How to Start a Presentation [+ Examples]

The first measurement successful mastering nan creation of delivering powerful presentations is knowing really to commencement a position properly.

In this post, you'll observe strategies for crafting a coagulated position opening, designing an impactful opening slide, and delivering a memorable presentation.

Table of Contents

• Why Your Presentation Opening Matters
• How to Start a Presentation

• Opening Slide Examples
• Best Practices for Starting a Presentation

Why Your Presentation Opening Matters

The opening of your position sets nan reside for your full session.

Within nan first fewer minutes, astir of your assemblage will determine whether they find your expertise, experience, and taxable compelling capable to warrant their attention.

Think of it this way: Your opening is simply a preview of your position for illustration a trailer is simply a preview of a movie. If nan five-minute trailer isn’t engaging aliases impactful, why should nan assemblage fuss sitting done nan half-hour movie?

Your opening shapes nan expectations of your assemblage and entices them to enactment engaged passim nan session.

And though you’ll still request to activity to support their attention, getting it correct from nan commencement will spare you nan situation of re-engaging a disinterested assemblage correct from nan opening of your presentation.

How to Start a Presentation

While location isn't a one-size-fits-all approach to starting a presentation, successful presentations crossed each niches stock communal denominators contributing to their effectiveness.

In this section, you’ll study 4 basal strategies these presentations leverage and really to incorporated them into your adjacent position opening.

1. Lead pinch an attention-grabbing opener.

Capturing nan audience's attraction is 1 of nan astir important yet challenging tasks speakers look erstwhile starting a presentation. Here are immoderate real-world strategies that make this task a spot easier.

Incite curiosity.

In Phil Waknell's TedTalk, titled "The 3 Magic Ingredients of Amazing Presentations,“ he opens pinch an absorbing statement: ”Most group who travel to speak astatine Ted are present because they‘ve succeeded. I’m present because I haven't."

This opening connection is powerful because alternatively than lead pinch his “credentials” aliases “accolades,” arsenic nan assemblage astir apt expects, he defies that expectation.

He creates a consciousness of intrigue that instantly piques nan audience's curiosity and compels them to salary person attention.

Infuse humor.

In Tom Thum's TedTalk titled Beatbox Brilliance, he sets a lighthearted reside by stepping connected shape wearing oversized sunglasses and declaring, “My sanction is Tom, and I've travel present coming to travel cleanable astir what I do for money.”

As you mightiness expect, this humorous attack not only elicits laughter but besides surprises nan audience, who are intrigued and pleasantly amazed astatine nan reside he sets for nan presentation.

Ask a question.

Graham Shaw's position titled “Why group judge they can’t tie - and really to beryllium they can” originates with, “Hi, I've sewage a mobility for you - really galore group present would opportunity they tin draw?”

Seeing arsenic this is simply a comparatively lighthearted mobility that’s elemental to answer, nan assemblage responds immediately.

Now, what makes this a powerful opening method is that Graham past goes connected to say:

“When group opportunity they can’t draw, I deliberation it's much to do pinch beliefs alternatively than talent and ability. When you opportunity you can’t draw, that’s conscionable an illusion, and coming I’d for illustration to beryllium that to you.”

By instantly challenging a wide held belief among nan assemblage and promising to debunk it during nan presentation, he employs a powerful method that keeps nan assemblage afloat engaged.

This attack makes nan assemblage consciousness “invested” successful nan result of nan position and funny arsenic to whether he tin backmost up his claim.

2. Tell your assemblage why they should beryllium listening to you.

Getting your audience’s attraction is conscionable 1 portion of nan equation. Once you person it, you must besides explicate why they should “keep” listening to you. Here are immoderate ways to do this:

Highlight applicable individual experience.

In Phil Waknell’s opening section, he talks astir really he’s spent nan past 10 years helping convention speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs hole and deliver powerful presentations.

This instantly signals to nan assemblage that he’s personification worthy listening to and positions him arsenic a reliable root of insights based connected nan wealthiness of acquisition he has gathered.

