Welcome to The Power Presenter, a series built to help you stand out, speak with impact, and own the room. I hope you enjoy it!
Let’s start with what may be the most overlooked moment in any presentation: the beginning.
Because here’s the truth:
If you don’t grab their attention in the first 30 seconds, you may never get it. Connection is the most important part of presentation. And in a world filled with lots of talk, an overabundance of messages and a whole lot of competition, attention is currency.
I wrote a book with a title that speaks to this … exactly. And when I speak at conferences, the book goes along for the ride for a reason. I speak about the importance to getting people’s attention and why it’s so critical today. And, yes, I have my way of getting the audience to get involved emotionally.
Can You Get Our Attention? is available from Amazon.
So, whether you’re on a stage, in a boardroom, or on a Zoom call, your audience is making a decision immediately:
“Is this worth my time?”
Your job is to make the answer an instant yes.
Don’t Warm Up—Show Up
Too many speakers start soft:
“Thanks for having me today…”
“I’m excited to be here…”
“Here’s what I’ll be covering…”
That’s not an opener. That’s filler. The best presenters start with purpose. They start with presence. They start with something that makes you stop and think. They start with something that gets people involved – emotionally.
So, let’s say your presentation is actually about “better presentations.”
Try opening with:
A bold claim: “This may change the way you lead your next meeting.”
A startling stat: “Most presentations lose their audience in under 45 seconds.”
A question: “What’s the one thing your audience wants—but rarely gets?”
A personal story: “Five years ago, I stood in front of a crowd and completely blanked.”
In other words …make your audience lean in—not lean back.
Start Strong, Stay Strong
That first moment isn’t just about getting attention—it’s about setting the tone.
The way you begin tells people everything about what’s to come.
Bring energy. Bring clarity. Bring something they didn’t expect.
If your opening is powerful, your audience will trust that the rest is worth it. I can’t emphasize that enough.
The Power Presenter Knows: It’s Not Just What You Say, It’s How You Start
So here’s your takeaway:
Don’t greet your audience—grab them.
Don’t explain your topic—ignite it.
Don’t waste your opening—own it.
And make sure you also “land the plane.”
That’s what The Power Presenter does.