Creating Memorable Opening Lines For Presentations

You have 7 seconds to grab your audience’s attention. Don’t waste them. You step onto the stage. The room is buzzing—conversations happening, phones lighting up, people only half paying attention. And in that moment, the first words out of your mouth determine everything. Will they lean in? Or will they check out? This is why a strong opening hook isn’t optional—it’s essential. It sets the tone, creates intrigue, and makes your audience think: I need to hear this. Here are three powerful ways to start your next presentation: ➡️ Ask a thought-provoking question “What’s the most scared you’ve ever been in your life?” The moment you ask, your audience starts searching for an answer. Now, they’re engaged. ➡️ Drop a surprising statistic “Leaders who use storytelling see 55% more engaged employees and 70% less burnout.” A powerful stat doesn’t just inform—it makes people pay attention. ➡️ Tell a story Your audience may forget the facts, but they’ll remember how you made them feel. A well-told story isn’t just heard—it’s felt, remembered, and repeated. The worst way to start? "Hi, today I'm going to talk to you about..." Great communicators don’t just share information—they create an experience. The next time you step in front of an audience, don’t just open with words. Open with impact.

"Habituation" is killing your presentations and speaking. My top tip for speaking in 2025 is simple but takes a little courage What is "habituation?" Habituation is a neurological phenomenon where our brains stop paying attention to something that’s repetitive or predictable over time. It’s like a built-in filter to help us focus on what’s new or important. For example, if you live near a train track, the sound of trains might be annoying at first, but over time, your brain tunes it out. That’s habituation in action - your brain decides, “This isn’t a threat or new information, so I’ll save my energy.” In presentations, starting with the expected “Hi, my name is… and I work for...” triggers the same response. The audience’s brain thinks, “Oh, I’ve heard this a thousand times,” and tunes out. In other words - you fit the pattern of every other boring presentation they have ever seen. They mentally check out before you’ve even said anything meaningful. So instead - decide to break the pattern and shake things up.  Start with a story, a joke, or a stat—something that surprises the brain and sparks curiosity. Hook them from the get-go, and save your name and company for slide 3. (They’ll remember you if your opening is memorable.) Personally, I always start with a story about my four daughters. I typically use some funny story (and I have many!) that is a bit self-deprecating. I personally love humor as an opener. I walk on stage and start my story.  No good morning. No hello. No "my name is." I just go right in - something like: "A few weeks ago, I went to the store with my daughter..." "My daughter said something hilarious to me a few weeks ago..." "I received this text from my first daughter a few weeks ago..." If you want to be extra (Gen Z slang there) - most of the time I never say who I am or where I work.  I use my words, stories, content and my knowledge to engage - not my title or resume. This small tweak taps into neuroscience and keeps your audience engaged from the start. How do you usually start your presentations? Let’s hear your tips in the comments. Interested in your thoughts too...Nick Pericle Jason Hein Jason Greenwood Ian Heller Liz S.

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.

Most people start presentations the wrong way. Whether it’s a pitch, a keynote, or a team meeting, how you open sets the tone for everything. Here’s how to grab attention and keep your audience engaged 👇 Tell them what to expect—right away. People don’t like guessing games. Before you start, set the stage: - What’s this about? - How long will it take? - What key points are we covering? Even in a casual team meeting: “Hey guys, quick update today—should take about 30 minutes. We’re covering X, Y, and Z.” Simple. Clear. No confusion. Open with a story. Facts are forgettable. Stories stick. Your opening doesn’t have to be about the topic—it just has to hook people in. Example: “I just got back from Finland with eight friends. We toured 27 of the greatest saunas in the world in just eight days. Wild experience. But today, we’re talking about something just as intense—[insert topic].” Now they’re locked in. Why this works: ✔️ People love structure. ✔️ Stories make you relatable. ✔️ You control the energy in the room. Most speakers jump straight into slides. Big mistake. Set the tone first. Next time you give a pitch or presentation: 1️⃣ Start by telling them what to expect. 2️⃣ Hook them with a quick story or icebreaker. 3️⃣ Then dive in. It’s simple—but it works every time. What’s the best opening to a presentation you’ve ever heard? Drop it below.