things to write for a head girl speech

Head Girl Sample Speech

[Note: The following is a sample speech for the position of Head Girl. Please personalize it with your own experiences and values to make it more authentic.]

Good morning, respected teachers, honored guests, fellow students, and dear friends,

I stand before you today with a heart filled with gratitude and excitement as I accept the great honor and responsibility of being elected as your Head Girl. First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest thanks to all of you who have put your trust in me to serve our school community.

When I reflect on my journey so far, I see a myriad of experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. From the first day I walked through the school gates, I knew this place was special. Our school is more than just a building; it's a thriving community that nurtures not only academic excellence but also character development and personal growth.

As Head Girl, my mission is to be a dedicated and approachable leader, to represent and support each and every one of you. Together, we will build an even stronger school spirit, foster a sense of belonging, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and included.

One of my main goals is to encourage open communication and collaboration among students, teachers, and the administration. I believe that every voice deserves to be heard, and I am committed to being a channel for your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Together, we can bring about positive change and improvements in our school life.

Academic excellence is at the core of our journey, but it is not the sole purpose of our education. As Head Girl, I will strive to promote a holistic approach to learning. I want us to embrace extracurricular activities, sports, arts, and community service. These experiences not only shape our personalities but also teach us valuable life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and empathy.

Furthermore, I am determined to work with the student body to address important issues that affect us, our society, and our planet. From promoting sustainability to championing diversity and inclusion, we can make a difference and set an example for the world.

I also believe that each of us has unique talents and passions. As Head Girl, I will support and encourage our students to explore and develop their interests fully. Whether it's in academics, sports, arts, or any other field, our achievements should be celebrated, and our efforts should be recognized.

Finally, let's remember that the journey ahead may have its challenges, but together, we are capable of overcoming any obstacle. Let's create an atmosphere of kindness, respect, and understanding, where we uplift and inspire one another.

In conclusion, I am truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as your Head Girl. With your support and cooperation, we can make this academic year memorable and impactful for all of us. Together, let's write a story of success, friendship, and growth. Thank you for your trust, and I look forward to working with each and every one of you.

How to Write a Speech for the Election of a Head Girl

How to give an annual day speech in school.

The job of head girl is a serious one to which many students aspire. The presence of this job is common in schools in the United Kingdom. Those elected to the position are responsible for overseeing the girls in the school that they attend, monitoring their adherence to uniform code, behavior guidelines and conduct requirements. Individuals interested in this position are often required to present a speech in which she demonstrates her appropriateness for the position. Because this speech often represents her only opportunity to plead her cases, careful speech preparation is a must.

Use professional language. As a head girl, you must be both professional and reliable. Demonstrate your ability to behave maturely by developing a refined speech. While you want your speech to sound as nice as possible, you should avoid using words that you are not familiar with in an attempt to impress, as doing so could lead you to misuse vocabulary.

Address your audience. Begin your speech by thanking the student body, along with the listening school staff, for their attention. By mentioning the audience directly, you may be more effective in your attempts to draw the audience in to your speech.

Discuss your history with the school. In most cases, head girl candidates have already spent several years at their current school. Show your allegiance to your school in your speech by reflecting upon good times you have had and discussing how the school has helped you and your peers grow and mature.

Outline your appropriateness for the position. Instead of speaking in generalities and telling your audience that you are responsible and trustworthy, show them that you possess these traits. Mention specific situations in which your trustworthiness and reliability have been made evident.

Integrate some quotations. If you struggle to find just the perfect words, borrow some by integrating quotations into your speech. Use quotations from famous individuals who are relevant to your speech, allowing them to serve almost as proof of the points that you are making in your speech.

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Erin Schreiner is a freelance writer and teacher who holds a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She has been actively freelancing since 2008. Schreiner previously worked for a London-based freelance firm. Her work appears on eHow, Trails.com and RedEnvelope. She currently teaches writing to middle school students in Ohio and works on her writing craft regularly.

Best Head Girl Speech: A Student’s Top 10 Tips

• by Ajah_Excel
• March 29, 2024
• 12 minute read

So, you’ve been picked to lead your school as Head Girl! Greetings, it’s a great honor to have you. 

But now comes the challenging part: creating and delivering an attention-grabbing speech that inspires everyone.

We’ve got you covered with our list of the top 10 suggestions for crafting and delivering memorable speeches, so don’t worry. 

You may ensure that your speech is distinctive and interesting enough to excite students about student leadership opportunities at your school by using these professional recommendations.

These easy tips can help you create an address that will have an impact on everyone who hears it. Therefore, let’s get going and make your speech something genuinely exceptional!

Table of contents

1. introduction.

• 2. Body Content 
• 3. Conclusion 

1. Planning is Key

2. consider your audience, 3. consider the tone.

• 4. Use Persuasive Language 

5. Memorise Parts of Your Speech

6. prepare to answer some questions.

• 7. Rehearse 
• 8. Adopt Some Simple Healthy Habits 

9. Consider Your Personal Appearance

10. go for it.

• Frequently Asked Questions 
• Conclusion 
• References 

Recommendations

How can you structure your speech.

It can be challenging to know how to structure and what to include in an effective speech. You don’t have to become a student writer before you write a speech as an head girl. You must first understand what a speech is in order to succeed.

A speech is a talk, whether formal or informal, given to an audience. To grab the attention of your audience and give your speech an elegant vibe, there are numerous elements of a speech that you should take into account. These ten tips that we have compiled should help you.

Additionally, to leave a lasting impression, introduce yourself, your cause, and your credentials in the introduction. Use examples to support your claims in the body content, and transitions to keep your speech moving. Then, final paragraph should be succinct and memorable.

Timing is essential, so prepare your speech and check that it stays inside the allotted time. Make sure your discourse should have a warm yet professional tone.

Use captivating tales and stories to draw in the audience. Make sure your delivery is strong and entertaining, and speak in plain, direct terms.

Making genuine eye contact will help you connect with the audience, so practice it. Practice in front of loved ones and friends to gain feedback and confidence.

Below is how to structure you can structure your head girl speech.

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Make sure your speech is organized in a way that engages your audience as the Head Girl of your school. You can make sure that your message is understood by setting the basis and developing credibility.

Create an engaging introduction at the outset to pique the listener’s interest in what you have to say. For a more conversational feel, use pronouns and contractions. However, you should also refrain from making any sweeping statements that could damage your reputation.

Additionally, be aware of how much time you are consuming. Nobody likes speeches that drag on interminably! Find inventive ways to convey oneself without being over the top to keep it brief, pleasant, and memorable.

2. Body Content 

Focusing on your body content comes next after you’ve nailed your introduction.

Here, you get to the meat of your argument and motivate your audience by seeming assured.

Keep things organized so that the audience can follow along; when necessary, utilize bullet points or numbered lists.

Additionally, remember to pause sometimes for emphasis and keep the discussion engaging by sharing anecdotes or stories as examples.

Attempt to incorporate thinking or contemplation as well, as this heightens tension while you wait for what will happen next.

Finally, keep in mind that it’s not just what you say, but also how you say it. Change up your tone depending on the point you’re trying to make, and don’t forget to show some emotion.

By doing all of these, you can make sure that those who heard your Girl’s speech leave feeling inspired and encouraged.

You can read this: What is Enrichment in School? (Full Explanation with FAQs)

3. Conclusion 

It’s time to conclude your speech and make a lasting impact when you get to the end.

Invite audience comments to assist you in making your point more impactful. This will allow the audience to interact with you more and not simply feel like they are listening.

