fbpx

Interview Patty

7 Excellent Ways To Start A Presentation

Motivate your audience

1. Tell a captivating story.
The story can be about you personally, which tells the audience first-hand why you're invested in and passionate about the topic. Or you can tell a story about another person who the audience can learn from. "Another option: tell a fable, wisdom tale, historic event, or anecdote," Price says. "The idea is, start with a brief 60- to 90-second narrative that launches your speech and captivates your listeners, and make sure the story encapsulates the key point of your message."

2. Ask a rhetorical thought-provoking question.
"As a speaker, you ask rhetorical questions for persuasive effect; you don't expect the audience to answer aloud, rather silently to themselves," Price explains. When crafted and delivered well, rhetorical questions influence an audience to believe in the position of the speaker. "Clearly, Shakespeare's character Shylock is leading his listeners to think 'yes' four times in order to justify revenge against Antonio. What do you want your audience to say 'yes' or 'no' to?"

In addition to yes or no questions, you can also arouse curiosity and motivate your audience to think about the answer, she says.

3. State a shocking statistic or headline.
"The statistic, bold claim, or headline needs to be directly related to the main purpose of your presentation," Price explains. "Its impact ideally persuades the audience to listen and respond positively to your recommendation and next steps."

4. Use a powerful quote.
Imagine you're urging a group to reach consensus, or giving a talk on conflict management. You could open with: "Mark Twain once said, 'If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.' Even though some of us disagree on the xyz issue, each of us is necessary in the reaching a resolution."

5. Show a gripping photo.
A picture is worth a thousand words "maybe even more," Price says.

"Use photos instead of text, when possible," she suggests. A quality photo adds aesthetic appeal, increases comprehension, engages the audience's imagination, and makes the message more memorable.

6. Use a prop or creative visual aid.
"A prop is a magnetic tool that hooks your audience and keeps them watching — or listening," Price says. A visual aid can also help emphasize a point.

7. Play a short video.
"Videos evoke emotional responses," Price explains. "Unlike text and bullet points on a slide, you can employ people, pictures, and sound to reel in the audience, add drama, and communicate the gist of your message quickly." As Walt Disney said, "I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained."

Read the full article at:  businessinsider.com

Patty Block, President and Founder of The Block Group, established her company to advocate for women-owned businesses, helping them position their companies for strategic growth. Charting the course for impactful, sustainable, profitable businesses, the beacon is control: of your strategic direction, your money, your time, your staffing, and your ability to bring in business. The Block Group brings together the people, resources and ideas that build results.

25-Houston-business-coaching-in-Houston

Growth for women-owned businesses.

Business consulting for women entrepreneurs in Houston, Advice for women entrepreneurs, Business Coach in Houston, Growth strategies for small business, Business continuation for women, Growth for women-owned businesses, Houston business coaching, Financial strategies for small business, Small business consulting in Houston, Business management consultant, Business, Consulting, Women, Entrepreneurs, Houston, Coach, Growth, Strategies, Coaching, Continuation, Owned, Owner, Financial, Consulting, Management,

Building Blocks

7941 Katy Fwy. #414
Houston, TX 77024 USA

© 2024 The Block Group Inc. All rights reserved.  Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer