

The usage of quotations is a common strategy for hooks. It’s an ideal hook for a premise based on hypothetical situations and the effects of potential changes.Īsk the audience something that might change their viewpoint, like what if you could go invisible for a day or go back in time? You can also use the word ‘Imagine’ to draw a mental image and engage the mind. This is a great hook to start a persuasive speech or one that discusses possible scenarios. Take Them Through Imagine or What If Scenario Spend some time researching shocking data that show how serious the topic you’re going to discuss is.įor example, “You might not know, but your brain has less than three seconds to react when you see a bear in the wild.” This is startling as people believe they have enough time to think about what will happen before a bear attack. If you’re having trouble coming up with a hook, employ a striking fact. Making a startling assertion is a quick and effective strategy to get attention. This leads to a higher level of interest. Whenever you reference historical events, the audience instantly associates them with their own experience. Sometimes you can use the day you present as an opening gambit to tie the topic of your presentation to some historical significance. Mentioning a historical event is a good attention-getter for speeches. Provide a Reference to a Historical Event It makes it easier to remember the specifics of what you are talking about.įor example, “Did you know that in 2016 each enterprise had a choice? The choice to go from silos and silences to voice and insight”? 4. Use a Powerful Sound BiteĪ sound bite is a brief statement that captures the attention of your audience and promises a thought-provoking result. The goal of the question is to ask the listener to think and make a judgment on his own.

Used wisely, they can lead the audience into an argument. They make statements and ask the listener to agree. Rhetorical questions are powerful because they pull at people’s heartstrings. A contrarian attitude can create easily recognizable hooks for a speech and succeed in catching the audience’s attention. One way to create a contrarian approach is to argue against an opinion or belief. This means that you take another stance on the issue and discuss it orally, thereby raising doubts in your audience.

One way to start your speech with a powerful hook is to use a contrarian approach. Here are eight hooks for speeches to make a lasting impression on the audience. Hooks can be as simple as descriptions, metaphors, or quotations. One way to start your speech is to hook your audience with a powerful way of describing the topic you are speaking on. Photo by Miguel Henriques on Unsplash 8 Effective Hooks for Speeches
