Getting your toast off to a good start...

Last Friday I did a year-end function in Stellenbosch and was reminded of the value of getting off to a good start when making a speech. I introduced four speakers on the night and only one of them held the audience’s attention for his full five-minutes.  From what I observed, his success can largely be credited to him making an impact right at the start!

The first 30 seconds of your speech are the most critical. It is in this time-frame that your audience decides whether or not they want to continue listening to you. Unfortunately the start is also the most difficult part of your speech. At this point you don’t know how your voice will sound, whether people will listen, or if you have a booger in your nose… These unknowns wreak havoc on your anxiety levels and your confidence becomes shaky (ier).  Sweaty palms, throat clearing and “uhms” are immediately at the order of the day, and that is your winning recipe to get off to a poor start.  

Making a conscious decision to start confidently is probably the best way to tackle the doubt.  If you are not generally a self-assured speaker, your upfront aim should be to create a setting that will boost your confidence. So how do you create that atmosphere where people want to hear what you have to say next?

Here are my TOP THREE TIPS to achieve just that:

1.    Demand the rightful attention you deserve. Don’t just start off… be silent until all eyes are on you. Then smile while making eye-contact with a few members of the audience, before speaking.

2.    Once you open your mouth, get right into it. Avoid the customary “nice-to-be-here”, and “it’s such an honour” platitudes. Instead, consider starting off with a powerful statement or quote that summarises the spirit of your speech. (Read my blog about using quotes HERE)

3.    Use humour. I am yet to come across a more effective way to get any audience on your side than making them laugh. Laughter is a unifying marvel that helps people relate to each other – especially when the humour is relevant to the occasion. The laughter of your audience will make you feel accepted which, in turn does wonders for your confidence. The earlier you apply humour in your speech, the better. (Read more about how to effectively deliver your witticism or joke in a later post).

PS:  A proper introduction by the Master of Ceremonies does wonders to relieve the pressure off the speaker. If you’re lucky enough to have an MC who introduces you in a way that encourages applause before you open your mouth, you’re well on your way.

Posted on: 23 November 2012

Lance Kenned aka Mister MC

Master of Ceremonies, Cape Town, South Africa