Additionally, use straightforward language when recapping what was said during your speech to ensure that everyone is comprehending. For students to flourish as leaders, it is important to convey what has to be done moving ahead.

Never forget that it’s your job as Head Girl to keep your peers inspired and involved!

So get out there and make sure you finish strong by motivating everyone around you with confidence and passion as you work together to accomplish shared objectives.

What are the 10 Tips for a Head Girl’s Speech? 

We strongly advise you to read the rest of this post for a list of our top 10 tips for creating and delivering your head girl speech if you are having trouble writing it or are worried about giving it. 

It’s crucial to plan before writing a speech to achieve success. Many students will simply start composing their speeches right away. You can organize your speech and divide specific information into sections by making a plan. You’ll be able to stay organized as a result, which will make writing your speech much simpler.  

You should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion when organizing your speech. You should identify yourself and the key reasons why you want the head girl position in your introduction. 

The major body of your speech should then come next. The majority of your speech will be this. You might want to use subheadings to further segment your discourse within this.  

Discuss your motivations for wanting the position of head girl, as well as your qualifications for the position. For instance, you might talk about what you would add to your sixth form or school to improve it for students or what you believe needs to be changed and why this change is required.  

Additionally, your speech must end with a conclusion. This should be a concise explanation of why your peers should select you as their head girl and how.

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It is crucial to keep your audience in mind when making a speech. Age, gender, and school year group are a few factors you could take into account when defining your audience. The audience you are speaking to is crucial since it will affect the tone and vocabulary you use.  

When addressing kids in your year group at school or in the sixth form, you might decide to use humor and planer language. This will guarantee that your audience comprehends and enjoys your speech.  

You might decide to use more advanced language in a more formal format if your audience included both instructors and pupils in the sixth form, for example.

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It’s crucial to keep your tone in mind when writing and delivering your speech. You might choose to give your speech, among other things, a humorous, passionate, or serious tone. 

However, the tone you employ will convey a variety of emotions, such as happiness, humor, melancholy, or optimism. The tone you adopt might also be influenced by your audience. 

Many students may attempt to adopt a humorous tone to engage their audience, along with a passionate tone to underpin their goal to accomplish the role, to make their speech a head girl.  

It’s crucial to think carefully about your tone choice because it can provide the impression that your communication is polite.

Your tone comes across in both the written word and the spoken word when you give a speech. When you speak, your tone of voice and speech rate might affect how your words are understood.  

Additionally, if you maintain the same tone throughout your speech, your audience can find it boring. To change the tone of your voice and sound more enthusiastic about what you are talking about, utilize a comedic tone when appropriate.

4. Use Persuasive Language 

It’s crucial to use persuasion while writing a speech for the head girl. Make yourself stand out if you want to convince the audience to pick you for the part.  

To influence your audience, use strategies like rhetorical questions. Personal anecdotes can also be used to influence others. For instance, you might discuss a situation that inspired you to apply for the position of head girl. 

Additionally, you may ask your peers what they would want to see changed about your school or sixth form college , and then in your speech, talk about how you propose to alter it. Students will recognize this as a problem they are not satisfied with, and because you are voicing their views, they may decide to elect you as the head girl. 

Check this: Best Head Boy Speech: A Student’s Top 10 Tips

Some students may opt to memorize their speech in its entirety and deliver it verbatim to the audience. Many kids would probably find this a challenging exercise, even though it would show the pupils’ commitment. It is preferable to make an effort to recall important details from your speech.

You can demonstrate a level of commitment to your speech by keeping in mind certain important details. Additionally, you won’t just be reading your speech verbatim from a piece of paper, allowing you to look your audience in the eye. 

Making eye contact may make some students uncomfortable, but doing so will show that you are interested in the audience. Additionally, it means that others are more likely to listen to you and accept your argument.

Your audience might want to quiz you once you finish your speech. To feel more confident, it is helpful to have some prepared responses to possible queries.  

You might be asked to reiterate a comment you made or an issue you brought up. It could also be about what sets you apart from the other candidates or why you want to be head girl.  

Your audience will be able to see your enthusiasm for the head girl position as well as your dependability in the role by listening to you respond to queries. It will assist in keeping your audience interested and further demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position.

Also, check this: Top 15 Head Boy Ideas to Improve School: Ways We Can Improve Schools Today

7. Rehearse 

Practice makes perfect, as you may have heard. This is undoubtedly true of speeches. Your speech will be more confident and effective when you deliver it to your audience the more you practice and rehearse it. 

Rehearsing your speech in front of an audience, such as family or friends, is one way you could accomplish this. They could even be able to provide you with some advice on how to make your speech more effective.

This can help you feel more assured on the big day and give you a chance to get more comfortable with your speech. 

In front of a mirror, you may also practice speaking to yourself. It’s also helpful to practice your word pronunciation; if there’s a term in particular that you find difficult to say, it might be worthwhile to eliminate it from your speech.  

You will sound more fluent when you speak if you practice your pronunciation. The more you practice giving your speech, the more assured you’ll feel, which will make it sound more polished. 

8. Adopt Some Simple Healthy Habits 

Adopting healthy behaviors before giving your speech can improve how well you perform. 

You should try to consume whole grains, and fruit, like berries, or eggs the day before and the day of your speech. These foods can enhance memory and brain function. However, eat sparingly or skip the meal just before your speech because a full stomach can make you feel lethargic.  

Additionally, apples are a better choice right before your speech because they might support a clearer voice. You can also eat from foods in dorm room food ideas for colleges .

Additionally, you should refrain from consuming dairy products, coffee, and soft drinks right before you speak because these substances can impair your voice and pronunciation. 

When giving your speech, you should also bring a bottle of water with you to keep you hydrated and avoid your throat from becoming dry. 

Light activity before your speech, such as a quick walk or gentle jog, can improve your mood and cognitive functioning while also reducing anxiety. If you frequently have anxiety before speaking in front of an audience, you might find it helpful to practice basic breathing techniques. This will enable you to speak with confidence and calmness. 

Finally, getting a good night’s sleep the night before your speech will help you feel energized and happy the next morning. 

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Your physical presence can say a lot while you’re speaking to an audience. Your audience will be more likely to listen to and be interested in your speech if you appear professional and intelligent.  

First impressions are crucial, particularly when aspiring to a position like head girl. Therefore, if you present yourself well and dress formally, it will appear that you are taking your speech seriously.

This will show your audience how passionate you are about playing the head girl, as well as how capable and determined you are. 

Additionally, it’s critical to project a cheerful attitude. If your audience believes that you are a conscientious student and are playing the part seriously.

Our final piece of advice is to just go for it. Throughout your speech, do your best to talk slowly and clearly while maintaining eye contact with the audience.

If you are chosen to be head girl, this will demonstrate to your audience that you are interested in them and want to accommodate their interests. 

Be courteous to your audience, and smile most of all. Your body language and the way you show yourself to your audience are both parts of your look.

You want to demonstrate to others your best traits and your commitment to upholding their interests as head girl. 

Most crucial, have pleasure in speaking to your audience. This is an opportunity for you to hone your public speaking abilities and experience. Make sure you appreciate the event and take it positively.

Read also: Is English Language A-Level Hard? A-Level English Language Guide

Frequently Asked Questions 

The head boys and head girls are typically in charge of representing the school at events and giving speeches in front of large crowds. Additionally, they act as role models for students and may convey students’ suggestions to the administration of the school. They can be expected to guide other prefects in their responsibilities.

