Presentation Tips

First Impression Of Presentation : Opening

Most of audiences show the highest concentrativeness.

So, from a presenter’s point of view, it’s very important that you utilize the ‘opening’ which is the first impression of presentation, well:
An opening that will raise the concentrativeness towards the remaining presentation while leaving strong and powerful impression!

Then, what would be the most effective and efficient way to prepare and utilize?

1. Apply various opening techniques depending on the purpose of presentation

Commonly people try to talk about simple episodes or show off fancy effects in the opening of presentation. These kind of general opening techniques can be effective in some cases, but it doesn’t apply to all presentations.

There are various types of techniques for opening: questions / astonishing facts or information / figure of speech / statistics / episodes / epigram or proverb / quotes / current affairs issues / humors

Let’s talk about Opening Techniques using some examples.

– Talk about ‘astonishing facts’ that the audiences have never known.

If you start with an opening that is somewhat exciting or astonishing, you can maximize the effects of presentation contents that are to come later.

“Years ago, approx. 9,000 applicants have come to a flight attendant interview place. Many attractive and talented people from all over the place have come for the interview, so appealing ‘my personality and attraction’ was very important. However, mostly everyone of the applicants, 8,999 applicants, came wearing white blouse and black skirt. Why do you think they all came dressed like that? Probably they’d thought that it was the best attire giving sense of stability and credibility. but, these kind of attire had brought a totally different result. As a result, they all ended up hiding their attractions with the attire. This is why we have to stay away from ordinary thoughts. Today, you will be introduced to the most novel and characterful interior blueprint today – not a black skirt with white blouse. Be in great anticipation!”

– ‘Questions’ that attract audiences to presentation

Questions are one of the simplest opening techniques that you can use.

“Have you ever attended a seminar held in a hotel and came back after just sitting here doing nothing because you couldn’t hear the sound well through microphone? You probably had experience this once or twice in your life. The OO Sound never allows dead zone for sound with thorough plans and construction. You will be satisfied with the proposal that I am just about to give today.”

– ‘Current affairs issues’ that speak for rapid response ability’

If it’s something that’s related to the client or fits well with the presentation contents, it would be a technique worth using.

“Just in time, the Federal Reserve Board of the United States have announced today that they’d decided to increase the standard interest rate by 0.25% point. Following the U.S, Europe and Japan, China is jumping into the currency war for economic profit of its own county. What I am going to propose today has intimate connection with the currency rate.”

– ‘Figure of speech that stimulates imagination

It’s the most effectual method to use when you have to explain difficult and convoluted concept or contents.

“Our brand new product that was just recently launched is a model that has been innovatively developed. You can imagine having the 2G cell phone just upgraded to LTE phone.”

2. Things to watch out when planning an Opening

– Something that will be helpful for purposes, audiences and strategies of presentation.

You probably are aware how important achieving goals is in presentations. Opening is one of the strategies.
It’s important that you prepare subject materials that fits in well with the purpose, well matches with the presentation contents and audiences can accept.

– To connect well with the contents that follows

Having opening separated from presentation contents isn’t effective. Except for inevitable situations, opening must be prepared to be connected with the contents of presentation that follows.

– Don’t start off with lame excuses or over-modesty

Some presenters show unnecessarily over-modesty actions at the beginning of the presentation. But that’s an unnecessary start. Please note that you don’t necessarily have to mention humble and modesty words in order to give the audiences an image that you are a professional who has sufficient enough knowledge about the presentation contents.

– Prepare counter-strategies predicting the reaction after the opening

Please be prepared with counter plans predicting audiences’ reactions after your opening from various point of view. For example, the audience may not answer your opening questions or the answer given may be different than what you’d predicted. For such situations like this, it’s important that you are prepared to properly response in advance so that the atmosphere doesn’t get effected in a negative way.