# How to Start a Speech: Opening Lines That Grab Attention

The first 30 seconds of a speech should do three things: catch attention with a hook (a question, short story, surprising number or bold claim), tell the audience why it matters to them, and say where you're going. Skip the apology, the long thank-you list and 'Today I'm going to talk about'; start with the hook itself.

By the Speaking Coach team at Sodhera Intelligence. Updated 2026-10-22. Source: https://www.orecci.com/speaking-coach/guides/how-to-start-a-speech/

## What the first 30 seconds must do

Thirty seconds is about 65–75 spoken words. In that time, the audience decides whether to listen properly or check their phones. Use it in three beats:

| Beat | Job | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Hook** | Make them curious or make them feel something | 10–15 sec |
| **Why it matters to them** | Connect the hook to their lives, work or decision | 5–10 sec |
| **Roadmap** | Tell them what's coming, in one sentence | 5–10 sec |

Your name and thank-yous can come after the hook, or be handled by whoever introduces you. The hook goes first because attention is highest in the opening seconds, and you shouldn't spend it on logistics.

## Seven ways to open, with example lines

Every example below is made up to show the type. Write your own around your real topic.

### 1. A question they can answer in their heads

Works when the answer is personal and quick. Avoid questions with an obvious yes.

> "Think about the last meeting you left thinking 'that could have been an email'. How long ago was it?"

### 2. A short story

Start in the middle of the action, with a time and place. Keep it under 30 seconds and make sure it leads to your point.

> "Last March, at ten past nine on a Monday, our website went down. I was the only person in the office who knew the password to the server, and I was on a train with no signal."

### 3. A number, made concrete

A number only grabs attention if people can picture it. Use a real figure you can stand behind, and translate it into something human.

> "Our support team answered 4,000 emails last month. That's one every six minutes, day and night, for thirty days."

### 4. A bold claim

State something your audience probably disagrees with, then promise to back it up.

> "Most of our team meetings should be cancelled. By the end of this talk, I think you'll agree with me about at least half of them."

### 5. "Imagine…"

Puts the audience inside a scene. Best for talks about change or the future.

> "Imagine opening your laptop on Monday and finding nothing in your inbox that needs you before lunch."

### 6. An object or visual

Hold something up, or show one image in silence for three seconds before you speak.

> (Holding up a paper receipt.) "This is the most expensive piece of paper in our company. Let me tell you why."

### 7. A quote or line from someone in the room

Skip famous quotes everyone has heard. A line from a customer, colleague or the person you're toasting works far better, as long as it's real.

> "When I told my grandmother I'd been asked to speak today, she said: 'Keep it short, and make them laugh once.' I'll try to do both."

## Which opening fits which talk

| Situation | Strong openings | Risky openings |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Work presentation or update | Number, bold claim, question | Long story |
| Pitch to investors or clients | Story about the problem, number | Famous quote |
| Wedding or birthday toast | Short story, line from someone in the room | Bold claim, statistics |
| Class presentation | Question, "imagine", object | Dictionary definition |
| Eulogy | Short story, a line they used to say | Joke |
| Conference talk | Story, bold claim, visual | Long self-introduction |

## Openings to avoid

| Opening | Why it falls flat | Instead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "Sorry, I'm not very good at this…" | Tells the audience to expect less | Just start; they'll judge for themselves |
| "Can everyone hear me? Is this on?" | Wastes your strongest moment | Check the mic before you begin |
| "Today I'm going to talk about…" | Announces instead of engaging | Open with the hook, then give the roadmap |
| Five minutes of thank-yous | Attention drains before you start | One short thank-you after the hook |
| "Webster's dictionary defines…" | Overused and dull | Your own one-line definition, if needed |
| A joke you're unsure of | Silence after a joke rattles you | Light humour that works without a laugh |
| Reading the title slide | They can already see it | Leave it up and say something else |

## Then bridge into your talk

The hook is useless if it doesn't connect. After it, say one sentence that links the hook to your topic, then your roadmap.

> Hook: "Think about the last meeting you left thinking 'that could have been an email'."
>
> Bridge: "Across our team, that's about five hours a week each."
>
> Roadmap: "I'll show you where those hours go and the three meetings I'd cut first."

If you're not sure what comes after the opening, see [how to structure a presentation](/speaking-coach/guides/how-to-structure-a-presentation/). And plan your close at the same time: a strong ending often calls back to the opening, as covered in [how to end a presentation](/speaking-coach/guides/how-to-end-a-presentation/).

## Rehearse the first 30 seconds most

The opening is where nerves hit hardest, so rehearse it more than any other part. Say it out loud ten times until you could do it half-asleep. Know your first sentence word for word, even if you speak the rest from notes.

In Speaking Coach, the "Open a presentation or toast" scene gives you an audience to try your first lines on, then shows your pace and how quickly you started.

## Questions people ask

### What is the best way to start a speech?

There's no single best opening. A short story or a question the audience answers in their heads works for most topics. Pick the one that leads most naturally into your main point.

### Should I introduce myself at the start of a speech?

If someone has introduced you, skip it. If not, give your name and role in one sentence, right after your hook rather than before it.

### Is it okay to start a speech with a joke?

Only if it's short, fits the room, and still works if nobody laughs. A story with a light touch is safer than a set-up and punchline.

### How long should a speech opening be?

About 30 seconds for most talks, or 10% of a short one. For a two-minute toast, one or two sentences of opening is enough.

### What should I say first when I'm nervous?

Say the first sentence you've rehearsed most. Take a breath, look at one friendly face, and say it slower than feels natural.

---
Speaking Coach on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6767124039
Speaking Coach on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sodhera.speakingcoach