You walk onto the stage at a work conference, the spotlight hits you, and dozens (or even hundreds) of eyes are locked on you. What you say in the next 10 seconds will decide whether your audience gets excited to hear more… or zones out and starts thinking about lunch.
Starting a speech the wrong way can mean losing your audience in the very first moments. Whether you’re giving a high-stakes presentation, a keynote speech at a conference, or even a team pep talk, you need to grab your audience’s attention from the start.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to start a speech with confidence. Captivate your audience with these 10 effective strategies and avoid common mistakes when crafting your speech.
The opening lines of your speech can make or break your audience’s first impression of you. Within seconds, your audience will decide whether to pay attention or tune you out.
A strong start makes your audience curious about your message and establishes your credibility. When you start well, your listeners become more engaged and ready to listen. But if you fumble those first lines, you risk losing their focus – and it’s an uphill battle to win it back.
Crafting a strong opening isn’t just about finding the right words. It’s also about knowing what interests your audience and what you want to achieve.
Here are three best practices to keep in mind:
If you want to win your audience over, speak about what matters to them. While you may have great insights to share, people will only pay attention if they feel your message is relevant to their needs, challenges, or aspirations.
Start by researching what makes your audience tick. Are they professionals, students, peers, or leaders? What are their goals or concerns?
By understanding your audience, you can nail an opening that connects instantly. This might mean tailoring your language, choosing the right examples, or addressing shared experiences.
For example, if your audience is full of aspiring entrepreneurs, you can kick off with an opening line like, “Every business owner in this room knows what it’s like to fail. But what if I told you failure could be your biggest asset?”
Public speaking doesn’t mean becoming someone you’re not. Authenticity is your best asset, so lean into your natural style and personality.
Trying too hard to be someone else – like adopting a dramatic tone when you’re more low-key – can seem insincere. Confidence isn’t about being loud or extroverted, but rather delivering your message with clarity and conviction. It’s easier to win over your audience when you’re real and relatable.
If your vibe is calm and introverted, use that to your advantage with a thoughtful opening. If you have a great sense of humour, starting with a light-hearted joke or story can put your audience at ease.
Every speech has a purpose: to inspire, inform, or persuade. A great opening sets the stage for achieving that purpose by pointing your audience in the right direction.
Start by asking yourself:
What do I want my audience to feel or think by the end of this speech?
What action or change do I want to inspire?
Your goals will influence how you start your speech. If you want to motivate your audience, consider starting with an inspirational story. If your goal is to challenge their assumptions, a surprising statistic or rhetorical question could be the perfect choice.
Here are 10 impactful techniques for starting your speech right, along with examples to inspire you:
Starting with a quote, especially from a well-known person, is a good way to ‘borrow’ their wisdom. This gives you an extra boost of credibility too!
Choose an insightful and relevant quote that sets the tone for the rest of your speech. You can follow up by unpacking the quote to show how it links to your main topic of discussion.
Example: Albert Einstein once said, ‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.’ Today, I want to challenge how we think about leadership and innovation.
A ‘what if’ question invites your audience to imagine new possibilities together. Questions like “What if we were all…” and “Imagine if our world were…” guide them into an alternate reality with you.
This strategy sparks curiosity and gets the audience to actively participate in your ideas. Use this technique for inspirational or motivational speeches, where you can draw the audience a vivid picture of a better world.
Example: What if the next idea that changes the world is sitting in this room? Imagine if we all took one small step to put a bold idea into action every day. Today, I’m going to show you how small actions can lead to extraordinary results.
There’s a reason why rhetorical questions are a popular persuasive tool. When you’re asked a rhetorical question, your mind automatically answers.
Your rhetorical question should get your audience thinking right away. This effectively makes your audience’s minds engage with your speech and hooks their interest.
Example: Who doesn’t want to be successful? But how many of us would really consider ourselves successful? The truth is, there are habits and mindsets that separate the truly successful from those who just dream about it.
Figures and statistics are so persuasive because people usually trust numbers over claims. A surprising statistic will challenge your audience’s preconceptions and make them listen up.
The surprise factor is important, though – a statistic that sounds obvious is likely to make your audience shrug and lose interest. Look for statistics that go against common beliefs or highlight a massive trend.
Example: A recent study revealed that 85% of people hate their jobs? That means that out of every 10 people you know, 8 of them wake up dreading the workday. Now, what if I told you it doesn’t have to be this way?
Interacting with your audience is a great way to build rapport and get them on your side from the start. You don’t need to do anything flashy – simply ask a yes/no question and get them to agree or disagree with a show of hands.
Pick a topic that matters to your audience, such as their pain points or aspirations. This enables you to create a shared experience and make your audience feel involved.
Example: Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your to-do list. Great – you’re not alone. Let’s talk about how we can manage this better.
Sharing a personal story is a powerful way to break the ice and connect with your audience on a deeper level.
For instance, stories about hardships you’ve overcome enable the audience to empathise with what you have to say. Funny anecdotes from your daily life work well too, as it makes you more relatable and authentic to your listeners.
Just remember to keep it concise – anything longer than a couple of minutes may make your audience lose track of the story.
Example: When I started my first job, I was so nervous I forgot my boss’s name in a meeting. But that moment taught me a valuable lesson about preparation and today, I want to share it with you.
If telling personal stories isn’t your style, why not take inspiration from history or literature? Historical events are filled with meaningful lessons and stories that can lend depth to your message.
For example, if you’re speaking about leadership qualities, you can introduce your ideas with an impactful story about great leaders or military generals. Fables like the tortoise and the hare also have a lot of life lessons to offer.
