Importance of an Introduction to a Speech

The introduction is the most important part of a speech.

The introduction is critical to the success of a speech. Whether you are selling a product or inspiring a groups of students, a large part of your effort in writing a speech should be spent developing a strong introduction. If you understand each of the goals of an introduction, and carefully consider each one as you construct your introduction, you will increase your chances of making a successful speech.

Get Attention

The most important goal of an introduction is to get the attention of the audience. By asking a provocative question, telling a story, using humor, or making a shocking statement of fact, you can create curiosity in the minds of the listeners. It's a little bit like surfing: you want the listener to ride the wave to the shore, but first you have to get them up on the wave. The introduction gets the listener up on the wave by getting their attention.

Adapt to the Audience

The tone and content of the introduction should be tailored to the particular audience to make the strongest connection possible. Use the introduction to allude to the specific occasion or to particular members of the audience or previous speakers. Use language that the particular audience can relate to. The audience is less interested in a cookie-cutter speech and more interested in being addressed directly.

State Your Purpose

Give the audience a reason to listen or you will lose them. A clear statement of purpose that appeals to the interest of the audience will get their attention. Promise the audience something they want or need, and they will stay with you in order to get it. If you don't state a purpose that they care about, the audience has no reason to listen.

Build Excitement

An effective speech will get the audience excited during the introduction. Marks Woods, writing at PrettyGoodSpeech.com, compares a speech to a gift. The introduction is like the gift wrapping. It is designed to get the audience interested in seeing what is inside.

Establish Credibility

The introduction should persuade the audience that the speech is worthy of their attention. The audience begins forming an impression of the speaker in the first few seconds of the speech. If you establish your qualifications as a speaker by referring to your knowledge, training and experience, you give the audience a reason to listen. If the introduction succeeds in gaining you the trust of the audience, your speech is more likely to be believed.

Preview the Content

A disoriented audience will stop listening. By previewing the main points of the speech in your introduction, you make it easier for the listener to follow your speech. By giving the audience a taste of the content, you help establish that the speech will offer something they want or need. If the audience knows what is coming and wants to hear what is coming, the introduction has been a success.

References

• PrettyGoodSpeech.com: The Importance of the Introduction
• Writing.ColoState.edu: Introduction