All presenters and public speakers face the challenge of getting and keeping their audience’s attention. Psychologists at Princeton University suggest that people form judgments about attractiveness, likability, trustworthiness, and competence after looking at someone’s face for just 100 milliseconds.
No wonder many presenters feel anxious about speaking in public. The thought alone can be unnerving. If you were to google, “How long does it take to make a first impression?” you’d find over 583 million results, highlighting varying opinions that range from 100 milliseconds to 60 seconds.
The Importance of Attention
At Mindful Presenter Ltd, we believe that if you haven’t captured your audience’s attention, interest, and curiosity within the first 60 seconds, you’re likely to struggle from there on. Fortunately, there are countless ways to open a presentation with impact. Here’s a hand-picked selection of impactful openings from some of our favourite TED presenters.
Engaging Openings
At Mindful Presenter Ltd we believe that, if you haven’t grabbed your audiences attention, interest and curiosity within the first 60 seconds, you are likely to struggle from there on.
There are countless ways to open a presentation with impact
Here is a hand-picked selection of 60 second openings from a few of our favourite presenters on TED.
Carin Bondar: The birds and the bees are just the beginning
Bondar opens with the provocative question: “Anyone in the room thought about sex today?” This bold approach immediately grabs attention, though it may not suit every corporate context. The key takeaway here is to open with a thought-provoking question that resonates with your audience.
Hans Rosling: Tiny Satellites Show Us the Earth as It Changes in Near-Real-Time
Rosling energises his audience with a high-energy multiple-choice question, complete with game show music and stunning visuals. This unique approach encourages audience participation and creates excitement about his message.
Will Marshall: Tiny satellites show us the Earth as it changes in near-real-time
Marshall captivates with a strong, visual statement about Earth, sharing its first image taken from space by Apollo 17 astronauts in 1972. His descriptive language makes listeners lean in closer.
Kitra Cahana: My father, locked in his body but soaring free
Cahana opens with a somber and emotional narrative about her father, drawing the audience into his spiritual journey. This personal touch creates an intimate connection with the listeners.
Ramanan Laxminarayan: The coming crisis in antibiotics
Laxminarayan shares a fascinating historical fact that grabs attention, demonstrating the power of storytelling to engage an audience.
Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend
Some people may even be fearless enough to make a confession; although calling on their audience to do so first.
My final selection is of one of the UK’s best loved chefs Jamie Oliver.
Jamie Oliver: Teach every child about food
While Oliver may not be the most polished speaker, he effectively captures attention with a shocking statement, reminding us that a strong opening can set a powerful tone for the entire presentation.
You only get one chance to make a first impression. Make your first 60 seconds count and engage your audience from the start.
If you need help grabbing your audience’s attention:
– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.
– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.
– Get yourself some excellent presentation training
Image: Courtesy of Canva.com
Videos courtesy of https://www.youtube.com/
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.