If chosen, I pledge to be a responsible, devoted, and aggressive leader who constantly prioritizes the needs of our school and its children. I think a head girl should be an inspiration to others, a link between the student body and the administration, and a role model. 

Here are some tips to help you write a successful speech: Begin with a strong introduction: Start with a warm welcome to everyone present and express gratitude for being given the opportunity to speak. You can also briefly mention the theme of the event or any achievements of the school that you are proud of.

My skills, my leadership skills, my friendly behavior, my frankness with all the students, my image in front of all the teachers, the ease with which I can put up and clarify my views, my interaction with teachers and there are much more qualities which you’ll see when I’ll be the head boy/girl.

Conclusion 

As a student leader, your speech should demonstrate your zeal and dedication to the cause. Your peers will remember what you said long after you have finished speaking, therefore they must find inspiration and significance in it.

Keep in mind these ten tips to ensure that your head girl’s speech is flawless. You can generate a powerful message that resonates with everyone in the room with proper planning and practice!

Imagine your audience as a garden, and each phrase as a seed that needs to be maintained to grow into something lovely. You aim to create an atmosphere where their concepts can grow and shine throughout the academic year.

References 

• acrosophy.co.uk  – Head Boy & Head Girl Speeches: A Student’s Top 10 Tips
• thinkstudent.co.uk – Head Boy & Head Girl Speeches: A Student’s Top 10 Tips
• Best Head Boy Speech: A Student’s Top 10 Tips
• Top 15 Head Boy Ideas to Improve School: Ways We Can Improve Schools Today
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Head Boy & Head Girl Speeches: A Student’s Top 10 Tips

So, you’ve been chosen to be the Head Boy or Head Girl of your school! Congratulations – it’s a huge honour. But now comes the tough part: crafting and delivering an inspiring speech that captures everyone’s attention.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our top 10 tips for creating and presenting memorable speeches. These expert tips will help you make sure your speech is unique and engaging enough to get students fired up about student leadership opportunities at your school.

With these simple pointers, you can craft a powerful address that leaves a lasting impact on all those who hear it. So let’s get started and turn your speech into something truly special!

• 1 Define Your Goals
• 2 Identify Your Audience
• 3 Brainstorm Ideas
• 4.1 Introduction
• 4.2 Body Content
• 4.3 Conclusion
• 5 Craft The Body Of Your Speech
• 6 Practice And Rehearse
• 7 Conclusion

Define Your Goals

As head boy and head girl, it is important to set goals that will allow us to pursue our passions and lead with integrity.

Take the example of John, a student leader in his final year at school who had two main objectives: to help create an inclusive environment for all students and to shine as a role model for younger generations.

To accomplish these ambitions, John embraced challenges, planned strategies, and worked diligently towards achieving success. He was unafraid to take risks; he knew that by doing so he could unlock new opportunities for himself and others.

Throughout this process, John remained true to himself; he did not let fear or negativity steer him away from his purpose. If obstacles arose during the journey, he would reflect on them and use what he learned going forward.

This kind of open-mindedness enabled him to grow into a more confident individual while helping those around him reach their highest potentials.

By having clear objectives in mind, embracing challenges along the way, and planning effective strategies accordingly – we too can strive towards becoming successful leaders within our community!

Identify Your Audience

When giving a speech as head boy or head girl, it is critical to identify your audience. Knowing who you are speaking to will help you create an effective message that resonates with the crowd.

Analyze the age group of those attending, their interests and passions, and any other relevant information related to the context of your speech.

Once you have identified your audience, use this knowledge to engage peers emotionally and connect with them on a personal level. If possible, tailor certain parts of your speech specifically for the crowd in front of you – such as references to specific events or stories they can relate to.

Remember that no matter how well prepared you may be, if your words don’t capture people’s attention or draw out their emotions, then all of your hard work won’t mean much when delivering the speech itself.

A great way to make sure that doesn’t happen is by engaging with fellow students before taking the stage so you know exactly what messages resonate best with them. Ultimately, knowing your audience inside-and-out will ensure everyone gets something positive from listening to your speech!

Brainstorm Ideas

As the head boy or girl of a school, it can be daunting to write and present an engaging speech that your peers will appreciate. But with a few simple tips, you’ll be able to craft a powerful speech that will leave your audience inspired.

Start by developing confidence in yourself – think about why you were chosen for this role and how you are uniquely suited to take on this challenge.

Then research topics related to student leadership or what matters most to the students at your school. Doing so will give you insight into the issues that matter most to those who will hear your words. This research is key in crafting a relevant and unique message tailored specifically for your audience.

Once you understand their wants and needs, begin writing down specific points that resonate with them and focus on using clear language when speaking out loud.

Incorporate stories from personal experiences as well as humorous anecdotes which provide interesting visuals for your listeners to remember long after they’ve left the auditorium.

With practice comes mastery and soon enough delivering an impactful speech won’t feel like such an overwhelming task!

Structure Your Speech

Introduce yourself, your cause and your credentials in the introduction to make a great impression.

In the body content, explain your points with examples and use transitions to keep your speech flowing.

The conclusion should be concise and memorable.

Timing is key, so practice your speech and make sure it is within the allocated time.

The tone of your speech should be professional yet friendly.

Eye contact will help you to connect with the audience, so practice making meaningful contact.

Engage the audience with interesting stories and anecdotes.

Use language that is clear and direct, and ensure your delivery is strong and engaging.

Visual aids can help to emphasize your points, so use them judiciously.

Practice your speech several times, and strive for brevity to keep your audience’s attention.

Humour can be powerful, but use it sparingly and with confidence.

Rehearse in front of family and friends to get feedback and to build your confidence.

Introduction

As the Head Boy or Girl of your school, it’s important to make sure that you structure your speech in a way that connects with your audience. By laying groundwork and building credibility, you can ensure that your message resonates.

To start off strong, create an introduction that will hook the listener into wanting to hear more about what you have to say. Use pronouns and contractions for a conversational feel, but also avoid making any grandiose claims as this may diminish your credibility.

Additionally, be mindful of how much time you are taking up – no one likes speeches that veer on forever! Make sure to keep it short, sweet and memorable by finding creative ways to express yourself without going over-the-top.

Body Content

Once you’ve got your introduction down, the next step is to focus on your body content.

This is where you deliver the bulk of your message and inspire peers with a confident delivery.

It’s important to stay organized so that the audience can follow along – use bullet points or numbered lists when appropriate.

Additionally, make sure to take pauses throughout for emphasis and keep things exciting by using stories or anecdotes as examples.

You should also try to include moments of reflection or contemplation as this helps build suspense in anticipation of what comes next.

Finally, remember that it’s not just about what you say but how you say it – vary up your tone depending on the point you’re making and be sure to inject some emotion into your speech!

Doing all these will help ensure that people walk away feeling inspired and motivated by the words they heard from their Head Boy/Girl.

When you reach the conclusion, it’s time to wrap up your speech and leave a lasting impression.

To help drive home your message, invite feedback from the audience – this will give them an opportunity to engage with you further and not just feel like they’re merely listening.

Additionally, use clear language when summarizing what was said throughout your speech so that everyone is on the same page in terms of understanding. This kind of clarity helps communicate what needs to be done moving forward in order for students to succeed as leaders.

As Head Boy/Girl, it’s important to always keep your peers engaged and motivated – never forget that!

So go out there and make sure you end on a high note by inspiring those around you with confidence and enthusiasm as you strive towards achieving common goals together.

