Chapter 108 Six ways to start a presentation

Generally speaking, within tens of seconds after the start of the speech, the audience will usually decide whether to accept your speech, that is, whether to listen to you carefully.Interestingly, we never start from the beginning when preparing a speech, but first establish the purpose of the speech, then collect and organize materials around the purpose, and the last thing to do is to prepare for the beginning. Because only in this way can we better choose the correct and appropriate way to start. Do you find it difficult to keep your audience interested when you give a serious political speech?Well, let's see how the English writer Kipling made the audience laugh when he started his political speech.What he tells is not a made-up story, but his own past experience, and he points out the contradictions in it in a playful tone.He said: "Gentlemen, when I was young, I lived in India. I used to report social news for a newspaper. This job was very interesting, because it gave me the opportunity to learn about counterfeiting, theft, murder and such things. A class of adventurous, talented people. (Audience laughs.) After I've interviewed them sometimes when they were tried, I'm going to go to the prison and visit our friends who are suffering. (Audience laughs again (voice) I remember that there was a man who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. He was a young man who was extremely intelligent and good at talking. He told me what he thought was the most important sentence in his life: 'I feel that a person If he stumbles into the abyss of evil, he will continue to do evil again and again, and finally he thinks that he can only realize his integrity by crowding everyone else into evil ways.' (Audience laughs) This sentence, It’s amazing! (Laughter and applause from the audience at the same time)”

The following is a paragraph at the beginning of a speech. Please read on and see if you like and are interested in the beginning. Eighty-two years ago, it was at this time that London published a novel masterpiece that was recognized as immortal, and many people called it "the greatest novel in the world".When the book was first published, London citizens would ask each other when they met friends in the streets and lanes: "Have you read this book?" The answer must be: "Yes, I have read it." This book was published It sold 1,000 copies on the first day, and 15,000 copies were sold within two weeks; naturally, it was reprinted many times later, and there are translations in all countries in the world.A few years ago, the great banker Morgan bought the original manuscript of this book at a huge price.The manuscript is now on display in a New York City gallery, along with Morgan's other priceless treasures.What is this world famous book?It's "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.

Do you think the speech got off to a successful start?Why did it catch your attention in the first place, and why did it gradually increase your interest?It is because it arouses your curiosity and makes your heart seem to hang in mid-air. Former U.S. Secretary of State Everett once delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. The mountains in the distance, the field in front of him, the crowd standing, and the solemn atmosphere aroused waves in his heart. Lecture notes, improvisation: "Standing under a long clear sky, and looking out across the vast fields where men have tilled and now rest quietly, the majestic Allegheny Mountains loom before us, the graves of our brethren Just below our feet, I dare not use my insignificant voice to break the infinite silence arranged by God and nature..."

This opening remark is quite exciting, and every word and sentence shocked the hearts of the audience. Most people love to hear stories, and most people especially love to hear the speaker tell the story about his own personal experience.The late famous American pastor Cornwell gave his "gold everywhere" speech as many as 6,000 times. This famous speech begins as follows: "In 1970, we went down the Tigris River in Turkey, and when we reached the city of Baghdad, we hired a guide to take us to see Xipolis and Babylon..." Then he told the story step by step.This is the best start to grab the audience's attention. This kind of start is very simple and clear, and it is very difficult to fail.It is flexible and easy, and can make the audience follow it unconsciously, because they all want to know what happened next, and they will listen to him calmly.

During the speech, it is inevitable that the audience will ask questions.If you take over what other people are talking about, you can sway to your heart's content and speak naturally and wittily, humorously and expressively, which can not only enliven the venue, but also firmly grasp the audience. The maxims spoken by celebrities always have the power to attract attention.Therefore, if you can properly quote a famous person, it is really a good way to start your speech. One speaker gave his talk, "How to Succeed in a Business!" He began: "The famous psychologist Howard said: The whole world is willing to give the best prize of money and reputation to only one thing, and that is creativity. What is creativity? Simply put, it means that you don't need to be instructed. And being able to do things no one else has done..."

At the beginning of this speech, there are several features that are commendable.Its first sentence quoted famous quotes from famous people, which aroused the curiosity of the audience and made the audience willing to listen to it and know more.If the speaker pauses subtly after saying "only one thing", it will make people eager to ask: "Who did the world give the best prize?" The second sentence immediately brought the audience into the center of the topic.The third sentence is a question, which can arouse the audience's thinking and make the audience willing to discuss together.The fourth sentence gives a definition of creativity... Then the speaker cited an interesting fact to prove the value of creativity.Should such ingenious beginnings be celebrated, in your judgment?With the gradual acceleration of the pace of life, time is measured in minutes and seconds. Therefore, speeches in today's society must also adapt to this characteristic of the times.

Before the speech gets to the main point, you can't make too many detours, and you can't spend too much time talking about topics that have nothing to do with the theme or have little to do with it. Instead, you should open the scene as soon as possible and cut into the theme.