How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers

00:06:59
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tzentBmmUc

Zusammenfassung

TLDRIn this video, the speaker discusses effective ways to open a speech, highlighting common mistakes and successful strategies. The worst openers include technical issues, expressing nervousness, and insincere welcomes. Instead, the speaker recommends starting with engaging stories, presenting a big idea, or using quirky one-liners to capture the audience's attention. The video also promotes a course on powerful presentations, offering techniques for confident and authentic communication.

Mitbringsel

  • 🚫 Avoid technical issues in your opener.
  • 😟 Don't mention your nervousness.
  • 🙄 Skip half-hearted welcomes.
  • 📖 Start with an engaging story.
  • 💡 Present your big idea upfront.
  • 😂 Use a quirky one-liner for humor.
  • 🔍 Hook your audience with intriguing facts.
  • 📅 Check out closing lines at sciencepeople.com/closers.
  • 🎓 Join the course for powerful presentation skills.
  • 🤝 Connect authentically with your audience.

Zeitleiste

  • 00:00:00 - 00:06:59

    The speaker expresses nervousness about public speaking and highlights the importance of a strong opening. They outline the worst ways to start a speech, including technical issues, mentioning nervousness, and giving half-hearted welcomes. These approaches can distract the audience and create a negative atmosphere. The speaker emphasizes the need for authenticity and engagement in the opening. They then transition to discussing effective speech openers, starting with storytelling, which captivates the audience's attention. They provide examples of successful openers, such as sharing a big idea or using humor, to create a memorable introduction.

Mind Map

Video-Fragen und Antworten

  • What are the worst ways to start a speech?

    Avoid technical issues, mentioning nervousness, and giving half-hearted welcomes.

  • What is the best way to open a speech?

    Using stories is the most effective way to engage the audience.

  • How can I present my big idea effectively?

    Share your big idea right at the start without making the audience wait.

  • What type of humor can I use in my speech opener?

    A quirky one-liner or an intriguing fact can be a great way to start.

  • Where can I find closing lines for speeches?

    Visit sciencepeople.com/closers for a free download of top closing lines.

  • What is the course about?

    The course teaches powerful presentation skills for confident and authentic communication.

  • How can I improve my presentation skills?

    Join the course to learn techniques for sharing ideas effectively.

  • What should I avoid mentioning in my speech?

    Avoid mentioning your nervousness as it can distract the audience.

  • How can I make my audience feel engaged?

    Use stories to help your audience connect with your message.

  • What are some examples of engaging speech openers?

    Examples include starting with 'Once upon a time' or an interesting fact.

