giving citizens a better environment." 21. Multiple Choice Test Presenting your own multiple-choice test can draw your audience to your topic, and this approach is tailor-made for a talk with multiple perspectives about an issue or different solutions to the same problem. An example of this open would be to say the following: "As a company, we have several routes we can take regarding growth and increased sales. We could a) buy smaller companies to diversify our portfolio of services, b) move resources to focus on only a few, or c) we could opt to franchise. After we evaluate these options together, I will offer the option that I think is the way for us to go." 22. The Mystery Open The odds are likely that your audience loves to solve mysteries. Whether they are read in books or watched on television, mysteries grab the attention of people simply because of the uncertainty that is wrapped around them. When using this open present some clues on stage, regardless of which side of the argument they lean towards. Remind the audience of these clues throughout the speech and encourage them to come up with their own conclusions before revealing how your mystery gets solved. 23. Have Audience Members Talk to Each Other All audiences will be sitting close together in a setting where they will be visible in front of you, so you might as well take advantage of this. Encourage people to talk to others that are sitting next to them, and specifically to let them know what they would like to learn from your speech. Encourage your audience to discuss with each other any particular points. Any commands or show of leadership on your part will easily influence the audience, as long as you do it with confidence. 24. Bring Up Statistics Even if you don't bring any charts or graphs to illustrate your points, simply mentioning important statistics will resonate with the audience to get your message across the right way. Statistics have the potential to trigger the emotional appeal of the audience. One example of presenting statistics in your open would be something like: "In 2019 there were 152,000 homeless people roaming the streets in California. By 2025 that number is expected to nearly double." This kind of open highlights the need to address the problem of homelessness because the statistic is powerful, personalized and surprising. 25. The Unexpected Definition Open Dictionaries are obviously accurate, but there are times when words gain more power when they are redefined. If you are a valedictorian and you want to share how much your fellow students mean to you, the open can go like this: "The dictionary defines classmate as a member of your class, but my definition for you all is much broader than that. We were friends, teammates, and mentors. As worthy opponents, we challenged each other on the field and in the classroom. And, we now can define ourselves as fellow graduates." Conclusion How you start your presentation will depend on what kind of presentation you are giving, and what tone you want to set for your audience. Regardless of which you choose to begin with, incorporating one of these strong tools into your speech ensures that your presentation is a success from the very start.

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MenuHOMEWhat''s NewSitemapSLEEP & EAT Sedge S/C AccommodationSedgefield RestaurantsSedgefield Coffee ShopsSEE AND DO Outdoor ActivitiesOutdoor MarketsSedgefield ArtGR FestivalsCharitable OrgsDISCOVER Sedge Slow TownSedge HistorySedge StoriesGR Nat ParkSlow FoodMORE About MeContact MeI love SBICheap FlightsGood ReadingRecommended Links Search this Site Discover Sedgefield South Africa Have you found it yet, this secret gem of the Garden Route, Sedgefield South Africa?  By v enturing in a mere 200 metres from the N2 highway, you will discover the relaxed way this village leans against the bends of the Swartvlei Estuary as it follows a course around ancient sand dunes to the Indian Ocean. If you look beyond the unprepossessing buildings bordering both sides of the main road that cuts through the central business district, you will be surprised  to find many facets to this understated jewel. Identified as  Africa’s first "stand-alone Slow Town", you will learn it  takes time to discover Sedgefield''s multiple treasures hidden in plain sight. It requires you to be an astute observer, have a genuine love for nature and a keen sense of adventure.   