There’s a moment just before a presentation begins, when the room hangs in the balance.
The audience is sizing you up. To be honest, you’re sizing them up too.
And everyone’s wondering: is this going to be a slog… or a stonker?
This moment matters.
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Because the tone you set in the first few seconds tells your audience what kind of session they’re in for.
And if you want engagement, energy, and enthusiasm (and who doesn't?) you need to make that clear from the outset.
Which is why I always start with an interaction.
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A question. A quiz. A show of hands. A quickfire challenge.
Something that says: this isn’t a lecture — it’s a conversation.
You’re not here to be talked at. You’re here to take part.
It’s a subtle but powerful shift.
Instead of passive listeners, you get active contributors. Instead of glazed eyes, you get curious minds.
And instead of the dreaded death-by-PowerPoint, you get a session that’s eneregetic, educational and entertaining.
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Here's an example:
I opened a talk on leadership communication with this question:
- Who’s the best communicator you’ve ever seen — and why?
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Cue a flurry of responses. Steve Jobs. Michelle Obama. David Attenborough. Even a shout for Beyoncé (which I loved).
But more than the names, it was the why that mattered.
Clarity. Passion. Storytelling. Authenticity.
In just a handful of minutes, we’d not only warmed up the room, we’d laid the foundation for the entire session.
And even better...
The audience had done most of the work.
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That’s the power of setting the tone early.
You create a sense of shared ownership. You make it clear this isn’t just your presentation — it’s our experience.
And note the OUR.
We're in this together. We can all have a good time or a miserable one.
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Setting the tone in this way has an added advantage.
It also helps with the nerves.
Because when you start with an interaction, you’re not launching into a boring old, standard, dull and yawny monologue.
You’re having a moment of connection. You’re building rapport.
And that feels good, and gives you momentum, and so helps to dampen those pulses of doubt.
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Of course, the tone you set should match your message.
If you’re talking about crisis management, you might not open with a joke.
But you can still invite reflection.
A question like, What’s the toughest decision you’ve ever had to make under pressure? can be just as engaging — and just as revealing.
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So next time you’re preparing a presentation, don’t just think about your slides.
More importantly, think about your start.
What will you say — or better still, ask — that sets the tone?
That sparks curiosity? That invites participation?
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Because when you begin with energy, interaction, and intent, you don’t just deliver a presentation...
You create an experience.
