Techniques For Creating A Strong Opening Statement

I never set out to be a public speaker but somewhere along the way it became a big part of my work. In that time, I've found a four-part framework that is effective for teaching in a memorable way. I call it the four S's. Most public talks start with some version of “It’s great to be here.” That’s exactly when people start checking out. If you want to speak in a way that actually sticks, try this instead. 1. Surprise Start strong. Say something unexpected, provocative, or even a little weird. The brain is wired to notice novelty—don’t waste the first 30 seconds on pleasantries. 2. Story Once you’ve got their attention, don’t give them a thesis—give them a tale. People think in narrative. Stories are how we’ve made sense of the world for thousands of years. 3. Stats Now that they’re leaning in, show them the receipts. Back your claims with data, studies, or vivid real-world examples. Credibility matters—but only after curiosity. 4. “So what?” Inspiration is nice, but application is better. End with a clear, compelling takeaway that answers the question: What should I do with this information today? Hope this framework helps a bit the next time you're asked to get in front of a crowd!

No one has time for your 30-slide preamble. The reality: You have about 30 seconds to get your point across in any presentation. After that, you've probably lost them. That's why I love the Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) technique. It's a military-inspired framework that forces you to distill your entire story into 2–3 powerful opening sentences. No fluff (just BLUF? sorry…), just the critical info your audience needs. Sounds obvious, and yet, how often does that happen in a presentation, meeting kickoff, or conference presentation? In this week's newsletter, I break down exactly how to use BLUF to instantly grab attention and deliver high-impact presentations. I share real examples of how to structure your opener and the specific data points that make busy leaders sit up and take notice. Check out the full breakdown in my newsletter.

The first few seconds of your presentation set the tone. And you can't get that first-impression back. Whether you're presenting in an interview, a KOL discussion, or an internal meeting, the first few seconds determine whether your audience leans in—or tunes out. Too often, we start presentations start with: “Thank you for being here.” “Today, I want to discuss…” "My name is..." or worse yet- "Can you see my screen?" We already lost attention. Consider these strategies to hook your audience from the start: ✅ Kick-off with a statistic ✅ Lead with a perspective on the future ✅ Start with a thought-provoking question ✅ Begin with a quotation that has impact A compelling opening sets the stage for meaningful engagement. What’s your go-to strategy for starting strong in a presentation? Drop your thoughts below! #virtualpresentation #medicalscienceliaison #pharmacist #mslmastery

Public Speaking Doesn’t Have to Be Scary. It’s a Skill You Can Master. Whether you're leading a team meeting, delivering a keynote, or pitching a product, how you speak matters more than what you say. Great speakers aren’t born, they follow strategies that help them connect, communicate, and leave a lasting impact. Here are 12 public speaking tips to help you own the room and land your message: ✅ 1. Hook, Not Bio ↠ Skip the long intro. ↠ Get into something punchy: a bold claim, a short story, or a question that grabs attention right away. ✅ 2. Start Still Don’t rush into it. → Walk out. → Plant your feet. → Pause for two full seconds. → Then start speaking. Let the room come to you first. ✅ 3. Group in Threes The brain loves patterns. Use groupings of 3 for your main ideas. → “Three things I want you to remember…” is easy to follow and hard to forget. ✅ 4. Short Stories Win ↠ Stories are sticky, but only if they’re sharp. ↠ Use the format: Setting → Conflict → Payoff ↠ Keep it under 90 seconds and cut the fluff. ✅ 5. Edit Actively Ditch vague, passive language. → Instead of: “The project was launched…” → Try: “We launched the project.” Use strong verbs. Speak like a human. ✅ 6. Speak to One Person at a Time Eye contact = trust. → Hold eye contact with one person per thought. → Then shift to another. Avoid scanning the whole room too fast, it breaks connection. ✅ 7. Mark Your Pauses Silence is a tool. → Use slashes (/) in your script where you want to pause. → Let important ideas breathe before moving on. ✅ 8. Put Audience First ↠ Stop saying, “I want to talk about…” ↠ Say: “You’ll walk away with…” ↠ Make it about their gain, not your agenda. ✅ 9. Move on Transitions ↠ Stillness = power. ↠ Movement = change. ↠ Use a small step or gesture to signal you're moving to the next point. ✅ 10. Rehearse Out Loud Thinking about it in your head isn't enough. → Practice speaking at full volume. → Record yourself. → Watch for filler words, posture, and pacing. ✅ 11. Memorize the Bookends ↠ You only need to know your first and last 3 lines word for word. ↠ Everything in the middle? Notes are fine. ↠ Just make the beginning and ending count. ✅ 12. Circle Back Echo your opening at the end. → It gives your talk a clean structure. → Helps the audience remember the core idea. Public speaking is a learnable skill. A few smart shifts can turn a shaky talk into a powerful moment. ♻️ Repost if you like it. 🔔 Follow me Steve Barton for more.

Want to know why executives are checking their phones during your presentation? Here's a secret: You're not giving a presentation. You're leading a high-stakes conversation. I've spent years helping leaders command attention, and here's the framework that works every time: The Golden Window 🕒  Your opening sentence determines success. Forget "Today I'm here to talk about..." Instead, try this: "We've discovered a way to cut customer churn in half while spending 30% less. I need your go-ahead on three changes to make this happen." The Secret Menu Approach 📋  Structure your deck like a great restaurant menu: - Specials up front (key insights) - Prices clearly marked (what you need) - Ingredients available (supporting data) The Sticky Formula 🎯  Every winning executive presentation needs: - One compelling story - One surprising number - One clear ask Billboard vs. Novel 🚗  If someone's driving past your main message at 60mph, would they get it? Think billboard, not novel. Start with this opener: "The one thing you need to know today is [your biggest insight], and here's why it matters to our bottom line..." Watch those phones disappear. 📱↘️ #ExecutivePresence #Leadership #BusinessStrategy #CommunicationSkills #PublicSpeaking 💡 Follow me for more insights on executive communication and leadership presence.