Canoeing and cycling are two ways to slow down in Sedgefield. If you come to live here, know that you are privileged and understand nature is fragile. Tread lightly to maintain the delicate balance between human interaction and the natural environment for the benefit of both. Only take from the sea what you need. Do your part to keep the ocean, rivers and beaches free of plastic waste and discarded fishing gear. Go out of your way to preserve the endangered indigenous vegetation. Fynbos is the most threatened and diverse biome in the world and 69% of its species are found nowhere else on earth. It is home and a retreat for many endemic birds, insects, small wildlife and our resident guineafowl and tortoises. Trees too are important as more and more are being lost to urban sprawl. Be considerate and compassionate towards all sentient beings. They are also entitled to their space on our planet and humans would have no quality of life without the biodiversity of nature. Discover Sedgefield and immerse yourself in Nature The invitation is to take your foot off the accelerator and slow down to the speed of nature, ease up on your busy life and daily work load, your regular chores and responsibilities. Take a breather and revitalize yourself with soothing sounds of the sea and the tangy taste of salt air. Unwind in nature’s playground. Realise y ou are far more than your physical body.  Let peace and contentment flood your soul until it oozes out your pores. Appreciate that only unspoiled nature can offer you this timeless all-encompassing restoration of body, mind and spirit, and only its pristine preservation will allow it to continually provide this ineffable service to humanity. Perfect Photographic Scene at the Kingfisher Drive boat-launch site on the Swartvlei Estuary. Breathe in fresh unpolluted air as you engage in any number of enjoyable outdoor activities...Picnic next to the lagoon. Laze under an umbrella on any one of 5 beaches. Swim in the invigorating water.Kite-surf along the length of Myoli and Cola beaches. Throw a fishing line from the rocks. Surf the waves on Swartvlei beach.Canoe the rivers.Snorkel in the amazing tidal pools at Gerickes.Surge on the incoming tide at the Swartvlei Rivermouth.Enjoy some lazy stand-up paddling on the peaceful lagoon.Hike the nature trails of Goukamma Nature Reserve.Cycle wherever your fancy takes you.Take a paragliding lesson or enjoy an exhilarating tandem experience from Cloud 9. Explore the back roads.Familiarise yourself with our village by simply walking its streets.Browse our famous three outdoor Saturday markets.Experience life in the inter-tidal zone on a Moonlight Meander with Judy Dixon.Hike a guided trail of beach, river and forest with experienced local guide, Mark Dixon. Do an art workshop with a known South Africa artist hosted by Zanne Small. Judy Dixon''s Moonlight Meander along Swartvlei BeachLocal knowledgable Trail Guide, Mark Dixon at PlatbankArt Workshop at Zanne''s Small Art Gallery in Sedgefield Photographers - don''t go anywhere without your cameras! And birdwatchers, you can enjoy all of the above while adding to your lists! Or...you can do nothing at all! Just sit and let the peace of the place soak in! All types of holiday accommodation are available from timeshare and self-catering to B&B''s and caravan parks but expect no multi-storie hotels or bright city lights here. There is little organised entertainment, no huge shopping mall, no cinemas but fabulous Saturday markets can easily provide an enjoyable outing for the whole family. Near-by, the delightful outdoor mosaic ''Octopus Garden under the Sea'' holds regular events through-out the year to raise funds for Masithandane, a multi-branched local charity. Wonderful Wild Oats Saturday Farmers'' Market And, the outdoors constantly beckonswith unforgettable vistaswhichever way you look. You may be halted in your tracks by the shining stillness of the morning that reflects off the lagoon. Breath-taking sunsets can amaze - the colours get richer as evening darkens to night. Sandy beaches stretch for kilometers beckoning you to lengthen your stride and explore the shoreline finding caves and rocky pools and sheltered coves to while away the hours. Up on the dune cliffs, you can whale watch or spot dolphins leaping effortlessly through the surf . Winter Sunset shining in the Swartvlei lagoon and silhouetting the Outeniqua Mountains  Experience profound Connections Sedgefield is an ongoing parade of special moments found when we slow down to appreciate the most fundamental things. Things that matter deeply but are not monetary. To appreciate the intrinsic value of our relationships with each other and the natural world around us, we need to take the opportunity to find soul space. This allows us to rest our overworked minds, rejuvenate our stressed bodies