Example: During the American Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant was known not for flashy speeches but for his quiet determination. At a critical moment in battle, when his troops hesitated, Grant remained calm and issued just three words: ‘Advance at once.’ That quiet command turned the tide of the fight. Grant’s leadership shows us that great leaders don’t need to shout to be heard. Today, I want to share how you can apply this principle of calm, decisive leadership to your teams and projects.
The fastest way to capture anyone’s interest? Promise a benefit for them. Let’s say someone tells you: “If you want to save money without sticking to a strict budget, I’m here to show you how.” Chances are that you’ll sit up and start listening, because you know you’ll get value from their words.
Let your audience know upfront why they should care about your speech. Of course, don’t promise more than you can deliver. It’s important that your audience comes away feeling like they’ve gained something.
Example: By the end of this talk, you’ll have three practical tools to improve your productivity and reclaim your time.
If you start talking about a problem that most people in the audience have experienced, you’ll have their attention. Presenting a problem at the start makes your audience curious about the solution.
The secret behind the success of this strategy is relevance. This is where your research comes in handy – you need to bring up a pain point that’s relevant to your audience. What are some urgent or common headaches they face that you can solve?
Example: Employee burnout is at an all-time high. But what’s causing it, and what can we do to fix it?
Humour is a secret weapon for grabbing your audience’s attention. Pull off a joke and you’ll have them chuckling, looking forward to what you have to say next.
But jokes can be tricky to pull off. Especially in a business context, it’s important to ensure that your humour doesn’t come off as offensive or unprofessional. Cultural nuances can also affect how people view your joke, so you need to craft your punchline with respect and sensitivity.
If you’re unsure, get feedback from colleagues or mentors in your industry to find out if your humour is effective.
Example: I once read that public speaking is scarier than death for most people. So, here I am – bravely risking my life to give this talk!
Nothing makes an audience yawn faster than a predictable opening line. Ditch tired and uninspired phrases like:
Thank you all for coming…
My name is _____, and I’m going to be talking to you about…
I’m really honoured to be here…
Your audience has likely heard this countless times before, and it signals that your speech may not offer anything fresh or engaging. Instead of using a generic line, aim for something that piques curiosity and challenges expectations.
We get it – giving a speech is super nerve-wracking. However, letting your nervousness show in your body language will cause the audience to lose confidence in your message.
Some negative body language to watch out for includes:
Not making eye contact with the audience
Slumping your shoulders
Constantly fidgeting
Crossing your arms
Speaking too fast
You can project confidence with your body language by:
Standing tall and pushing your shoulders back
Making eye contact with different segments of the audience
Putting your feet in a wide stance
Speaking slowly and clearly
Taking larger strides across the stage
While it’s tempting to dive into the details right away, being long-winded risks losing your audience before you even get to your main point. Remember, the opening of your speech is about hooking your audience, not overwhelming them.
Go through your speech to cut out filler phrases, jargon, and unnecessary statistics. Keep the introduction concise and make sure you get to the meat of your topic within the first few minutes.
Confidence is a key ingredient in public speaking, but overconfidence can backfire if it comes across as arrogance.
Avoid statements that sound forceful or patronising, such as “You should all listen carefully because I know what’s best.” Instead, frame yourself as someone who’s sharing insights with the audience, not talking at them.
Use inclusive language like ‘we’ or ‘us’ to create a sense of shared experience. When you pair confidence with humility, you’ll have no problem connecting with your audience.
A great start to your speech sets the stage for everything that follows. From telling a personal story to sharing a surprising statistic, the right opening can hook your audience and make your message unforgettable.
The next time you step up to speak, try one of these techniques – and deliver your opening with confidence.
The beginning of a speech sets the stage for the rest of your message. It’s your first and best opportunity to capture your audience’s attention. If you can hook them in the first few moments, you’re far more likely to keep them engaged throughout the speech.
Yes, a few timeless principles apply to any speech. First, your opening should grab attention – whether through a quote, story, or statistic. Second, it should relate directly to your audience’s interests or concerns. Third, be authentic and confident, so you build trust right away.
An effective introduction is short and impactful – usually no more than 1-2 minutes. You want to capture attention and establish credibility without losing momentum.
It’s normal to be nervous, but you can manage it with preparation. Practice your speech several times so you feel confident. Visualise yourself starting strong and connecting with the audience. Remember that most audiences want you to succeed and aren’t judging you as harshly as you think. Focus on delivering value to your listeners, not on being perfect.
When speaking to professionals, credibility and relevance are key. Start with a powerful statistic, a relevant quote, or a thought-provoking question that aligns with their interests. Highlight how your speech will address a challenge or benefit them directly.
For example: “Did you know that companies with strong leadership development programs outperform others by 20%? Today, I’ll show you how to strengthen your leadership skills to drive results.”
Start by understanding your audience and what matters to them. Do your homework on their industry, challenges, and expectations. Then use language and examples that speak to their interests and experiences.
For example, a group of executives may appreciate data-driven insights, while a creative team might respond better to an inspiring story. The more you know about your audience, the more relatable and engaging your opening will be.
It can be, but it depends on the context and audience. Jokes can lighten the mood and build rapport, but they must be appropriate and respectful. If you’re unsure, test the joke with colleagues or friends beforehand.
Steer clear of cliché opening lines like “I’m honoured to be here” or “Thank you for coming.” Avoid nervous habits like fidgeting or avoiding eye contact, as these can undermine your credibility.
Don’t start with a long-winded introduction that buries the main point. Finally, be mindful of tone: avoid sounding arrogant or overly casual.