30-Second Rule: The Secret to a Be-Dazzling Presentation |
Posted: February 17, 2020 |
It is absolutely fine to be nervous while delivering your first presentation in front of hundreds of people looking at you like hawks waiting to pounce on you as soon as you make a mistake. Well, I was nervous as hell while delivering my first speech. Thinking of that day, I still get Goosebumps and sometimes panic attacks similar to that day. But, that experience taught me one of the fundamental principles that have made me a great presenter, as I am today. The principle that the first 30 seconds are enough to make all the difference. The principle that it takes only 30 seconds to decide the fate of your presentation: whether it will become a tall and a strong building or a building reduced to ashes as soon as a storm hits it. Even though you know that the first 30 seconds are enough, the question is how you will ace this principle and apply it to your presentation? The answer lies in these 6 points and this blog- 13 Powerful Ways to Kickstart Your Presentation or Speech that will not only help you in mastering this principle but also delivering awe-inspiring presentations without fail! 1. Start with a Story Stories( my absolute favorite from the lot) Who doesn’t love stories! I love them; you love them; we all do! So what better way to start a presentation than with a story! Right? Stories are the most powerful ways of communicating your thoughts without losing your audience’s interest. Nothing is more compelling to your listeners than a well-told story with a great lesson that they can take home. Although stories are so compelling and apt to grab your audience’s attention, they should be brief with just the right amount of details that your listeners need to know about. Don’t make it a saga that goes on and on. Well, if you do, then nobody can save your presentation from becoming a failure! 2. Ask rhetorical questions I love asking questions to my audiences. This is the tiny little secret that helps me in keeping my audience’s engaged. Questions really stir up their minds and force them to think and pay attention to what I am saying. You can also start your presentation with a series of rhetorical questions that will stimulate your audience’s minds as they will ponder on finding the answers. 3. Let them “IMAGINE” Sometimes small things can make a lot of difference. Just as the word “IMAGINE”. A small word with seven letters, but a powerful one indeed. Use the word imagine while delivering and let your audience form mental images. Let their imagination run wild! This trick is what made Alex Honhold’s hair raising TED Talk to the list of the most popular talks in 2018. One can only imagine how he had climbed a 3,000-foot vertical cliff without using ropes or harnesses to catch him if he falls. Only thinking about how he had done it, sends chills down my spine. So, imagination it is! Use it to your advantage and deliver great presentations in a snap of a finger. 4. Showbiz it is Little entertainment doesn't hurt anybody; rather, it helps you to keep your audience’s hooked. A study reported that 100% of the Americans love quoting a movie especially comedies in their conversations because they simply want to entertain the other person. Movies are very close to everybody’s heart. Agree or not we all our movie lovers deep inside though some of us might not admit it. Therefore, increase this love by quoting a movie phrase at the very beginning of your presentation. A few examples can be “There’s a lot of money in revenge” ( from The Princess Bride), “Smile, it increases your face value” (from Steel Magnolias), etc. 5. Startle with Facts A sure shot way to engage your audience is by stating a fact that startles them as soon as you begin because remember the first 30 seconds are the most important. Spare some time to research and find out some interesting facts about your talk. 6. State History I am always intrigued by our history and always looking to learn more about historical facts because I believe that our history plays a key role in shaping our present and the future. All of the three are interlinked and so starting with a historical fact can really help you in grabbing the attention of your audience. There are times when the present day has some significance to history. Develop this connection and narrate it to your audience’s, as an opening gambit of your presentation. You never know how effectively it can shape your presentation and make it a successful pitch altogether. And there you have it, 6 great points that will immediately grab your audience’s attention, surprise them and keep them hooked till the very end. Because, if you start strong it is very likely you will finish strong as well! SlideTeam is the world's largest supplier of innovative, creative and highly effective PowerPoint content. It offers innovative and creative PowerPoint templates and Google slide templates for all industries like Finance, Marketing, leadership, Education, Business and many more.
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