Highlight your expertise.

During nan opening conception of Dr. Lara Boyd’s position titled “After watching this, your encephalon will not beryllium nan same,” she says, “I’m Dr. Lara Boyd, and I’m a encephalon interrogator present astatine nan University of British Columbia.”

Sharing her credentials arsenic a encephalon interrogator is important to gaining her audience's spot — particularly considering nan technicality of her topic.

But moreover while creating presentations extracurricular fields for illustration encephalon research, sharing qualifications and credentials successful your opening conception tin beryllium a powerful technique.

This helps you position yourself arsenic a reliable authority and reinforcing your audience's assurance successful your expertise to present valuable information.

Tell your assemblage what’s successful it for them.

In Mel Robbins’ opening conception for her position titled “How to extremity screwing yourself over,” she ends her preamble by saying:

“I’m present for you. I’m going to show you everything I cognize successful little than 18 minutes astir really to get what you want.”

Although she started nan conception by highlighting her experiences and expertise, she went further by explicitly stating nan benefits her assemblage tin expect from her presentation.

Doing this is simply a awesome measurement to create a compelling logic for your assemblage to put their clip and attraction and stress nan worth of nan position you’re astir to deliver.

3. Introduce your topic.

If your taxable is comparatively elemental to grasp aliases your assemblage is peculiarly knowledgeable, introducing your taxable tin beryllium arsenic easy arsenic “Today, I’m going to beryllium talking to you astir really we’ve built a six-figure package institution successful 6 months.”

However, if your taxable is much analyzable aliases unfamiliar to nan audience, you must do a spot much dense lifting successful your opening section.

For example, Sam Bern’s “My accuracy for a happy life” position discusses really he lives a happy life contempt having Progeria disease.

However, because this information mightiness beryllium unfamiliar to immoderate assemblage members, he takes immoderate clip successful his opening conception to talk astir nan unwellness earlier delving into nan nutrient of his presentation.

Similarly, if you’re presenting connected a analyzable taxable aliases to an assemblage that isn’t knowledgeable, it’s basal to see this erstwhile crafting your opening section.

4. Leverage storytelling.

Stories tin create immersive experiences that captivate nan assemblage and convey a halfway message.

For example, successful nan opening conception of Sam Bern's presentation, he tells a communicative astir his struggles while trying to execute his extremity of becoming a drummer successful his schoolhouse marching band, contempt surviving pinch Progeria disease.

This sets nan reside for his full position by conveying an inspiring connection of fighting against and succeeding contempt nan odds.

Another awesome illustration is nan opening conception of Josh Kaufman’s presentation, titled “The First 20 Hours — really to study anything,” wherever he tells a communicative astir his acquisition arsenic a time-strapped first-time parent.

This communicative enhances nan position arsenic Josh yet shares that this acquisition triggered his liking successful studying really to go an businesslike learner.

Finally, Amy Morins’s position “The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong” is different fantabulous illustration of leveraging storytelling.

Amy starts her position pinch a thought-provoking communicative astir watching a Facebook friend's seemingly cleanable life.

She past highlights really specified comparisons tin lead to antagonistic thought patterns and emphasizes nan value of cultivating intelligence resilience.

This relatable communicative not only resonates pinch her assemblage but besides sets nan shape for her connection connected building soul strength.

All these presentations are awesome examples that item really incorporating story-telling successful your openings tin beryllium a powerful instrumentality for creating memorable and impactful presentations.

Opening Slide Examples

Your position slides play a important domiciled successful determining nan effect and effectiveness of your presentation.

In this section, you’ll find examples of 8 powerful opening slides crossed various usage cases that not conscionable support but heighten nan position openings:

1. “Blackboard is Getting an Upgrade”

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This is nan opening descent of a position to pass and amended instructors astir important changes to nan school infrastructure.

What we like: Change tin beryllium uncomfortable, particularly erstwhile modifying basal infrastructure. That's why it’s important to straight face why nan alteration is happening correct from nan opening of nan presentation.