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Untertitel
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Automatisches Blättern:
  • 00:00:00
    oh wow I'm so nervous gosh these lights
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    are so bright is this mic on is there
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    even a mic opening a speech is so
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    stressful there's nothing worse than
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    walking on stage and not knowing what to
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    say or worse saying something super
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    awkward can you see my hands shaking
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    imagine you naked imagine you naked
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    imagine you naked imagine you naked got
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    a seat clearly hello Chicago Oh Hughes
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    we're in Houston hello Houston in this
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    video I'm gonna give you the best and
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    worst speech openers for your next
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    presentation pitch speech or toast
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    [Music]
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    let's start with the worst ways to open
  • 00:01:01
    I hear these speaking cardinal sins all
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    the time please don't open your speech
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    by never start with anything technical
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    gosh these lights are so bright is this
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    mic on is there even a mic friends do a
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    tech check or show up a little early if
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    you call attention to something not
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    working that's all your audience will
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    think about never mention your
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    nervousness do I look as nervous as I
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    feel wow there are so many people here
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    so I should start by saying that I am
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    NOT a great public speaker so this
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    should be short many people think it's
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    vulnerable or honest to start with how
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    nervous they are but actually for your
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    audience it's distracting why the moment
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    you mention your nerves you make your
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    audience nervous and they will begin
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    looking for all the signs of your
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    nervousness it becomes a giant
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    nerve-wracking wave that you start from
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    stage never give a half-hearted welcome
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    thanks for having me well it's so nice
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    to be here thanks for that intro do not
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    start with a boring nicety or worse
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    saying something nice but not sounding
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    like you mean it I can't tell you how
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    many times I have seen people get on
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    stage and say I'm so happy to be here
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    but look so incredibly unhappy as they
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    say it fake fake fake the only exception
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    to this is if you can turn it into a
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    joke like the amazing Ken Robinson he
  • 00:02:42
    opened his talk with a boring nicety but
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    then made it funny let's watch
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    good morning how are you it's been great
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    isn't it it's been I've been blown away
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    by the whole thing in fact I'm leaving
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    okay now that we've talked about the
  • 00:03:03
    worst ways to start a speech let's talk
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    about the best speech opener idea number
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    one use stories the absolute best way to
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    start a presentation is with a story
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    there is nothing better to capture the
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    imagination and attention of an audience
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    let's watch how David Brooks hooks you
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    in right at the start with his story so
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    we all have bad seasons in life and I
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    had one in 2013 my marriage had just
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    ended and I was humiliated by that
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    failed commitment whoa hooks you in or
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    right away he gets right to the heart of
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    it stories help your audience feel right
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    there with you
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    here are some film the blanks you can
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    use to start your next speech with a
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    story once upon a time I'm here for a
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    reason and it's an interesting story the
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    best thing that ever happened to me was
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    speech opener idea number two your big
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    idea I love when speakers share their
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    big idea right up front they don't make
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    you wait for it they dive right in let's
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    watch how Stacy Smith starts off her
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    talk with her big idea framed in an
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    interesting way today I want to tell you
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    about a pressing social issue now it's
  • 00:04:20
    not nuclear arms it's not immigration
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    and it's not malaria I'm here to talk
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    about movies here's some film the blanks
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    you can use to open your speech you're
  • 00:04:33
    here for a reason it's the single most
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    important thing I want to share with you
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    today is today I want to share a big
  • 00:04:42
    idea speech opener number three a quirky
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    one-liner no one loves humor more than
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    me and I can promise you that your
  • 00:04:51
    audience will as well
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    if you dare try to open your speech with
  • 00:04:55
    something intriguing very intriguing
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    humor or curiosity is a
  • 00:05:00
    great way to start a speech on a high
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    and please get creative think of an
  • 00:05:06
    interesting fact about you your audience
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    or your topic that can lead you into
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    your content for example when I gave my
  • 00:05:13
    TED talk in London I opened with my
  • 00:05:15
    quirky one-liner hello my name is
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    Vanessa and I am a recovering awkward
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    person you can also use an interesting
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    fact or even a question to the audience
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    try some of these film the blanks
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    did you know do you ever worry about
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    have you ever wondered for example I do
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    tons of corporate workshops and
  • 00:05:39
    trainings and here are some interesting
  • 00:05:41
    factoids I start with that hook the
  • 00:05:44
    audience in did you know that it takes
  • 00:05:46
    less than a second to make a first
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    impression did you know that your
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    nonverbal communication is 12.5 times
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    more powerful than your words did you
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    know that we are lied to 200 times a day
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    got you hooked right I would love to
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    speak to your group any time call me
  • 00:06:04
    okay you are ready for your next speech
  • 00:06:07
    your next question might be how do I end
  • 00:06:10
    my speech I have 20 top closing lines
  • 00:06:13
    from history's greatest speakers go to
  • 00:06:15
    science people.com / closers to grab
  • 00:06:19
    your free download do you have powerful
  • 00:06:21
    presentation skills whether you're on a
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    stage on a video in a boardroom or in a
  • 00:06:26
    meeting I want to show you how you can
  • 00:06:28
    share any of your ideas powerfully
  • 00:06:30
    confidently and authentically in my new
  • 00:06:33
    course powerful presentations I'm gonna
  • 00:06:35
    give you my framework that you can use
  • 00:06:37
    for sharing any idea whether that's in
  • 00:06:39
    person or online in video or on stage
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    I'll also show you some of those pesky
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    things that are really hard in a
  • 00:06:45
    presentation like where to put your
  • 00:06:47
    hands and how to hold a mic how to show
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    visuals how to tell stories even how to
  • 00:06:52
    be funny join me to my course powerful
  • 00:06:54
    presentations at science' people.com
  • 00:06:56
    slash presentations
Tags
  • speech openers
  • public speaking
  • presentation tips
  • engaging stories
  • big idea
  • quirky humor
  • audience engagement
  • presentation skills
  • confidence
  • authenticity