Craft The Body Of Your Speech

As a student leader, crafting the body of your speech is essential to make it both informative and memorable. It’s important to ensure that you include relevant information while being conscious of time management. To help you in this endeavor, here are 10 tips for creating an engaging yet meaningful speech:

Invite feedback from peers and teachers regarding your content; it could provide valuable insight into the effectiveness of delivery.

Develop confidence by practicing your talk in front of friends or family before delivering it publicly. This will give you the opportunity to get comfortable with speaking in front of others and strengthen any weak areas in your presentation.

Use stories when possible – these humanize experiences and can add depth to abstract concepts.

Utilize humor appropriately as this helps to keep attention levels high during longer talks.

Keep language simple but powerful, avoiding complex words that may not be understood by everyone within the audience.

Your aim should always be to hold their interest throughout so they come away feeling inspired or motivated by what was said; use personal examples where appropriate as these often resonate with listeners more than general statements do.

Don’t forget to leave room for questions at the end if people need clarification on certain points or if they would like further details on something related to your topic. If delivered correctly, a head boy/head girl speech can have lasting impact and motivate others towards positive change!

Practice And Rehearse

The path to success doesn’t have a one-way street. It takes practice, dedication and determination to be an effective head boy or girl – it doesn’t happen overnight!

For example, if you want to give the perfect speech on election day, you must begin practicing and rehearsing your words well in advance. This is not only important for helping with memorization but also improves confidence when discussing ideas in front of others.

Rehearsing is especially critical when it comes to delivering speeches as it allows you to gauge audience reaction before actually speaking. It’s also beneficial to discuss potential topics with a mentor who can provide guidance throughout the process. Doing this will help ensure that your words are powerful enough to capture attention while accurately conveying your message.

So don’t forget: regular practice makes perfect! With hard work, persistence and proper mentorship, any aspiring head boy or girl has the ability to make their dreams of being elected come true.

The speech you deliver as a student leader should be a reflection of your passion and commitment to the cause. Your words will stay with your peers long after you have finished speaking, so it’s important that they are meaningful and inspiring.

To make sure you nail your head boy or head girl speech, remember these ten tips. With careful planning and practice, you can create an impactful message that resonates with everyone in the room!

Think of your audience as a garden – every word is like planting a seed, which needs to be nurtured if it’s going to blossom into something beautiful. Your goal is to cultivate an environment where their ideas flourish and shine throughout the entire school year.

You’ve got this!

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• School Guide

Head Boy & Head Girl Speeches: A Student’s Top 10 Tips

by William Christie · February 27, 2023

Being the school head boy or a girl is a big responsibility. You will need to perform various functions like organizing different events, representing your school, motivating the students, etc. Another responsibility that you may be doing is giving a speech to the students in order to motivate them. We will help you to know various things that you must consider while preparing for the speech. 

Quick Takeaways You must be able to plan different things. As you will be head of a school you will need to have good leadership skills in it.  Make sure that you have the ability to memorize the whole speech and are able to answer all the questions asked by the students. 

However, you must read till the end so that you do not forget any of the crucial information regarding the tips for head Boy and head girl. 

Table of Contents

Top 10 ideas for head boy or girl to consider while giving a speech

Following are the top 10 ideas, that you must consider while giving a speech as a head boy/girl –

1. Planning

Planning is the most important key to being successful in almost every field. The biggest mistake that most of the head boys or girls do is to start writing up the speech without planning for it. You must take your time and plan what you want to speak and what you want to add to your speech. Remember the speech you will be giving to the student will help them to motivate themselves . 

2. Start writing

When you are planning for your speech, you must make an outline for yourself so that you do not forget what things you are adding to the speech. Creating an outline helps you to involve the best things in the speech and neglect the things that are not needed in the speech.

Once you have planned and created a proper outline, start writing up your speech. Write it in a manner that attracts your audience . You must remember that you are not including any religious or other kinds of things that may hurt the sentiments of other kids.

3. Use a persuasive voice

You must know how to use a persuasive voice in your speech. It is important for you to add it as a head boy or a girl, you will need to persuade other students . You can use rhetorical questions or personal anecdotes to persuade other kids. Being a student, you must be aware of the problems students may be facing and accordingly, you can add those issues and tell the audience that you will be taking care of them. Having a persuasive voice in your speech will help them to get connected with you more easily.

4. Consider your audience

When you are creating the speech for yourself, you must consider the audience you are the target. You must make sure that you are aware of the student’s age, problems, etc. When you are aware of what audience you are giving a speech to, it will be easy for you to make a good speech for yourself. If your audience is the students of smaller classes, you might need to add up easy words so that they can easily understand what are you saying.

5. Taking care of the tone

Your speech is something that reflects a lot of expressions like joy, happiness, emotion, etc. Thus you must make sure that whatever topic you have chosen your speech is written in the flow matching it . For example, if you are speaking about something sad that happened in the past time of school, your speech must be in an emotional tone.

This is extremely important as it helps to get connected with the students more easily . Also when you are delivering the speech, you must emphasize some of the important words of the speech. 

6. Memorizing the speech

Be it an exam , debate, or speech it is extremely important for you to memorize various parts of the speech. When you memorize the important aspects of the speech, you can speak about them even if you do not remember the whole speech. Also when you have memorized the key points it is easy for you to get eye contact with them. 

7. Make eye contact frequently

This is one of the parts that most of the students do not do while giving a speech. You must try to be in eye contact with the students when you are delivering the speech. This is important as it will help to show up confidence in you and will help you to pursue the audience quite well. 

8. Rehearsing

When you have written your speech and are ready to give it to the students, you must rehearse before showing up to the students. It is important for you to practice again and again. As a head boy or girl, you will need to make sure that the students get the best speech. Rehearsing, again and again, will not only make your speech better but also will help to gain your confidence. Try to rehearse in front of the people who you trust.

9. Be ready for answering

As a head boy or a girl, it is your duty you answer all the queries of other students. When you are delivering the speech, there is a high chance that you will be cross-questioned by the students . Thus make sure that whatever you have included in your speech, you must be aware of it. If you have added a hypothetical situation, then you must make sure that you know well about both sides of it. When you answer the queries of other students, it helps to show how serious and passionate are you about your work.

10. Personal appearance

Being a head boy and a girl means that you must look presentable to the students when you are giving them the speech. This has a direct relation with involving the audience with yourself. When you are presentable most people would like to listen up to you. It not only helps to involve the audience but also shows that you are very serious about what you are talking about.

Being a head boy or a girl is not an easy job. You need to do a lot of tasks like organizing various events, representing the school at various places, etc. Thus you must be very confident, mature, and unbiased in nature. As a head, it is your duty to show the other students the right path, and to do so many times you will need to give a speech. You must prepare your speech in a manner that you are able to persuade the students and leave an impact on them.

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Funny Student Council Speech Ideas to Help Everyone Relate to You

Give them a speech they'll never forget. These ideas can help you get started with a funny, creative speech perfect for the student council role you want.

Michele is a writer who has been published both locally and internationally.

Learn about our Editorial Policy .

Megan's contributed both writing and research to a myriad of associations including academic publications, cultural institutions, non-fiction works, and experimental collaborative projects.

When you've got hundreds of kids staring you down, bright lights in your face, and the worst case of jitters the school stage's felt in weeks, take a breath. You can always rely on the funny student council speech you've worked so hard on crafting to perfection to get you through.

So many people can be naturally funny without trying too hard, so if you just relax and let your natural humor shine through in your student council speech, you'll do great. But if you've glued your pinky to the backspace trying to write yours, let us help you with these tips and ideas. 

