Start Strong: Mastering the First Lines of Your Speech

We’ve all been there. Sitting at an event, waiting for a speaker to get started.

Yet, almost as soon as they open their mouth, the audience switches off.

The speaker stutters and seems nervous. They mumble their name and start discussing their career history.

Not exactly an introduction that grabs people’s attention.

Those watching pullout their phones, start doomscrolling and messaging their friends.

Who can blame them?

The reality is that it can be hard to deliver a punchy speech. And, most people fear being a dullard.🥱

Luckily there are a few effective opening styles that have been tried and tested over time.

Ancient rhetoricians, from the Greeks to the Romans, perfected a handful of powerful techniques that are just as relevant today as they were back then.

These methods have stood the test of time because they tap into the core human need for engagement and clarity.

Let’s dive in and explore further.

#1 Kickoff with a Fact That Captures Hearts & Minds

One way to make an impact from the get-go is to open with a fascinating fact.

This fact should:

1. Be relevant

2. Stand out

Think wild, extraordinary statistics or information that people are definitely going to remember.

Something like the below 👇

Did you know that the human body glows in the dark? It's 1,000 times weaker than the human eye can detect!

This certainly commands focus and positions the speaker as someone worth listening to.

And, someone who isn’t going to send them to sleep.💤

Remember that throughout history, great leaders have used statistics in their speeches to rally their audience to a cause - and in many cases inspire them to war.

One example is Athenian Statesman and Orator, Demosthenes, in the Third Philippic speaking of the threat of Macedonian expansion under King Philip II.

He talks about how Philip has already taken control of 33 cities in Greece and has marched his army to within a day's journey of our own borders.

And, the Athenian General and Orator Alcibiades uses his Speech to the Athenians to argue for the strategic importance of a particular military action.

He discusses how the Peloponnesian fleet has 100 ships stationed on the coast of Sicily - saying that if no action is taken, their forces will grow stronger by the day.

To sum up, by starting with a shocking fact or a powerful statistic, you can make sure your audience sits up and listen, setting a precendent for the rest of your speech.

 #2 Start with a Thought-Provoking Question

Did you know that one of the most popular ways of opening a speech is to start with a question?

See what I did there?

The above quote is from the great Roman orator Cicero 👆

In his 1st Oration, he opens with a series of rhetorical questions that places the burden of action on the audience, compelling them to think about how long they will tolerate the threat posed by the conspirator Catiline.

By framing his argument in the form of a question, Cicero forces his audience to engage right from the start.

#3 Once-Upon-A-Time: Tell a Story to the Audience

One of the most powerful ways to engage an audience is by telling a story, particularly one that speaks to universal human experiences.

If you open with a story, you will see a transformation in people’s body language.

Just observe children. When they hear once-upon-a-time they will lean forward, ready to hear the fairytale.

It’s Storytime!

Naturally, there’s a grown up way of saying once-upon-a-time.

The goal is to connect with others, share your experiences, to show how the topic under discussion is relevant.

You don’t even need to be hugely elaborate with your opening line. Examples include:

1. "A few months ago, I found myself in a situation that completely changed my perspective on..."

2. "I remember the first time I encountered this issue - it was one of those moments when everything seemed to click…”

3. "Last week, I was in a meeting when someone said something that made me think, 'How could we not have realised this before?'"

Plato's "Apology," is a record of the speech Socrates delivered during his trial in 399 BCE, where he defends himself against accusations of corrupting the youth and impiety.

Socrates begins his defense with a story-like approach to explain his reputation

By opening with this story, Socrates not only sets the stage for his defense in court but also invites his audience into a larger philosophical journey.

One of seeking truth, questioning authority, and understanding wisdom.

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The way you start your speech can make all the difference. But, sometimes it’s just hard to make things flow which is why it’s important not to try to force things.

But, by using the techniques above, you can explore a few methods to get in the zone.

Once that first line is on paper you’ll find the rest should come naturally.