Best for: Presentations that tackle important changes, particularly those that whitethorn evoke discomfort and straight effect nan audience.

2. “Exploring ChatGPT for Effective Teaching and Learning”

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This is nan opening descent of a position that teaches instructors really to usage ChatGPT to prosecute and support their students.

What we like: This opening descent efficaciously sets nan reside for nan position by capturing nan audience's attraction pinch a compelling hook and impactful image.

The building “ChatGPT is simply a disruptive, emerging technology,” paired pinch nan striking image of a glaring reddish button, conveys nan magnitude and value of this emergent exertion and piques nan audience's curiosity from nan start.

Best for: Presentations that research trends aliases topics that are new, cutting-edge, aliases moreover controversial.

3. “State of nan Cloud 2023—The AI era”

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This is nan opening descent of a position that explores nan effect of nan “AI era” and nan “cloud economy” connected nan financing ecosystem.

What we like: This is different fantabulous illustration of opening a position pinch an attention-grabbing hook.

“Living successful nan multiverse” is an unsettling but fascinating thought that instantly captures nan audience’s attraction and sets nan shape for a thought-provoking presentation.

Best for: Presentations that present caller aliases disruptive ideas to your assemblage and require their afloat attraction and curiosity.

4. “2022 Women successful nan Workplace”

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This is nan opening descent of a briefing connected nan cardinal findings from McKinsey & Company’s “2022 Women successful nan Workplace study.”

What we like: This opening descent is fantabulous because it provides a wealthiness of supporting information alternatively of instantly delving into nan study's findings.

Sharing details, specified arsenic nan number of participants and nan study‘s methodology, not only strengthens nan credibility of nan investigation — it primes nan assemblage by addressing nan important mobility of why they should attraction astir nan study’s results.

Best for: Presentations that present captious findings that require further discourse for nan assemblage to admit their relevance fully.

5. “13 things you didn’t cognize you could do pinch nan S Pen.”

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This is nan opening descent of a position discussing nan upgraded functionality of nan Samsung Galaxy Note’s stylus — nan S Pen.

What we like: Right from nan opening slide, this position addresses nan halfway problem it intends to lick – users not taking afloat advantage of nan S Pen’s capabilities.

It is besides designed to speak straight to nan personification by explicitly calling retired nan astir communal usage cases successful nan first sentence, “The S Pen isn’t conscionable awesome penning and sketching.”

Best for: Presentations that present a caller product/offering aliases reintroduce a revamped product/offering.

6. “About Indegene”

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This is nan opening descent of an introductory position by a health-tech institution called Indegene.

What we like: This position by Indegene hits nan people correct from nan opening slide. It skillfully uses nan “what,” “why,” and “how” questions to succinctly convey nan company’s identity, offerings, and target audience, each wrong a azygous panel.

It past uses nan different sheet to found credibility by highlighting nan company’s awesome customer base.

Best for: Presentations that require “selling” your merchandise aliases institution to nan audience. Some examples see income meetings and investor pitches.

7. “Future of Trade 2021”

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This is nan opening descent for a position connected nan 4th version of nan Dubai Multi Commodity Centre’s flagship report, “The Future of Trade.”

What we like: Unlike McKinsey's briefing presentation, this opening descent uniquely establishes credibility by relying connected nan estimation of nan presenting organization, DMCC, and nan extended investigation conducted complete nan past 4 years.

This replacement method of establishing credibility is beneficial erstwhile study findings aren’t derived from externally collected data, specified arsenic surveys, but alternatively trust connected nan organization's expertise successful knowing and analyzing trends.

Best for: Presentations that present findings based connected “expert analysis.”

8. “ChatGPT”

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This is nan opening descent of a position explaining what ChatGPT is and really writers tin usage it.

What we like: This opening descent uses a straightforward attack that instantly addresses nan audience‘s questions correct from nan presentation’s start.

This attack is effective because nan superior nonsubjective of nan position is to amended nan assemblage astir an emerging and unfamiliar exertion — artificial intelligence chatbots.

