5 Ways to Connect With Your Listeners

You've been asked to speak to those folks in Finance. Maybe you've received a request to lead a meeting about that new killer project.

Just imagine how disappointed you’d be if the chosen expert/speaker/meeting leader had an alluring topic but the opening  failed to create interest and momentum. A big build-up followed by a weak opening is like inviting people to your home for a cozy dinner and then, while they watch, rummaging through the refrigerator for leftovers.

No need to agonize any longer for a special "how-to" that will keep you out of The Great Refrigerator of Life.

Here are 5 ways to open your talk or meeting that will capture the imagination and draw people deeper into your topic.

1. Ask a Question

Opening with a question creates curiosity and jump-starts the thought process. Thinking causes  engagement with your topic--exactly what you and the audience are hoping for.

2. Relate a Quote or Anecdote

A meaningful quote from a recognized authority can work magic to capture attention in those critical opening seconds. Anecdotes are brief stories that can give people a laugh or quickly establish the main point of your talk.

3. Open Up The Mind's Eye

Producing a mental image in participants' minds powerfully engages the imagination . You can activate the mind’s eye of your listeners by using words such as “do you remember when,” “imagine,” “picture this,” etc.

4. Refer To a Shocking Statistic

Spend a little prep time researching an interesting fact. People enjoy hearing interesting data, but only if it is startling, unique, and even shocking. (The statistic should be directly related to point you are making-- and accurate).

5. Use an Analogy, Metaphor or Simile

Analogies, metaphors and similes are some of the most powerful devices available when it comes to telling a story in a few sentences. This is a great way to capture attention and also provokes the kind of  mental imagery that allows readers to tell a story to themselves. Here is an example of an effective analogy:

"Pupils are more like oysters than sausages. The job of teaching is not to stuff them and then seal them up, but to help them open and reveal the riches within. There are pearls in each of us, if only we knew how to cultivate them with ardor and persistence."
(Sydney J. Harris, "What True Education Should Do," 1964)

 You know which of the techniques above are most comfortable and reflect your personality. Use the ones that are "you". As time goes on and you become more confident, add some of the others to your repertoire.

What other approaches can you share that have worked well for you?

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What if you only had 60 seconds to pitch your value for a job interview? Garr Reynolds shares a unique process along with video examples that reflect how much you can do in a minute--and with some powerful results.

Comments

[Jackie Cameron]

Hey Steve

Great advice

One of the 14 year old students this week in my public speaking class started with

"Do you remember your first day at school..." His classmates were a whole lot closer to that date than I am but it took me right back. In the rest of his speech he painted such vivid pictures we were there with him! But without that opening question we may not have connected in the first place.

Great lesson to learn and wonderfully explained by you - as always!

[Joan Schramm]

Steve --

How timely! I'm putting together a talk for some HR professionals about using social media to find a job, and how hiring managers can tap into this resource.

I've only outlined it in my mind so far, but I had planned to start out by asking, "How many of you here are on FB? Twitter? LinkedIn?"

Then I had a little story ready about a guy who tweeted himself out of a job offer by posting something on Twitter.

Nice to know I'm on the right track...and now you've given me the roadmap for the rest.

Thanks!

[Steve Roesler]

Jackie,

Aren't kids terrific? Each time you write a post or tell a story about working with young people, it brings a smile to my face.

Have you thought about video-taping some of the younger folks and perhaps putting some clips on the site? I'll bet others would enjoy it, too.

[Steve Roesler]

Break a leg, Joan.

The whole "How to Use Social Media With (Profession)" is a hot topic right now. You certainly have the know-how to light a fire. Let me know how it goes!

[David Zinger]

Steve:

Good ideas for conducting a webinar where often the presenter and viewer/listener feel so disconnected.

David

[Steve Roesler]

David,

No doubt a multitude of applications; hadn't thought specifically about that one. Should pass it along to Wayne Turmel.

[Chris Witt]

Steve,

If I've got the time, I like combining three of your suggestions. I tell a story. I ask a question that's raised by the story. And I cite a statistic.

I'm not a big fan of props, but I've seen them used well. One guy, a magician and professional speaker, started off by pulling a bowling ball out of a briefcase. Problem is, he didn't link it strongly to his talk so I remember the stunt all these years later but not the point. Which is related to your insight that an opening has to capture the imagination (which it did) and draw people deeper into your topic (which it didn't do).

Chris

[Steve Roesler]

Chris,

Too bad for Bowling Ball Boy; he missed a heck of an opportunity with such a memorable trick. I've seen bits of magic done in that context that were very effective and have often thought of learning a few tricks for fun. Turns out that some of those are a little more complicated than they look.

Steve

[MJ]

Steve,

For point #3 - having some visuals will help this point along. I don't mean a slide-u-ment. I see linkage to Garr Reynolds here on the site, so taking some advice from his book on visually designing slides will help a meeting topic be memorable. Especially if everyone else just puts a bunch of slide-u-ments up on the screen then you'll really stand out.

MJ

[Steve Roesler]

MJ, that makes sense with your caveat that it helps open the mind's eye because it's a "grabber" a la Garr's design sense.

We've no doubt seen way too many slides intended to engage but whose design signaled that we were in for a bullet-pointed sleeper.

Good catch.

[Wally Bock]

Great post, Steve. I'm going to add it to the part of my presentation planning checklist devoted to the opening. Thanks.

[Steve Roesler]

Wally, pleased to know it will be used to further the cause of effectiveness. It's also part of an ebook and series of tips that will be available on the new website that will be launching shortly. More news on that in the days ahead.

[Allison O'Neill]

Scott at hellomynameisscott.com wrote about opening lines recently. He quoted the FUNNIEST THING!!! He knows someone that starts with "Do these pants make me look bald" (I love it!)