{"id":1722,"date":"2021-05-22T23:32:03","date_gmt":"2021-05-22T21:32:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redelandschaften.de\/?p=1722"},"modified":"2025-08-24T07:31:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T05:31:06","slug":"structure-your-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drstephenwagner.com\/en\/structure-your-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Structure your Speech. Your Audience will follow"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you lose your audience once you speak up? Or do you carry them along so they keep a high attention level throughout your presentation? A catchy structure is one of the important aspects you should consider. A strong introduction, an interesting main part and a meaningful conclusion are equally important. Guide your audience by transitions such as emphasized pauses and changing your position on stage. Also add interactions using polls, quizzes, and short discussions. Sometimes surprising twists and turns help.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

First Sentence is yours!<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

When does your presentation start? Most people would say it is your first sound on stage. Others point to the time of preparation. Provide a positive first impression once the moderator calls your name and you get up from your seat. If you are crouched, you will leave a poor impression compared to a speaker who is excited about her presentation, flirts with the audience, and smiles at the audience as she dynamically walks to the stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some excuse themselves with an opening like \u201cUnfortunately, I did not have much time to prepare.\u201d This seems disrespectful to the audience because the speaker obviously prioritizes other things or seems disoriented. Speakers often start by thanking 27 friends, colleagues, and even their grandmother. Once they switch into the main topic, half of the audience is already engaged in other activities.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is another way: \u201cThe first sentence is yours!\u201d You decide for yourself how to start your speech. Apart from rare formal occasions such as welcoming the President of the Federal Republic of Germany or a cardinal, it is up to you how you start. Do not let anyone else tell you what to do!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At first, your audience is curious about your topic. They will listen very attentively. But many speakers repeat what the moderator said and then display a PowerPoint slide with the following overview: \u201cI will start with the introduction, then I will present our hypothesis, then I will present the working methods. After that, I present the results of my study, before I draw the conclusion, show you the thank you slide with a dog on a field of flowers. On the last slide, you can find all references and our sponsors. So let me start now…\u201d This introduction may be exaggerated. In fact, I see this in many presentations to this day. It does not knock anyone\u2019s socks off. In the vast majority of cases the structure of the presentation is almost identical, especially within the scientific community.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you engage your audience with an exciting presentation? You can express surprising things, for example as a contrast: \u201cLess is more: The shorter our preparation time, the more effective we work!\u201d Questions addressed directly to the audience are almost a classic approach, referring to the event or to your presentation topic: \u201cWho among you would like to travel to Mars by 2040?\u201d or \u201cWho predominantly reads e-books today?\u201d By doing so, you engage your audience to take action. Now you could involve their reaction into your presentation or comparing it with results from other polls, taking a stand on current trends. Rhetorical questions prompt your audience to think or address emotions, such as their fears or desires. Bring a positive turn to the end of the presentation at the latest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further options to introduce your topic in a scientific setting are provided here:<\/span> https:\/\/redelandschaften.de\/en\/a-stimulating-discussion\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Structure complex Information in the Main Section<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

When preparing your presentation, focus on compact information that you can communicate precisely. It is all about the essence of your topic. Once you have gathered your content, you can structure it according to the following patterns:<\/span><\/p>\n