Addressing this extremity straight from nan opening descent is simply a awesome measurement to seizure nan audience’s attraction and group nan reside for a valuable and informative session.

Best for: Educational presentations that present caller aliases unfamiliar concepts aliases ideas.

Best Practices for Starting a Presentation

Now that you understand really to building your position opening, it's clip to screen immoderate champion practices to thief you present these openings effectively.

In this section, you’ll study 5 strategies for creating a genuinely impactful introduction.

1. Embrace nan powerfulness of silence.

Avoid succumbing to nan unit to capable each infinitesimal pinch words. Instead, let your assemblage clip to digest and process nan accusation you deliver.

Although rushing done your opening conception whitethorn beryllium tempting, retrieve that this is wherever you group nan reside for your full presentation, truthful you must task assurance and power complete your delivery.

2. Engage pinch nan audience.

You must link and prosecute pinch your assemblage from nan commencement to present a powerful presentation.

Using nan shape to your advantage is simply a awesome measurement to do this. Right from nan infinitesimal you measurement connected stage, you want to make judge you’re moving astir and, much importantly, physically facing different sections of nan audience.

This is an fantabulous strategy for quickly creating an inclusive situation wherever everyone feels involved.

Making oculus interaction is different awesome measurement to prosecute pinch your assemblage astatine nan commencement of your presentation.

Doing this helps create a relationship that feels “personal” and communicates that you worth each individual’s beingness successful nan room.

Finally, acknowledging and responding to assemblage cues and feedback is simply a awesome strategy to promote attentiveness and engagement.

A awesome extremity is to actively solicit assemblage information by asking a mobility astatine nan commencement of your presentation.

3. Don’t beryllium acrophobic to usage humor.

Humor is simply a elemental yet effective strategy to instantly seizure your audience's attraction — particularly if they’ve already sat done aggregate presentations.

For example, astatine nan commencement of Tom’s presentation, he playfully says, “I’m very stoked to beryllium present coming representing my kinfolk and each those that haven’t managed to make a profession retired of an innate expertise for inhuman noise-making.”

Another (less dramatic) illustration tin beryllium seen successful Pablos Holman's intro section, wherever he adds joke by sharing funny machine screenshots while discussing hacking into a chap edifice guest's computer.

Although these are very different methods of injecting joke astatine nan commencement of a presentation, they show really infusing joke tin beryllium a powerful instrumentality for adding a touch of characteristic and creating a much enjoyable position for nan audience.

4. Keep it short and sweet.

While it's important not to unreserved done nan commencement of your presentation, keeping your opening concise is arsenic important. But remember, concise does not mean sacrificing substance; it simply intends delivering accusation efficiently.

Essentially, you want an opening conception that allows you to create a coagulated first belief without losing nan audience's interest.

So, really agelong should this opening secretion be?

Most successful position openings are nether 3 minutes, and galore are shorter, often clocking successful astatine nether 1 minute.

5. Embrace authenticity.

Contrary to celebrated belief, location isn't a circumstantial characteristic that makes personification a amended presenter. In fact, nan astir impactful presentations person been delivered by individuals pinch divers characters.

Take, for instance, nan contrasting styles of Tom Thum’s irreverent joke and animated mannerisms and Sam Bern, who adopts a relaxed and conversational approach. Despite their differences, some speakers person garnered millions of views for their talks.

So, alternatively than emulating aliases mimicking their presentations, nan cardinal takeaway is to clasp authenticity.

Allow your characteristic to radiance through, thin connected your strengths, and beryllium quality successful your delivery.

Mastering nan Art of Captivating Presentations

Starting a position is simply a accomplishment that is arsenic overmuch an creation arsenic it is simply a science. Thankfully, it is besides a accomplishment that tin beryllium learned and honed.

By implementing nan strategies successful this guideline and refining them done experience, you’ll go a maestro astatine delivering impactful presentations that bid attraction and time off a lasting impression.

All from nan infinitesimal you measurement onto nan stage.