Opening Our Presentation (Part One)

In the first seconds of any presentation, your audience decides whether to lean in or tune out. This guide shows you how to design those opening moments—before you speak and through your first sentence—so you command attention, create immediate relevance, and set up the rest of your message to land.

What makes a powerful presentation opening in 2025?

Your opening starts before you speak—and the audience decides in seconds. In a smartphone-first era, those first seven seconds determine whether people lean in or drift off. The “silent opening” (walk, posture, eye contact) forms a first impression before a single slide appears. Conferences, town halls, and startup pitches now feel like a live feed—attention is earned fast or lost.

Do now: Plan the pre-speech moment (walk, stance, pause) as deliberately as your first words. Decide what you want people to think before you speak, then choreograph for that outcome.

How do I control first impressions before I even speak?

Pre-stage signals set expectations—own your bio, the MC intro, and foyer chats. Event pages, LinkedIn blurbs, and the MC’s script shape the audience’s mental model. Brief the MC with a single, crisp positioning line (“Built Asia-Pacific revenue from ¥0 to ¥10B”) and avoid laundry-list CVs. In B2B, hallway conversations are part of the show; in government or academic settings, your written session abstract becomes the first “slide” attendees see.

Do now: Write a 20-word positioning line for the MC; update the event blurb; greet attendees with energy to “seed” a positive narrative.

What should I physically do in the first 10 seconds?

Walk briskly, take centre stage, pause, then project your first line. Movement signals confidence across cultures; a slight, purposeful pause lifts anticipation and quiets side-chatter. A strong first sentence delivered at higher vocal energy breaks through device distraction. Australian audiences prefer relaxed authority; Japanese audiences value elegant poise and clear structure; US audiences reward pace and punch. In all markets, eyes up—don’t bury your face in the laptop while fumbling with HDMI.

Do now: Rehearse a “no-tech” start: walk → plant → 1-beat pause → first line with 10–15% more volume than normal.

How can I hook executives with a captivating statement?

Open with an analogy, a bold fact, or good news—then explain the relevance.

Analogy makes complex issues tangible (“Launching this strategic initiative is like learning to drive—lots looks simple until you’re in traffic.”) Bold fact creates a pattern interrupt (e.g., demographic shifts, cost-of-delay, risk concentration). Good news reframes the room: cite an industry uptick, an R&D milestone, or a customer win to signal value early.
Startups often lead with traction; corporates often lead with risk or opportunity size—choose the frame that matches your audience.

Do now: Draft three openers (analogy, fact, good news). Pick one that best answers your audience’s “why this, why now?”

Should I start with a question—and which ones actually work?

Use questions to gather info, drive participation, or create agreement—sparingly.

Hands-up questions give you a real-time snapshot and wake the room. Physical prompts (“Stand if you’ve led a cross-border project since 2023”) add energy in offsites and leadership programs. Rhetorical questions align minds without calling for a reply (“What costs us more—slow decisions or rework?”).
In high-context cultures, rhetorical alignment often outperforms cold-calling; in US sales kick-offs, rapid polling can boost momentum.

Do now: Script one of each: (1) hands-up, (2) physical prompt, (3) rhetorical alignment. Choose the lightest touch that fits the room.

How do I keep phones down and attention up from the first sentence?

Design an attention moat: short sentences, elevated volume, and immediate relevance. Open with the outcome your audience cares about (“By the end, you’ll have a 3-step opening you can deliver tomorrow”). Use names, dates, and entities to anchor time and credibility. Contrast markets (Japan vs. US) or sectors (consumer vs. B2B) to create novelty. Then promise—and deliver—one fast, valuable tactic before your first slide.

Do now: First line = outcome; second line = entity/time anchor; third line = quick win. Keep each under 12 words.

The simple checklist to design your opening this week

Follow this 7-point “First 30 Seconds” checklist—then rehearse twice.

Bio/MC line set. Walk-plant-pause mapped. First sentence bold. Choose one hook (analogy/fact/good news). One question type ready. Relevance statement tied to current priorities (growth, hiring, AI, cross-border). Fallback if tech fails.
Pro tip: keep a printed one-page run-of-show; use it when slides go rogue.

Conclusion

Openings are a system, not a sentence. When you control pre-stage signals, choreograph the first 10 seconds, and deploy a deliberate hook, you earn permission to lead—whether in Tokyo, Sydney, or New York. Rehearse the system this week and make it your default.

About the author

Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He has twice won Dale Carnegie’s “One Carnegie Award” and received Griffith University Business School’s Outstanding Alumnus Award. A Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg delivers leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs globally. He is the author of Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, Japan Presentations Mastery, Japan Leadership Mastery, and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training, with Japanese editions including 『ザ営業』 and 『プレゼンの達人』.