Introductions That Arouse Interest Your introduction should rouse interest in your subject. It ought to grab your audience’s attention and position them to listen favorably to what you have to say. To execute this properly, you must help your listeners appreciate the value of your material. How can you do this? One of the most effective ways to do this is to involve your audience in the discussion. Help them come to the conclusion that your information is of vital importance to them. State it in such a way that you aren’t speaking over anyone’s head. Simply put, what you say should be in the range of their mental comprehension. You might use a story, present a problem, or ask a series of questions. Whatever the case, you should always utilize a method that will be one your audience can understand and relate to so they can understand how to put the information to practical use. For instance, you may decide to broach a somewhat controversial topic in your talk. That being the case, you may have to overcome some prejudices in the audience’s mind during your introduction. In the case of highly controversial subjects this can be particularly true. In this type of situation your intro will be vital and key to holding your audience’s attention until the facts backing your point of view can be established properly. Sometimes this can be done by acknowledging the “cons” first and presenting the “pros” that dismantle them. The content of your presentation is always going to rank high on the list of prep priorities. The character of your presentation, or how you present, is probably more important than the speech itself. This being the case, your intro must be meticulously prepared, practiced, and pondered before it’s delivered. It is at this point that I like to mention using the 5P approach: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. Know it, use it, believe it. A short simple statement will usually work well in introducing your subject. Since your choice of words are critical in getting and keeping the attention of those listening, you may want to take extra time to “wordsmith” that portion of your talk meticulously. Writing them out longhand to be read, or committing them to memory will help your words deliver the type of “punch” they need and have to give. Doing things this way will also boost your confidence starting out, and give you time to gain composure needed to complete the rest of the speech without being completely tied to your notes. IF nerves are an issue, know that it is normal. After all public speaking is the number one fear of the average person. Take courage and confidence in knowing that you have decided to turn this fear into an ally, and NOT be average. However, to help combat the butterflies in your stomach, slow down and speak in a slightly lower tone of voice. Exercise care that you come across as convinced, not creepy. Such a method may cause you to lose your audience early on, so find the balance that works for you. Consistent with Theme. The only time your intro will be effective however, is if it will transition into your material well. One must be very cautious to be sure that their introduction coincides with the message they are presenting. It also must also identify the specific item or items you are going to cover. Not only must it act as a lead-in to your discussion, but it must also state clearly what you are going to talk about. This requires that you limit your subject matter to a certain theme, and highlight that theme throughout your speech as much as it is prudent. Any speech content should be unified in its structure, not starting off on one thing and ending on another. There is a balance to be had here with making the intro something that gets your audience’s attention. In plain language, the theme should not be lost on a great story at the beginning, that has no real connection to the subject matter. Your speech should be saturated with the theme and its purpose. These elements must fit and stick together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. To sum it all up, your introduction’s purpose is to get the attention of your audience and transition into the subject at hand. Be practical and balanced when doing this, and you will have no problems arousing interest with your intro, and delivering your material effectively. Submitted By Kevin Davis - Writer, Speaker, Sales Trainer. Email: kevmard3@aol.com Phone: 616.443.7092 Webpage: http://www.speakermatch.com/profile/kevindavis