Stop Saying "Is My Screen Visible?"

Most people start their presentation with, "Is my screen visible?"

And then dive straight into the slides.

I'd be a liar if I said I haven't done it in my past.

"Is my screen visible?" opening fails to engage the audience because it dictates a predictable flow, making it easy to tune out.

Now, predictability isn’t necessarily bad, but it won’t make your presentation stand out.

If you want to create an "Oh wow!" moment - you need a stronger opening.

Stronger openings usually involve a question loop.

Let me explain.

How Top Presenters Start Strong

I analyzed over 10 of the most-watched TED Talk introductions and found a clear pattern:

Most great talk starts with a story or a question loop.

Stories create an instant connection by offering something relatable.

Take Tim Urban’s TED Talk - Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator for example.

• He begins by sharing his experience as a government major in college, writing papers at the last minute.
• The story builds, creating a natural crescendo, drawing the audience in.
• He also uses simple visuals to complement his narrative.

If your topic allows for it, start with a one-minute story. It opens a curiosity gap in the audience’s mind: "What happened next?" - and that keeps them engaged.

If a story isn’t the best fit, another effective approach is starting with a bold statement followed by a thought-provoking question.

Take Julian Treasure’s TED Talk - How to Speak So That People Want to Listen (one of my favorite talks ever)

• He begins with a powerful statement:
• "The human voice is the instrument we all play. It's the most powerful sound in the world. Probably the only one that can start a war or say ‘I love you.’"
• Then, he introduces a compelling question: "How can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?"

This instantly hooks the audience because it presents a problem they want solved.

What NOT to Do

Some speakers start with:

• "Hi, my name is Tom."
• A detailed self-introduction before diving in.

There’s nothing wrong with introducing yourself, but if you want to lead with impact, make your opening about the audience.

Either present a relatable problem or ask a thought-provoking question that makes them lean in.

For example, here are some other engaging opening questions I came across from Ted Talks:

• "Do you think it’s possible to control someone’s attention?"
• "What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life?"

These questions create an open loop - the audience needs to know the answer, so they keep listening.

Your Practical Next Step

Ask yourself: How can I make my opening relevant to my audience?

Avoid saying, "As you can see on the slide..." Instead, create that "hook factor."

Everyone talks about "hooks," but what does that actually mean?

Imagine fishing:

• You bait the hook
• Throw the line
• Wait for the fish to bite

That’s exactly what your opening line should do - it should pull your audience in, making them want more of your content.

Don’t let your opening fall flat. Use these strategies to make it relevant, grab attention, and create that "wow" moment.

Recommendation Zone

I watched the entire pod with Jay Clouse and Aprilynne A. that totally blew my mind.

I have a new perspective on how I look at content creation.

Key takeaway: Iterate iterate iterate.

For example, here's how she came up with 6 different thumbnails to see which one felt right for her content (see below)

→ So my readers - iterate when you have an opening for presentation

Thanks for reading the #15 edition of The Confident Communicator.

If something stood out to you (or didn’t), let me know in the comments. See you next Monday!

P.S: The Confident Communicator is 1002 subscribers STRONG! WHAT! ?? Share it someone who is aiming to become confident communicator. Cheers!