Rhetoric Tip #1: Open with a Bold Statement
Invite Them to Sit Up, Think, and Stay
The sad truth is that most speeches are forgotten by the next day.
Why is this the case? Chip Heath and Dan Heath explain, in their book Made to Stick, that most speeches and ideas fail to make a lasting impact because they aren’t designed to “stick.” Many communications, such as business presentations, don’t connect with the audience. Some reasons include overuse of abstract language, the “curse of knowledge,”[i] and a failure to break through common attention patterns. In contrast, “sticky” ideas are simple, concrete, credible, emotionally resonant, and story-driven. These traits are often missing from typical speeches.
Unfortunately, many speakers start weak. They offer drawn-out greetings. They thank everyone profusely. They say, “I’m not really good at public speaking.” And right at that moment, the audience begins checking their smartphones or mentally ranking their favorite pizza toppings.
Open with a bold, unexpected statement, something that demands attention. When you do this, you create tension, curiosity, and authority, which keeps people listening. Aristotle might say you’re starting with Pathos (emotional engagement) and earning Ethos (character) by sounding like someone worth paying attention to.
This isn’t about being aggressive or controversial for shock value. It’s about making your opening relevant and memorable. Something that says: “You need to hear this.”
At just 269 words, The Gettysburg Address is one of the shortest speeches in U.S. history. Abraham Lincoln didn’t waste a second. He opened with:
“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Bold. Sticky. Poetic. He set the tone instantly for high impact, without irrelevant, uninteresting niceties.
When I coached a financial executive preparing for a high-stakes presentation to a potential client, she originally opened with: “I know this isn’t the most exciting topic...” We flipped it to: “You’re about to make a major financial decision, and here’s what you need to know.” That one sentence changed how the entire room saw her. She delivered with confidence. She earned respect. She won the deal.
Think of a recent speech or meeting where you opened too soft. Rewrite the first line as a bold statement, a surprising fact, or a provocative question. For example, instead of “I’m honored to be here,” try something like “Here’s the one mistake that’s costing you thousands” or “Today, you will be called on to challenge something most people in this room believe.”
Why This Works: In a distracted world, the first 30 seconds are everything. A bold opening taps into attention and emotion while getting the audience to sit up and think, “This matters.”
Want to refine your opening line and deliver it with impact? Book a discovery call and let’s sharpen your next high-stakes presentation together.
[i] Chip Heath & Dan Heath, Made to Stick (Random House, 2007), p. 278.
My first awareness of this:
Questioner: “Miss Rand, what is the objectivist position on sex?”
Rand: “We are very chaste.”
Something you just can’t forget. Of course, she goes on to explain, but that opener just hooks you in so well.
I’m looking forward to reading your tips, Robert. I’m doing public speaking now, and even though I think I’ve learned *a lot* about communication over the years, leading up to this point in my life, I’m quite interested to see what a seasoned vet such as yourself has to offer.
💡
This has made me reflect on how I open up my university lectures. I can now see when I grab students and when I lose them with niceties and weak openings. I will now be concsious about opening strongly--even have fun thinking about what line(s) I might use to win them from the start. Thanks, Robert!