If you want to improve public speaking, sometimes it is useful to discuss what not to do.
It is now important to discuss some common examples of poor opening.
- Speakers often tell a story or a joke that has nothing to do with the presentation topic. This is a definite no-no.
- Amateurs always seem to think that they have to be humorous or witty in their opening. Everyone thinks that they have to be like David Letterman. There are a dozen ways to grab attention and humor is only one strategy.
This is an example of humor that has nothing to do with the presentation. It is a commencement speech at Harvard given by comedian Will Ferrell.
“This is not the Worcester, Mass Boat Show, is it? I am sorry. I have made a terrible mistake. Ever since I left “Saturday Night Live,” I mostly do public speaking now. And I must have made an error in the little Palm Pilot. Boy. Don’t worry. I got it on me. I got the presentation on me. Let’s see. Ah, yes. Here we go.
You know, when Bill Gates first called me to speak to you today, I was honored. But when he wanted me to be one of the Roxbury guys, I — Sorry, that’s Microsoft. I’m sorry about that. Star Trek Convention. No. NRA. NAACP. Dow Chemical. No. But that is a good one. That is a good presentation. The University of Michigan Law. Johns Hopkins Medical School. I’m sorry. Are you sure this is not the boat show? No, I have it. I do have it on me. I do. It’s here. Thank you.”
This is a funny opener. However, Ferrell is a professional comedian with eighteen years of experience on Saturday Night Live. Unless, you can front that type of comedic resume, you are probably better off avoiding pure comedy if you want to improve public speaking.
- Another way to improve public speaking is to avoid making an apology in your introduction. The time for humility is not in the opening of the presentation. Sometimes an amateur speaker will start the presentation by saying “I’m not much of a public speaker” or some other type of apology. Would your appetite increase if the chef told you that they were not much of a cook? The opening is used to whet the appetites of the audience. To make the audience interested or curious about what is coming up. When you apologize you numb that eager expectation. Their minds shift to “let’s see how much of my time this speaker is going to waste.”
- This is a common opener: “Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman. I am happy to be here today.” This is boring. Use a catchy opening to improve your public speaking. For example, Al Gore gave a presentation on Green Energy and spent the first two minutes thanking people and saying how happy he was to there. Watch the clip and you’ll see there is a reason he earned the nickname Al “Bore.”
