How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers

Opening a speech is stressful, and there's nothing worse than walking on stage not knowing what to say or saying something awkward.

This video provides the best and worst speech openers for presentations, pitches, speeches, and toasts.

• Mentioning technical issues: 'These lights are so bright, is this mic on?' • Overused audience direction: 'Imagine you naked'

Help speakers learn how to open their next presentation or speech effectively.

Never start by drawing attention to technical problems like microphone or lighting issues. Do a tech check beforehand or arrive early instead.

• Do not mention your nervousness or lack of speaking experience • When you mention nerves, you make your audience nervous too • The audience will start looking for signs of your nervousness, creating a nerve-wracking wave from the stage

Do not open with a boring nicety like 'Thanks for having me' or say something nice but without meaning it. Avoid looking unhappy while saying you're happy to be there.

The only exception is if you can turn a boring nicety into a joke, as Ken Robinson demonstrated in his talk.

• Stories are the absolute best way to start a presentation • Nothing better captures the imagination and attention of an audience • Stories help your audience feel right there with you

David Brooks hooks the audience immediately by starting with a personal story about a bad season in 2013 when his marriage ended and he felt humiliated by the failed commitment.

• Once upon a time • I'm here for a reason and it's an interesting story • The best thing that ever happened to me was

Stories immediately engage the audience emotionally by getting right to the heart of the matter.

• Share your big idea right up front without making the audience wait for it • Dive directly into your main point

Stacy Smith opens her talk by framing her big idea in an interesting way, mentioning pressing social issues like nuclear arms and immigration before revealing she wants to talk about movies.

• You're here for a reason • The single most important thing I want to share with you today is • Today I want to share a big idea

Stating your big idea upfront captures audience attention and clearly establishes what your presentation is about.

• Open your speech with something intriguing and humorous • Humor and curiosity are great ways to start a speech on a high • Get creative with an interesting fact about yourself, your audience, or your topic

When giving a TED talk in London, the speaker opened with a quirky one-liner: 'Hello my name is Vanessa and I am a recovering awkward person.'

• Did you know • Do you ever worry about • Have you ever wondered

• Did you know that it takes less than a second to make a first impression • Did you know that your nonverbal communication is 12.5 times more powerful than your words • Did you know that we are lied to 200 times a day

You are now ready for your next speech with these best and worst practices for opening.

For closing your speech, the speaker offers 20 top closing lines from history's greatest speakers available as a free download.

• The speaker offers a course called 'Powerful Presentations' for improving presentation skills • The course covers frameworks for sharing ideas powerfully, confidently, and authentically • Topics include hand placement, microphone handling, showing visuals, telling stories, and being funny

The course applies to presentations on stage, on video, in a boardroom, or in a meeting.