Opening Your Speech
How should you open a presentation? Should you open with a joke, a quotation, a dire statistic or prediction?
The answer is yes, but first things first.
The first thing you do before the speech even starts is thank those who invited you and the audience for being there. If it is a political organization, recognize the government officials and candidates along with their respective titles. In many cases, the host will do the political introductions before introducing you.
Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, it is time to look at your notes or written speech, and get started.
If you are going to open with a humor, make sure it is relevant to the presentation and that may insult a valued audience member.
In an award ceremony where I was given a plaque for my political writings, I looked at the audience of about 200 and opened with, “And I thought I only had 12 readers.” The audience laughed because it was relevant to those listening and I relaxed, knowing I had a friendly audience.
If you plan to open with a quote, again make sure it is relevant to the presentation and give proper credit where credit is do. Give the name of the person and of the speech or document, and when it was given or written.
Follow up statistics with proper citation(s) to author(s) and publication(s)s. If a prediction, spend you time proving the prediction right or wrong. And always cite the sources of your information.
Do your research. Though you might have heard Rachel Maddow talk about the 3.5% Rule, the actual statistic comes from Harvard University political scientist Erica Chenoweth, who found that “civil disobedience is not only the moral choice; it is also the most powerful way of shaping world politics – by a long way... (That) civil resistance by (3,5% of the) ordinary members of the public trumped the political elite to achieve radical change.” (BBC, May, 2019)
Use your opening to connect with the audience. You will feel better and your audience will be more receptive to the rest of your presentation.