To begin your presentation, evoke emotions such as curiosity, surprise, fear, or amusement in your audience using your polished slides with a clear storyline and agenda, along with engaging visuals.

The Classic Trick: Open with An Introduction

To engage your audience effectively in your presentation introduction, try these two approaches:

Use a link-back memory formula: Share a relatable story about your journey and experiences to establish an emotional connection. For instance, “I’m Joanne, Head of Marketing at company XYZ. I transitioned from waitressing to successful copywriting, generating over $1.5M in revenue last year. I’m here to show you how to achieve similar results.”

Test the Stereotype Formula: Playfully challenge stereotypes related to your profession. For instance, “I’m ____, a lead software engineer. Yes, I’m that nerdy type who’d rather code than speak in front of a crowd. But today, let’s dive into the exciting new product features my team is about to release.” These techniques set the tone for an engaging presentation.

Open with a Hook

Grab your audience’s attention right away with the unexpected. Psychologically, we’re drawn to the unfamiliar, so beginning with a surprising twist sets the stage for engagement. Try these hooks:

1. Start with a provocative statement, like Jane McGonigal did in her TED talk, to shock and intrigue.
2. Pose a thought-provoking rhetorical question that keeps your audience curious and engaged throughout.
3. Begin with a bold statistic: shock, empathize, call to action, or pique curiosity. For instance, “We waste $1.2B annually on unsold clothes,” “Are you part of the undiagnosed ADHD 20%?” or “Let’s improve ROI – speech recognition led to 13% growth in just 3 years.”

These techniques set the stage for a captivating presentation using unexpected elements.

Begin with a Captivating Visual

Start with compelling visuals throughout your presentation. For instance, begin with a text-free slide that conveys your idea through an image – a photo, chart, infographic, or graphic. Visuals communicate swiftly, engaging the brain in just 13 milliseconds compared to text’s higher cognitive load. Relevant images enhance aesthetics, spark imagination, and instantly boost message recall. For a presentation on global pollution, consider this introductory slide to reinforce your statement.

Ask a “What if…” Question

Harness the potent “what if” approach to demonstrate the outcomes of heeding your advice. This empowers your audience with a glimpse of the potential results from listening to you. Here are starting sentences paired with slides exemplifying this technique:

Alternatively, you can build towards this by posing different questions:

Delve into their “Why” – their purpose for attending or the relevance of the topic.

Utilize “How” to introduce potential solutions.

For persuasive presentations, engage with “When” to incite interest in taking action.

These tactics adeptly captivate your audience’s attention and investment.

Use the Word “Imagine”

Opt for “Imagine,” “Picture This,” or “Think of” when starting with a quick story. Our brain thrives on stories, enhancing collaboration. Tense narratives captivate, grabbing attention and fostering emotional connection. This approach, akin to action movies empowering viewers, creates rapport and boosts receptiveness to your pitch – encouraging support, exploration, and more.

Begin a story, pause midway to delay resolution.

Temporarily withhold key information (like a solution) – brief delay maintains curiosity.

Open with an unexpected twist tied to a concept or idea.

Utilize these gaps to captivate your audience, injecting intrigue when needed.

The Power of Silence

Imagine attending a presentation where the speaker remains silent for 30 seconds after it begins. The silence captures attention, making you anticipate vital revelations. This surprise element highlights overlooked aspects, making it an impactful tool for product introductions or inspiring talks, especially when followed by a significant fact.

Facts as Weapons of Communication

In certain fields, like climate change, initiating with a fact can effectively engage the audience. For instance, consider a unique statistic such as the monthly wool yield from oceanic plastic waste. Research manufacturers using oceanic fabrics from recycled plastic bottles to enhance your introduction’s credibility. Facts enhance your narrative, providing a solid foundation of research-backed data alongside emotional elements.

Closing Thoughts

Now equipped with compelling opening lines, accompanying slides, and access to alluring presentation templates on our site, you’re primed to kick off your presentation. For a comprehensive approach, explore our article on Effective Presentation Endings to further enhance your slides and master PowerPoint techniques.