Funny Student Council Speech Intros for Specific Roles 

When you're running for a student council position, all you've got is your words. So, you need to write a speech that students will remember long after you've graduated. After you've pitched around some  speech ideas for your student council role , it's time to put pen to paper (or fingers to the keys). And what's the best way to get an audience on your side? With laughter, of course. 

• Student Council Speech Ideas & Tips to Help You Win
• Tips for a Winning Student Council Speech for Treasurer
• Student Council Speech Ideas & Tips to Help You Win

Funny President Speech Intro Example 

The other candidates are going to come up here and tell you all the reasons why you should vote for them. I'm going to give you only one reason why you should vote for me. I've got the face of an angel.

Think about it, every time I ask for your concerns, give a speech, or land an interview in the school paper, you're going to have to look at my face. If you want to make this year and school politics Instagram-worthy, consider just whose face you want to stare at every day, mine or theirs.

Hilarious Vice President Speech Opener

My competitors have come up here and given you a laundry list of reasons why they should be elected VP, so I'll keep things short. I'm the brains behind this operation, and I'll marionette puppet our president better than Ratatouille and his little rat hands ever could. Whatever you want, I'll work those strings to make it happen. 

Silly Secretary Speech Intro

Your student council secretary really needs to love words. I love words so much that I'll only eat Alpha-Bits for breakfast. And what's more, I'll only eat the cereal letters I can use to make a word. So, say there's a "T," "Q," and "R" left in the bowl; I can't bring myself to swallow them.

I love pencils so much that I fail every automatically graded exam because I can't bring myself to damage the pencil by using it. I love writing so much that I've got a physical therapist on speed dial for my carpal tunnel. 

Comical Treasurer Speech Opener

If time is money, we're all going to be very rich after this speech. I'm not sure who's responsible for the exchange rate, but I hope it's a good one. As treasurer, I take money lingo just as seriously as I do sticking to our budget, and unlike Al Capone, I won't bust our operation with faulty books and tax fraud. 

• How to Make Life After High School Worth All the Hard Work

Funny Student Council Speech Intros That'll Win Everyone Over 

One of the biggest tips for writing a speech is to connect with your audience on their level. Your classmates will probably respond well to fun and humor, so give your speech a dose of comedy and break the ice with a funny intro.

• Mr. Smith, our beloved math teacher, told us all that we'd use trigonometry one day. I think he's an awesome teacher and I really want him to be right. So, my entire speech will cover things that are opposite and adjacent to the issues of our school, and that will lead me on a tangent.
• When you hear the words "Student Council," you probably envision a bunch of old, bald, white guys sitting around wearing suits with ties and talking about all the problems students cause in the world. Today, to help me get through my stage fright, I'm asking you to imagine me as one of those guys. Preferably, I hope you picture Will Farrel as Mattel's CEO. 
• Today, I'm here to taco 'bout something serious and I've been trying to figure out how to get your vote. You might think school rules and student privileges are nacho business, but you'd be wrong. I won't try to get jalapeño business or get saucy, and I certainly won't burrito around the bush. If you want this year to feel like a fiesta, vote for me for President. In queso you still haven't figured it out, I'm the best woman for the job.
• Everyone, let's take a moment of silence. [Pause]. Thank you for joining me in that moment of silence for the competition that I'm going to slaughter at the ballot box this week. 
• (Pointing phone at the crowd) [High School Name] STUDENT BODY! Let's make some noise for my lovely competition — they've worked so hard — and give yourselves a round of applause for appointing someone as awesome as me to your student council. (Puts phone away.) So I'd like to thank my mother who, without her, I wouldn't be here today, and my father of course, because there's part of him in here too...(dramatic pause). OH, oh sorry everybody, those were my acceptance speech cards. Let me just pull out the right ones here.

Creative Ways to Sprinkle Some Humor into Your Speech 

Speech starters aren't the only places you can toss in a little funny line or two. There are a ton of ways you can incorporate humor into your student council speech to break the ice, grab everyone's attention, or stand out from the crowd. These are just a few of them: 

Poke a Little Good-Natured Fun at a Staff Member

There's nothing teens find funnier than cleverly making fun of their teachers and principals. Just be sure to only poke fun at the ones you know will take the joke well, and keep it good-natured and lighthearted. 

End an Info-Heavy Section With a Witty One-Liner

As a teen, you know kids have short attention spans (curse you TikTok), so you'll start to lose them after a while. Keep their attention by ending any information-heavy section with a funny one-liner. It's hard to stay snoozing when you're laughing. 

It's totally ok to use jokes in a student council speech, but remember the goal of using jokes and humor is to connect with your peers, so make sure they're things that everyone will actually find funny and not anything that could be hurtful or upsetting.

Don't Rush the Delivery

If you've got a line you just know is going to make everyone laugh, don't pull the wind from its sails by speeding through it. People tend to talk faster the longer they're presenting, so make sure your joke lands by pulling back and easing into the delivery. 

Add Something Funny or Unexpected to a Serious Sentence

If you're listing some of the genuine things you bring to the table for your desired student council position, grab everyone's attention by throwing a funny one on at the end. 

Tell a True Funny Story From Your Childhood

Talking about something funny that really happened to you, especially if it's related to the student council role you want in some way, can be a creative and memorable way to stand out. For example, the lemonade stand disaster you had as a kid might just make you a shoo-in for treasurer. After all, you learned from your mistakes. 

End the Speech With a Joke or Funny Slogan 

You can also use a joke or a funny slogan at the end of your student council speech to help make it memorable. A funny, relatable slogan that helps people remember you could have a positive impact when it comes time to vote. 

• School Jokes for Kids of All Ages

Hook 'Em With Humor for a Winning Speech 

The secret for how to win a high school election isn't stuffing the ballot box or teen comedy movie-ing your way to making the competition drop out. Instead, it's about being memorable and connecting with your peers. A funny opening line or hilarious closing one will not only capture their attention, but it'll have them thinking about you when they step up to that ballot box. 

An Inspiring Head Girl Speech Before School Election

Public speaking is an art which can be improved over time with practice. So, if you are adamant to win the student council election this year, this head girl /head boy speech will help you. Good Luck!

Head Girl Speech | Head Boy Speech Before School Election

Respected principal, beloved teachers and my dear friends, a warm good morning to one and all.

I believe that leadership is an opportunity to bring change. With this vision, I aspire to be the leader of this school. They say that change can be brought about by setting an example before others and that is exactly what I am going to do if I have been elected for the post of school leader. When a leader is chosen from the ground level he can better understand the problems of people. The school has known me for the last 5 years. You can easily reach me and share your problems with me.

We will keep a feedback box where you can put your ideas, complaints and grievances. What is the point of whispering about the fan’s noise with your bench partner, the weird teaching style of your Economics teacher, or cursing your senior who bullies everyone? Come straight to me if you are afraid of facing others. My team and I will try to find a perfect solution to the problems.

Do you know what is the most difficult task in the world? It is the one that has never begun. Let’s stop procrastinating and plunge into action to make our school a better place. So my dear friends when you cast your vote remember me and my vision. I am sure I will win this election and soon come to you again with a thank you speech. Goodbye 

Funny Student Council Election Speech

Speech for Class Representative Thank You Speech after Winning School Election Thanks Giving Speech by Class Prefect सीआर के लिए हिंदी भाषण  How to Say Sorry to Girlfriend 

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How to Write a Student Council Speech

Last Updated: April 24, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 127 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 2,027,809 times.

Being a member of the student council can help you help your school. However, it takes hard work to get into the student council . You need to craft a good speech that gives your classmates incentives to vote for you.

