You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. - Will Rogers

The importance of a good speech opening

When you meet a stranger, the first impression impacts how people perceive you. Similarly, the first impression of the speaker on stage impacts the way the audience perceives you. Even for an excellent speaker, it will take tremendous effort and skills to eliminate this first poor impression. Why an opening is important and what needs to be avoided are crucial skills every speaker needs to be aware of.

The opening of a speech has three objectives.

1. Grab the attention of the audience.

2. Inspire the audience to listen to you.

3. Introduce the topic or give a preview.

If the audience doesn’t pay attention to you, your speech will be wasted. So, your first act is to grab the attention of the audience. Not only should you gain their attention, but you should also command it! The first thing you should do when you are in front of a group to give a speech is to say nothing! Just look at the audience. Stand firm and make eye contact with several members of the audience, mentally demanding their attention. The silence will usually make people realize that you have taken the floor and that you are waiting for them to pay attention to you. When you do this masterfully, you will also establish that you are in charge.

Building on this good start is very important. The speaker needs to introduce the topic, a preview of what he or she intends to convey to the audience within the next one or two minutes.

But some speakers leave a poor first impression due to the following blunders in the opening of their speeches:

• An apologetic statement: This is a common mistake that nervous speakers make. By apologizing for a real or imagined shortcoming, the speaker signals to the audience that he/she is self-conscious and lacks self-confidence. It can turn some members of the audience off and make them uninterested in listening to the speaker.

• A story or joke that does not relate to the topic- However good the story or joke is, if it does not relate to the topic, you have thrown the audience off and wasted valuable time building a connection to your core message.

• Trivial observations or questions: The triviality of what you say right at the start can take the energy out of your talk very quickly. It will affect not only you but the attention that your listeners are extending to you.

• A long, boring statement: The worst thing you can do to an audience is bore them. If your speech opening signals to the audience that you might be boring, many of them will lose no time switching you off!

• Having the wrong facial expression: A smug or serious face is a perfect recipe for a poor first impression. It is advisable to have a smile on your face when you start a speech unless you are speaking at a funeral or delivering a eulogy.