FREE online courses on Conversation Skills - How to open a talk
Imagine yourself on a long journey sitting
in a compartment with strange people. You've to open a talk with the rest. How
do you initiate? You could begin with “The weather is turning pleasant now”. It
could be an offer to help, “There could be some space here for your briefcase”.
You could even offer your spare magazine to pass the time or share your snacks
with the rest. Such etiquettes help create a positive environment for a
conversation to take place.
During a speech opening the talk is a
different task. The introduction could be of a sentence or two wading right into
the heart of your subject with the least possible words. Humour could be the
icing on the cake. Successful relating of a humorous anecdote is entertaining,
but it should be relevant and not dragged for the sake of the story. You could
sound interesting by:
1.
Arousing curiosity
2.
Beginning with an example
3.
Relating human interest story
4.
Using and exhibit
5.
Asking of a question
6.
Opening with a quotation
7.
Convincing the audience on the vitality
of the topic for them
8.
Starting with a shocking fact
9.
Do not sound formal
10.
Let the opening be inevitable