Your Student Council Speech

Use a strong, attention-grabbing opening. Discuss your qualifications briefly, then move on. Focus your speech on your passion and present a blueprint to achieve your goals. Close with a strong summary and call to vote for you.

Sample Speeches

Writing the Introduction

• Do not merely start by saying, "My name is ___ and I'm running for student council." Your classmates will already know as much and this is not really a unique statement. There will be time to state the basic information after you've got the class's attention. [1] X Research source
• You can open with a question. Something like, "If there was one thing you could change about this school, what would it be?" Or a question that adds some humor , like, "I know what you're thinking. Why should I listen to this person?" and then proceed to lay out your credentials. Quotes on leadership, power, and guidance would also make good openings. However, make sure to double-check your sources and especially if you're finding quotes online. Many online quote databases, like Quote Garden or Brainy Quote, sometimes attribute quotes to the wrong sources. [2] X Research source
• If you're stuck, look up and read famous speeches. You can find many speeches from presidents, world leaders, civil rights activists, and others online. Pay attention to how they opened their speeches and ask yourself, "Was this interesting? Do I want to keep reading/listening? Why?" [3] X Research source

• State your name and grade in school. This may feel somewhat unnecessary if you go to a small school, but it's considered a formality. If you're missing this part of the speech, you may end up looking sloppy in comparison to other students. [5] X Research source
• State what you want. That is, what you're running for. Do you want to be the president , vice president , treasurer, secretary? Even if you think most students are aware of what position you're running for, make sure you state it here to remind them. [6] X Research source
• Try to keep this section brief as it's not as important as your qualifications and plans to improve the school . Even one sentence would suffice. For example, "My name is Ramona Hart, I'm in the 11th grade, and I'm running for treasurer of the student council."

• Any accomplishments relevant to the position warrant mentioning here. If you're running for secretary, for example, talk about your summer job filing papers in your uncle's law firm. If you're running for student council president, talk about your leadership experience being captain of the swim team. [7] X Research source
• While this section is important, try to keep it minimal. A couple of sentences laying out your qualifications is enough as the body of your speech is where you should spend the most time. For example, let's go back to the above example. From there, we could say, "I am currently enrolled in advanced placement algebra and I have been an honor roll student for three years. This knowledge of numbers and diligence qualifies me to have responsibility for finances for our student council." [8] X Research source

Writing the Body of the Speech

• You should list your ideas and then expand on them later in the body. It might take a bit of research to figure out what you want to change. Ask around the school, talking to students and teachers, and see where there's room for improvement. What are the concerns of the students? What are people happy with regarding the school? What would they like to see change? Asking these questions can help you get a sense of your audience and community.
• Remember, you should not make promises you cannot keep. Do not say anything just to get elected. While many students might want gum-chewing policies eliminated or for the lunch period to run twice as long, this is probably not necessary or possible. Try to focus on areas that seem important to keep your school running safely and efficiently. Concerns about things like bullying , academic standards, and extracurricular activities should be your concern over fun and games. [10] X Research source
• A good opening statement for your body would state the causes important to you and what you plan to do about them. For example, if you were running for president, you could say something like, "I understand we need to improve how we handle bullying, increase interest in extracurricular activities, and expand access to AP courses throughout the school. As your president, I would work to bring in speakers to talk about sensitivity in the classroom, increase advertising for basketball games and quiz bowl tournaments, and start a tutoring program to help students struggling with certain subjects." [11] X Research source

• Using the school library or computers, figure out the best means to tackle certain problems many schools face. How have other schools dealt with bullying? Poor test scores? Low interest in extracurricular activities? What can you reasonably do as a student council member to address these problems? [12] X Research source
• You do not have to have a point-by-point plan laid out, but a few sentences on some preliminary ideas can help you stand out from your peers. People are more inclined to vote for someone who's thought about how to solve problems in addition to identifying problems. [13] X Research source

Ending with a Strong Conclusion

• Do summarize, briefly, your qualifications but do not put the main focus on them. This is where you should sincerely state your passion. Students should not just vote for you because you'd do a good job but because you genuinely care about the school. State your passion for your community and how much you want to see other students succeed. Lots of students have high qualifications. You can set yourself apart by being a candidate who really cares. [16] X Research source

• Research what other student council speeches are like on video websites. This could help give you ideas.

Expert Q&A

• Only promise to do things that you really can do. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0
• Practice reading your speech a few times, as you'll likely be nervous before giving it. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0

• Even if you write a great speech, understand you may lose. Be prepared to lose graciously and sincerely congratulate the winning candidate. Thanks Helpful 104 Not Helpful 16
• Unlike in a governmental election, student council candidates should not attack each other, previous leaders, or other students. Otherwise, you could get into trouble and leave a bad impression on voters. Thanks Helpful 78 Not Helpful 16

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.studentcouncilpro.com/student-council-speeches.html
• ↑ http://www.write-out-loud.com/student-council-speeches.html
• ↑ Patrick Muñoz. Voice & Speech Coach. Expert Interview. 12 November 2019.

About This Article

To write a student council speech, start with an attention-grabbing statement such as a question or a powerful quote about leadership. Next, briefly explain who you are, what position you are running for, and why you are running. Then list any relevant qualifications, such as a summer job. In the body of the speech, discuss at least 3 ways to improve the school. For this section, make sure not to make any promises you can’t keep. Finally, end by briefly reiterating your main points and asking for the students’ vote. To learn more about how to support your ideas and research for your speech, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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The 5 Main Qualities of a Head Boy/Girl at School

In GCSE , General by Think Student Editor March 8, 2021 4 Comments

That time of year is upon us. The election of a new head student team.  Depending on which school you attend, the time is commencing where the old head student team steps down and offers up their places to a team of new individuals. The various methods of voting will differ between schools, however, ultimately, students and teachers alike will be searching for a strong leader who they feel will improve the school community. If you are at the age of applying to become a head boy or girl, then you may be wondering whether you are the ideal candidate for the role.   This article will provide you with guidance and information about the top five qualities that a head girl/boy should possess.   

Disclaimer:  this article is subjective as different schools will have different opinions on what qualities make a good candidate for the role of head girl/boy, however I hope this article will give you a rough guide!  

A good head girl/boy should be a strong leader with the ability to listen to not only those who shout the loudest, but every voice in the student body. Communication is clearly an important skill to have, in order to pass on ideas of the students for them to become a reality. As a head girl/boy, you will most likely be accompanied by deputies with whom you need to work alongside as a team , and therefore a good candidate should  understand the importance of being part of something bigger than themselves. Finally, optimism and respect come hand-in-hand  when it comes to being a role model to other students.   

The above briefly summarizes the main qualities of a head girl/boy but continue reading this article to help you understand what you can do if you are considering applying for the role, to make your application the best it can possibly be!  

Table of Contents

1. Leadership

This goes without saying, but any role to do with being the head of an organisation (which will be useful later on in life when applying for jobs) leans on the value of leadership. It can be defined as the  “art of motivating people to act to achieve a common goal ”. In terms of being a head girl/boy, this ‘common goal’ could be something as simple as making the school more environmentally friendly or raising money for a charity event. Regardless of the outcome, it is  important that as a head girl/boy, you develop the skill of leadership to allow not only yourself but the community around you to flourish.   

Good leadership doesn’t just mean listening to the individuals that have the most prominent voices in the student community, but also  taking the time to encourage and listen  to the quieter ones – this means that nobody is excluded, and any decisions made are agreed upon across the most amount of people, so this ensures that you are  representing the student body as best as you can .   

