Grab the attention of your audience in the introduction of your presentation.
Connecting with your audience when giving a speech or presentation should happen right at the beginning. Establish trust, interest and even a bit of humor to grab the audience and bring its members into your sphere at the outset of your presentation. Interacting with the audience with a brief Q and A is also helpful in involving the audience and sharing experiences in the area you will be talking about. Using films and other presentations will also help connect the audience visually with your topic area and aid in the explanation of your points.
Instructions
1. Be confident in how you present yourself.
Outline your speech and presentation so you know ahead of time what the goal is you want to accomplish. Once you have figured out every step of the presentation or speech, you will have more confidence about what you are doing. You need to show confidence right from the beginning as your audience can sense if you are nervous. Knowing what steps to take in developing your speech will ease the nerves and reflect back out to the audience. Practice giving your speech at home until you feel comfortable with it.
2. Begin your introduction with why everyone is there to hear and see your presentation. Give a brief outline on the subject and then tell a bit about yourself to the audience, especially as you are the "authority" on the subject for the day. Give the audience some background on why you're an authority on the topic by telling its members about some of your experiences. Give the "hook" by explaining what benefits they will receive by what you will tell them. Exude confidence in who you are and what you know. Bring your audience in by promoting a sense of friendliness and trust toward you.
3. Add humor to your introduction by telling stories that are relevant to the subject matter of the speech, or at least some part of it. Tell a story about how, when long ago, you made a mistake about some part of the subject matter at hand. You learned the lesson the hard way and you have done it right ever since, just because of that lesson. Although this may be a bit embarrassing, the story will provide a lighter moment. Every audience loves to laugh. You just need to make sure that you have good timing in your delivery -- putting emphasis in the just right places -- while telling your amusing story. Remember also that it must always pertain to the subject matter at hand.
4. Do a Q and A with the audience as part of the introduction, if the subject matter is right for such a thing. It does get the audience members interacting with you, and can break the ice for both them and you. If the subject matter does not allow for that kind of interaction at the beginning, save it for when you are finished with the presentation and do a Q and A then. The important thing is to keep the audience involved, interactive and entertained.
5. Stand up straight and enjoy the moment in the spotlight.
Use basic words and speak as if you were talking to someone one-on-one. Speak to the audience almost as if you were talking to each of the members individually. Use basic words and do not project an air of being pompous or unapproachable by using big or difficult words. Keep it simple and interesting. Following your introduction, don't talk about yourself.
