How can you captivate your audience from the first sentence of your speech?

You are a story teller. Have clear image what is the change that you want to see. Your first sentence should resonate on emotional level. Establish conditions for empathy and relatablity. Let facts and statistics support you.

One way to start could be to present a topical question related to your subject. That should make the audience to think. Then visualize in different ways if possible.

Whenever I deliver a speech, I usually start it with a question. Yes, a question. Something related to my topic, something that ignites conversation. Basically, I like to set a question in frame, which I plan on answering via my speech. This helps by developing my audience’s expectation- as to what topics they can expect an answer to. This establishes clarity.

- Start with a powerful quote, - A personal story, - A surprising statistic, or a bold statement that piques the audience’s curiosity. You should also use eye contact, gestures, vocal variety, and pauses to keep the audience engaged.

Having a clear purpose is important and a clear understanding of who your audience is and what they care about is a must. Once you are ready to start your speech use the power of storytelling; humans are naturally drawn to stories to make sense of the world we live in. Captivate your audience with a story that is vivid, relevant, and relatable. Transport your audience to the scene where your story is taking place by using vivid language. A compelling story can create a strong emotional connection with your audience members which will create a predisposition for them to engage with the rest of your speech.

To captivate your audience from the start, craft a compelling opening sentence that sparks curiosity, addresses a common concern, tells a relevant story, or poses a thought-provoking question. Engage their interest early to create a strong connection. Example could be with your personalized touch by sharing a moment .

Keep your opening sentence short, simple, and clear. Aim for clarity in conveying your main idea without unnecessary complexity. Steer clear of jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that might confuse your audience. Use direct language that communicates your point effectively, ensuring that your message is easily understood and remembered. Trim away any unnecessary words or filler to make your opening concise and impactful.

1 Write a clear outline for the speech. 2 Practise and speak these out to someone 3 Create a clear outline. Practise with friends or colleagues. More the better. As you present in front of people all the unneeded will was away. Take your speech and make it work and grow through safespaces with people who support you. Polish it, untill you feel good.

I don't agree with this "be confident". It can sometimes work against you and you can come off a bit defensive and boring. Being honest with your audience will likely take you a lot further. Also communicating that you are little anxious, but take the edge nervousness.

Beyond authenticity and confidence: True connection in speaking, what Zoe Chance calls 'shining,' is key in my role as University President. It's about creating a bond with each listener, making them feel uniquely seen and heard. This starts with authenticity and confidence, being fully present, and tuning into the audience's energy. I aim to make each speech a shared journey, not just delivering a message but building a bridge of empathy and understanding. Every word is an opportunity to engage deeply, turning speeches into powerful tools for inspiration and connection.

Achieving it on the first try is unlikely. Keep practicing and making corrections. Consider using a recorder to replay and evaluate your performance. Practice in the presence of experts and friends, seeking their opinions for necessary adjustments.

Don't hesitate to use AI like ChatGpt to repharse things and give you 10 different ways to express this with different tones. This will give you an idea of how this can be expressed. Best is to do the speech in a safe space with people who will support you and give honest constructive feedback.

Before you craft your opening sentence, it helps to observe or know your audience. When you know who you are speaking to, grabbing their attention becomes easier. For some sets of audience, its humour that works best, for some its a thought provoking question, and for some its a well-known quote. There are people who respond best to compelling statistics. There is no one hook that works on all audience. Your audience is only always interested in what they would like to hear. If you do not know your audience, find the most disruptive aspect of the content you're about to deliver and start with that. It intrigues people. If you can make it interactive, you might draw insights that can help you shape the rest of your delivery as well!

Choose appropriate and meaningful body language during a presentation. Don’t hesitate to use humor where appropriate or if you feel you that the energy is going down. Be like a DJ and navigate your thoughts and ideas through your words and body language and always remember to keep the audience involved by promoting questions and participation.