Whilst this may seem daunting to some applicants, do not let this hold you back!  Leadership is a skill that can only really be improved when put into practice  so if you think that your leadership skills are not strong, do not let this deter you from applying for the role. To help you develop this skill,  consider the previous leadership roles which you may have unknowingly filled , for example coaching at a sports club or in scouting.   

2. Communication

With this value being linked closely with leadership, communication is a vital quality needed for a leadership role such as head girl/boy. It means that you are  able to pass on  students’  ideas and essentially voice the student body  which is arguably one of the main roles of being a head student.  Whilst communicating frequently with students, you also need to be able to communicate well with members of staff and your fellow deputies to ensure that everyone is able to contribute to a specific idea in order to make it the best it can be. Being a head girl/boy may also mean that you need to speak during whole school assemblies and therefore it is important that  you are able to connect and relate with the audience  that you are presenting to,  in order to make it a more interactive experience for all.   

Communication doesn’t necessarily mean talking all the time; it can involve reaching out to those who don’t always speak up – the more students that you can empathise with, the better leader you will be – it means that all voices are heard and appreciated . Good communication can also be achieved through media including a school magazine or school news, or even non-verbally by being open and friendly to approach.   

This means that the students will put greater trust in you and are therefore more likely to feel comfortable to raise issues directly to you,  which makes the communication process run a lot more smoothly.  Good communication means that you can easily place yourself in other people’s shoes and vice versa, which makes general understanding a lot more free-flowing and allows genuine assurance between students.   

Similarly, to leadership,  communication is a quality that gets better the more it is used , however it occurs more naturally compared with leadership as it is something that we inevitably do every day. If you previously were part of a club or society where you were in charge of organising an event, that would have required a lot of different communication skills, you won’t be a stranger to this skill. If you haven’t participated in any of the latter, don’t stress yourself- you can easily volunteer to be part of a social event or club where communication skills can be improved.   

3. Teamwork 

Typically, the selection of a head girl/boy is accompanied by the selection of two deputies whom the head student works closely alongside. Therefore, it is evident that teamwork certainly cannot be dismissed as an unimportant quality when it comes to the application process.   It allows better relationships to be formed between the team member s   and thus enab les  the  ‘working environment’ to be more positive. Regardless of what career you pursue, teamwork will be inevitable and therefore practicing good teamwork early on will not only be beneficial to you as a head girl/boy, but also when you get a job and are introduced to the workplace.  

Teamwork can be defined as  “the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal”  – in the context of the student community, the ‘collaborative effort’ comes with good communication to encourage students to participate and contribute as a team to better an aspect of school life. With regards to the ‘common goal’ described above, that is essentially the well-formulated idea that may have started off as just a thought in the mind of one of the students in the community. It is through good leadership and communication that a student should be able to speak up, and finally through good teamwork and collaboration between students and the head student team, that their idea is finalized into an action which is then undertaken to improve the school.  

Teamwork can be demonstrated in many different ways, through extracurriculars for example. If you are part of a sports club then you regularly display teamwork when competing, or if you are part of an orchestra or choir then working as a team to practice involves improving your teamwork.   

4. Optimism

As you progress up through the school, the initial optimism displayed during year seven is likely to have ‘slightly’ faded. However, it is an important quality when it comes to taking up a leadership role such as head girl/boy. Optimism may seem less significant than the other qualities mentioned in this article, however it is very important because it establishes a positive atmosphere and encourages participation . It essentially goes hand-in-hand with leadership, communication and teamwork because they all require a source of motivation and meaning, and therefore being optimistic about different ideas ensures that everyone feels valued. This means more progress can be made to improve the school community.   

Optimism means that you are  more likely to be resilient and take a reflective approach on failures or setbacks , which is a very important quality for a leader as it means that the whole team is inspired to persevere, which is a core value in any learning environment.   

Respect is something we may not consider when it comes to a role as highly regarded as head girl/boy however it is very crucial as we progress higher and move into the workplace. Respect not only towards staff members but also fellow students  ensure that there is a common understanding and that you are open to suggestions which helps to develop a close-knit student body.    

Respect shown towards the deputy team allows a better environment for teamwork and therefore increased productivity.  As a head girl/boy, as outlined previously,  you have a duty to ensure that every student  feels  represented in the decision that the school makes  and therefore respect towards each and every student, including their  ideas as well as their beliefs makes the student community the most inclusive that it can be.   

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50 Speech Opening Lines (& How to Create Your Own) l The Ultimate Guide

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Ask a million people how to start a speech with a bang and you will get a million different answers.

While some prefer to start their speech with the good old charm of a quote, others prefer to put on their hats of creativity to discover new ways to capture the attention of their audience.

So, yes! There’s not just one best way to start your speech with a bang but you have a whole spectrum of ways- each unique on its own!

Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and relax as I highlight 50 Powerful Speech Opening Lines from some of the World’s Most Influential Speeches along with guidance on how to use each of these techniques in your next speech/presentation.

Alright, let’s dive in!

How to Start your Speech/Presentation?

The attention span of your audience is at its peak at the very beginning of your speech. Shouldn’t you use this to your advantage? Of course, yes!

A strong opening remark captures the attention of your audience, sets the theme of your speech, and most importantly, instills curiosity for the remainder of your speech in the minds of your audience.

Before we analyze each of these speech opening lines, let me provide you with a quick list of techniques (all of which we are going to discuss in great depth!) for you to start your speech/presentation:

• 1. Don't just "Say!" Sing A Song

2. Uniqueness of An Unpopular Opinion

3. the power of a prop, 4. quest of a question, 5. hint of humor, 6. share a story, 7. surprise, surprise, surprise, 8. foster interest with facts.

• 9. Let's Visualize with "Visuals"

10. Capture Interest with your Clothes

11. activity for the audience, 12. element of fear, 13. invite them into your imagination, 14. quintessential quality of a quote, 100 best speech opening lines (the ultimate resource), 1. don’t just “say” sing a song.

Now, you must be thinking that I’m crazy to even suggest this but hear me out.

Doing something entirely different on stage just makes you stand out from the usual crowd. Because let’s admit it, we expect the speaker to simply start talking and when the speaker does something different, it surprises us and makes us intrigued for the remainder of the talk.

Having said that, singing is any day a safer bet since we all love to swing by the music.

But, if you are not at all confident about your singing skills, don’t go for it! Instead, you can try channeling the power of poetry, something very similar to singing but still light on your vocal cords. Don’t be confused! We’ve written an entire article on Getting Your ‘Wordsworth’: Poetry in Public Speaking , just for you! Do check it out.

How to Use A Song as your Speech Opening?

Step 1: Pick a relevant yet famous song related to the theme of your speech/presentation

Step 2: Choose how you wish to use the song to present your point. Do you wish to agree with the lyrics? Or disagree with the lyrics?

Step 3: Pick a few lines (not more than 2-3 lines) that suits your theme the best

Step 4: Craft a statement to explain the connection of the song with the topic of your speech/presentation

Step 5: What are you waiting for? Go ahead, warm up your vocal cords, and start singing

Examples of Speeches that Used Songs as Speech Openings

1. it is okay not to have a plan by mithila palkar.

(Sings the Song) “Some of you must have seen the video of this song online, and I’ll tell you the story of how I made it.” Mithila Palkar

Budding Indian Actress and Singer, Mithila Palkar started her TED Talk by singing a Marathi Song, a song that went viral on the internet and made her famous.

Instead of simply talking about how she marked the transition from a viral singing star to a renowned actress, she made her audience live her journey by singing the exact same song.

