This document provides 7 suggestions for powerful presentation openings that connect with audiences: 1) Start with a strong question; 2) Start with a mystery to pique audience interest; 3) Start with an illustrative story; 4) Start with a concise 60-second point of view; 5) Start with the expected business results; 6) Paint a vivid picture of success using "imagine if"; 7) Consider using multimedia like video or quotes to engage the senses. The goal is to grab audience attention and make them want to listen from the very beginning of the presentation.

1. Presentation Inspiration
KineticFuture: Leadership Communications Coaching
Powerful Openers
When you know you’ve got a great start to your presentation you’ll really look forward to getting
out there. Yes really! And when you’ve felt the feedback from the audience you’ll relax and start
talking to your audience rather than ‘presenting’.
Here are 7 ideas to give you the impact and audience connection that you need. First, build some
empathy when you walk on. Then use one of these ideas to kick off your presentation session
with power. Your goal is to make them sit up and really want to listen. Make them think What!
Why? How’s that true? Aha! Wow! or Yes!
Your key to success is to work out what’s going to help you connect with this particular audience
not what you think is clever! So make it relevant and make sure it reflects your key points.
1. Start with a strong question – but make sure you’re going to get the answer you want or
answer it quickly yourself.
2. Start with a mystery – highlight an area of missing knowledge, set out the dilemma, why is it
that…? We humans like to fill the knowledge gaps.
3. Start with a story that illustrates it all – about the challenge, the problem, the opportunity,
the situation. Make it concrete, personal, surprising, credible.
4. Start with a strong 60 second point of view – imagine you only have 1 minute to tell me
what the problem is and the key to solving it. That’s your 60 second point of view.
5. Start with the business results – this is what this course of action will deliver, now let’s look
at how we get there.
6. Start with an “imagine if – paint a picture in detail of what success will look like, how the
creative idea will work. Help me smell, taste, feel & see it.
7. Think about the medium you use for your opening: video, photos, a quote, a book
passage, just verbal, something physical, something interactive or auditory. Think about the 5
senses. Think emotional not just factual.