Stop Giving Boring Presentations
Do you ever feel like your presentation falls flat right from the start?
The introduction sets the tone for your entire presentation, and if it doesn’t grab attention, your audience might tune out.
Starting with a poignant question, a powerful quote, or an unexpected story can immediately engage your listeners. But that’s not all—your audience wants to know why your presentation matters to them.
In a world filled with back-to-back meetings, it's easy to get lost in facts. Instead, focus on presenting the value and benefits they’ll walk away with.
Here’s an approach you can use to craft an effective and engaging presentation opener:
Using an Unexpected Story
Option 1: Today, I'm going to talk about how we can focus our research to better define our target customer.
Option 2: My inspiration for this meeting came from a fortune cookie. I ordered some Chinese takeout last week, and when I cracked open the fortune cookie, I felt like it would be the perfect guide for us today. It said, "A man who chases two rabbits catches neither."
I'm sure you can all agree that we've been trying to speak to too many people, and by doing so, reached none effectively. So today, we're going to review our data to identify how we can best focus our message to attract the right buyer and increase our sales.
Notice how interesting Option 2 is. It really gets your attention. If you can engage your audience from the beginning, imagine how much more effective the rest of your presentation will be.
It takes time and practice to be able to craft effective introduction, but it is absolutely worth it.
Using Standard Presentation Openers
As a non-native speaker, I know this can feel overwhelming. If you're not ready for storytelling, that’s ok. At least try to focus more on the value of what you are presenting instead of only focusing on the details.
For now, start by feeling confident using standard openers:
Today, I'll be sharing with you ...
I'm going to begin with ..., and then I'll move on to ...
This presentation will cover _ and is divided into five parts ...
Keep Learning
Loved these tips? Don’t stop now—learn the 3 keys to presenting confidently as a non-native speaker. Click here to dive in!
Also, download your free audio training of the three must-know leadership communication skills for non-native speakers here.
If you’re ready to boost your confidence and deliver presentations that leave a lasting impact, get my mini-course, "Present with Confidence in English," below. You’ll get the tools you need to speak clearly, confidently, and persuasively—no matter the audience.
Start today and transform your presentation skills in just one hour!
Present with Confidence in English
Quick and Effective Presentation Techniques for Non-Native Speakers