and relax into a sense of well-being and harmony. This is the kind of place that reminds something deep within us of how life ought to be lived - more simply and serenely. It''s about finding quality not in things but in experiences, and perhaps most of all, by connecting with nature! Somehow this helps us connect better with each other too and why Sedgefield is recognised as a village with generous-hearted people who care about each other and have a strong sense of community! Outdoor cameraderie with family and friends on New Year''s day "Conservation without Boundaries" Sedgefield falls within the Garden Route National Park  (declared the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve in 2018!) which has evolved from a new concept of “conservation without boundaries”. This offers the potential to protect the whole Garden Route region from damaging exploitation by establishing innovative mechanisms for allowing people with all their associated complex human activities to sustainably interact with this fragile and beautiful nature-oriented environment. Many people from all walks of life are actively and deeply invested in materialising this unique area into the Garden Route Biosphere. Southern Right Whales Mother & CalfAutumn Fynbos Flowers next to Swartvlei LagoonWoodville Forest Hiking Trail This will not only incorporate precious indigenous forests, fynbos and mountains and all the creatures this environment is home to, but also the magnificent yet vulnerable coastal landscape which merges two Marine Protected Areas and two Hope Spots. Last but by no means least, in comparatively recent times, exciting discoveries of ancient track-ways of thousands of animals have been identified along our coastline including Sedgefield beaches. They reveal bygone ages when this region transitioned from desert to grass plains before it became the coastal topography we know it as today. Other geological findings indicate the area is awash with imprints of human species at the very dawn of their existence. Our planet as it exists today is a singular snapshot of time. Events and creatures that have participated in its 6.4 billion-year journey have interpreted it by means of the global map of their ancestry catalogued and encoded in their DNA. Preservation of information of such antiquity can only increase our appreciation of what it has taken for all of the multiple species that clothe and walk upon this planet, to have evolved and survived to be here, in their current form at this present time of Earth''s history-in-the-making. Most Visited Pages  Just Breathe Come aside and rest a while, Be part of the dream that is Sedgefield Tread lightly for nature is fragile Vulnerable to man''s careless presence But here if you care to, You can hear earth''s heartbeat. You can hear your heartbeat, As you connect to the timeless beauty Of  Fynbos flowers and grasses, Of majestic mountains and mysterious forests, Warm sandy beaches and tranquil lakes. You can find peace in your soul. Refresh your embattled spirit. Sense the resilience of earth And realise you are part of it, That no matter what happens You will be okay, We are here for a purpose, Nothing is in vain. Nothing is wasted. All is valued and valuable, And has  its'' place in the scheme of things. Be kind to yourself, to others, To the earth. Allow yourself to love this world. It will make you see yourself differently. Sylvia Ferguson Marvelous Mosaics by Masithandane at Swartvlei River Mouth Recent Articles Gerry Stavros - A Man of many Talents Oct 23, 20 12:00 AM Gerry Stavros with his wife and two children arrived in Sedgefield from Kimberley in 1983 to take over the Stop n Stay business and premises. At the time it was an overnight motel with separate outsid… Read More Lilith Seals Oct 17, 20 08:08 AM Lilith Seals has a long history with Sedgefield hailing back to 1950 when the family had their first holiday here. That holiday resulted in the family moving here permanently in 1953, as 3 of their ch… Read More SedgeNews Jan 24, 20 12:00 AM Take a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane with a little newspaper, SEDGENEWS birthed in the late 1980s. During its short lifetime, it served the small village community of under 2000 people informing the… Read More A dvertisingPrivacy PolicyDisclaimerSite Links Copyright 2010-2020 © www.discover-sedgefield-south-africa.com All Rights Reserved  Powered by Solobuild It - SBI Top of Page Slow down to the speed of nature to revel in our great outdoors when you discover Sedgefield, the secret gem of the Garden Route.

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