In the work environment, you might sometimes find yourself in a situation where you need to deliver a presentation or make a speech. In the presentation case, there will be time given to gather material and prepare the delivery.

In speeches however, you might have time to prepare your talk or you might find yourself in a second in a situation where you need to speak out and address a small or big audience.

The focus of this article is to give you ideas of how to start the speech. This is the hardest part of it. If you get the start right, everything rolls from there. The start of a talk or speech sets the stage and grabs the attention. It determines the success or failure. Keep these points in mind on how to start your speech and I am sure the success will be on your side. The points here focus on the situation where you have been asked to talk without being prepared beforehand.

Remember that the first thing you need to do is thank who ever gave you the floor to talk for the opportunity.

You can say something like, “Thank you Tom for giving me the opportunity to talk to the colleagues.”

After thanking the person, you can use any of the following ideas below:

Starting a speech 1 – Thank the attendees

You can say, “Thank you Tom for giving me the opportunity to talk to the colleagues. And I would like to thank everyone in this room for being here and being such wonderful colleagues. I have been in this company for the past 5 years which gave me the opportunity to meet and personally know everyone here. I believe that I am part of the best team in this industry; a team that rocks!”

Starting a speech 2 – Refer to someone in the attendees and use a positive statement he made, the more senior the person the better

You can say, “Thank you Tom for giving me the opportunity to talk to the colleagues. I was talking to Peter 10 minutes ago and he mentioned that our department sales have increase by 25% compared to last year figures. Peter also said that he is proud of everyone in this room. I could not say how much I am proud too to be part of this team that achieved this result. You are all great.”

Starting a speech 3 – Make a comment about the attendees

You can say, “Thank you Tom for giving me the opportunity to talk to the colleagues. When I look at this team here, I see a group of happy people for getting their full bonus for this year.” Then look at them and smile, continue “I know that each one of you will make his full sales quota and hence get his full bonus. Now are we going to make it or not?” Usually this will get you a big Yes from the team.

 Starting a speech 4 – Make a controversial statement

You can say, “Thank you Tom for giving me the opportunity to talk to the colleagues. Our industry is passing through some very turbulent times. Change is inevitable. Though this might carry with it the seeds of discomfort, it is also carrying the seeds of opportunity.”

Starting a speech 5 – Refer to a quote or a saying from a well know authority figure and then comment on it

You can say, “Thank you Tom for giving me the opportunity to talk to the colleagues. Einstein once said, “Our problems cannot be solved on the same level of thinking that created them”, how true this statement is. I believe we all need to open our minds for new opportunities and embrace new ideas to set a track for solving all our company issues.

Certainly these are not the only ways to start a speech, but keeping these 5 points in mind can come to rescue. They are easy to remember:

1)      Thank the attendees

2)      Refer to someone in the attendees

3)      Make a positive  comment about the attendees

4)      Make a controversial statement

5)      Refer to a quote or saying from an authority figure

When you are in a situation where you think that you might be asked all of a sudden for a speech, prepare your ideas, get the start right using the above points and you will be on your way to deliver a great speech.

I hope that the above five points would be of help to you in the future.

To your success

Cheers …

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