Two things happened here:

• Most of the audience members were able to recognize the song, which in turn, established her credibility as a speaker
• The song hooked the audience from the very beginning of her talk

No matter how much we deny it, humans are judgemental beings!

We have expectations for every single thing on this planet and when someone challenges these expectations, we’re left shocked.

And as a result, they’ve all our attention. That is exactly my mantra here, “Shock the audience to get their attention!”

How to Use An Unpopular Opinion as your Speech Opening?

Step 1 : Ask yourself, “Who is my audience?” Look for the basic information on their average age, level of education, pre-conceived notions, and cultural background. Still confusing, right? The Importance of Knowing Your Audience When Delivering a Speech is an article that carries the step-by-step guide, just for you.

Step 2 : Based upon this audience analysis, figure out their set expectation regarding the topic you are about to deliver your speech on.

Step 3 : Shred that expectation by challenging that set expectation in your opening remark. Remember not to be offensive and play by the rule of your moral compass

Examples of Speeches that Used Unpopular Opinions As Opening Remarks

1. grit: the power of passion and perseverance by angela lee duckworth.

“ When I was 27 years old, I left a very demanding job in management consulting for a job that was even more demanding: teaching “ Angela Lee Duckworth

When using this strategy in your speech, it’s critical that you do your research so that you can come up with an unpopular viewpoint on the subject.

Present that unpopular viewpoint as your introductory words, and then gradually (it must be a progressive process) lead your audience to the realization, which is your speech’s main goal. Just like this speaker did!

Visuals overpower our auditory senses! Why not use it to the best of our advantage?

As our immediate reflex, we first see and then, listen. Bringing a unique prop/placard onto the stage would intrigue the audience even before you “actually” start speaking.

Without any further delay, let’s discuss the steps to use props/placards the right way.

How to Use A Prop/Placard as your Opening Remark?

Step 1: Prepare a list of props/placards that resonate the best with the theme of your speech/presentation. Don’t just bring anything on the stage!

Step 2: From this list, remove the generic options. For instance, if you are delivering a speech on environmental conservation, bringing a plastic bag on stage is too generic and won’t instill curiosity in the audience’s minds

Step 3: Now, out of all the relevant props/placards, which one do you think is the most convenient and affordable to bring on the stage? And, you have your answer!

Step 4: Once you have decided on the prop, craft a statement to establish the connection between the prop and the theme of your speech

Examples of Speeches that Used Props As Opening Remarks

1. why i live a zero waste life by lauren singer.

(brings a jar filled with waste and speaks) “This is all of the trash that I’ve produced in the past 3 years!” Lauren Singer

When you witness the speaker, Lauren, showcasing a jar filled with all of the trash that she has produced in the past three years, you can’t help wonder, “Is this for real?”

Because even the packaging of all the junk food items that we consume every week can easily overflood this jar.

Taking advantage of this embedded curiosity, Lauren structured the rest of her talk talking about all of the steps that she takes to lead a zero-waste life.

2. Plus-size? More Like My Size By Ashley Graham

(stands in front of a mirror and speaks) “You are bold, you are brilliant and you are beautiful. There is no other woman like you. You are capable…” Ashley Graham

Breaking the norms of a traditional speech, Ashley Graham, instead of staring at the audience, stares at a mirror and speaks a few lines on self-affirmation.

Let’s admit it, most of us are critical of our own bodies, and standing in front of a mirror, we tend to focus upon all the possible flaws.

To set an example of positive self-affirmation, Ashley Graham takes upon herself to set an example with the help of a live exercise.

3. 25 Chemistry Experiments in 15 Minutes By Andrew Szydlo

*does chemistry experiments* Andrew Szydlo

Watch this TED Talk and I’m sure you’ll find all the presence, of all those chemical equipment on stage, fascinating!

When the audience witnesses the efforts you are taking to deliver your talk, they are impressed and trust me, you are halfway there at capturing the attention of your audience.

Now, of course, it doesn’t mean that you put all your heart and soul into getting that perfect prop on stage.

If it’s not feasible, don’t! But if you can, that’s a great way to win your audience!

4. I See Something By Dananjaya Hettiarachchi

*smells flower* Dananjaya Hettiarachchi

In the previous example, we saw how bringing a grand prop captures the attention of our audience.

But the power of a prop goes WAY beyond this!

When a simple prop is connected with a meaningful yet unique message, the impact manifolds.

In this TED Talk, the speaker uses a rose to explain how each individual is unique in terms of his personality. A powerful message is delivered with the use of a simple prop.

A tried and tested trick that psychologists swear by to awaken the distracted minds is to “shoot a question”.

You could do that too in your next speech/presentation.

How to Use A Question As An Opening Remark?

Step 1: Think of all the questions that can help you to set the theme of your speech

Step 2: Make a point to not include close-ended questions and questions that are simply TOO GENERIC

Step 3: The last element that your question must include is the element of curiosity. The purpose is to make the audience curious enough to listen to your entire speech looking for answers to that question. But while you are at it, make sure you don’t overpromise and your speech does have the answers to that question.

Examples of Speeches that used Questions as Opening Remarks

1. every argument against veganism by ed winters.

“So, when I say the word ‘Vegan’ to you, what do you think of?” Ed Winters

Just by hearing this question, our first thought is to run all the possible definitions of veganism and the audience of this speech did the same.

This question is very clever and I’ll tell you why. So, every time a definition would come into the mind of any audience member, the speaker would be presenting his arguments against veganism forcing the audience to align their thoughts with his thought process.

Without any possible digression, the speaker Ed Winters presents his thoughts on Veganism in a convincing manner with the help of the rhetoric of questions.

Now, this type of question sends the audience on a possible quest for answers but that’s not the only purpose that this technique serves. Next in order, let’s look at how questions set the theme of a speech.

2. Why Do We Ask Questions? By Michael “Vsauce” Stevens

“What is the best type of cheese to use to catch a bear?” Michael “Vsauce” Stevens

In this TED Talk, the speaker uses this technique as a rhetorical question and answers this question with the help of a cheese pun.

Moving ahead, he goes on unearthing the science behind asking questions. So, it only made sense for him to begin his speech with a question too to set the overall vibe and theme of the topic.

3. Marriage Material By Nina Donovan

“So from a glance, do I look like marriage material?” Nina Donovan

In this TED Talk, we shall discover the strength of an interrogative remark in generating curiosity regarding the theme of your speech.

Since time immemorial, society has been setting “so-called” norms to determine if an individual is a potential marriage material (mostly, in the case of women).

To fit under this category of “marriage material”, one has to behave as per the so-called expectations of the society, and anything that defies the norm fails to fit in.

With the help of her powerful voice, the speaker here challenges the notion of this concept of “Marriage Material” and highlights the importance of individuality.

And by asking if the audience perceives her as marriage material, she surprises the audience while cultivating a sense of curiosity in them.

4. After watching this, your brain will not be the same By Lara Boyd

“So how do we learn? And why do some of us learn things more easily than others?” Lara Boyd

Admit it or not- we’ve always wondered why some people learn things better than us. What exactly is their secret?

And when you throw this question at the audience, they become intrigued to know this very secret with the help of your talk.

Curiosity is what makes us stick to the remainder of any talk. So, it’s high time we channelize it!

5. The Value of Asking Questions By Karen Maeyens

“Do you know the people that are asked the most questions? Have A Guess!” Karen Maeyens

An open-ended thought-provoking question like this forces the audience to activate their minds in the search for answers.

As they become more active, they listen better and focuses better on what you have to offer.

When Karen asked her audience who are the people that are asked the most questions, different minds pondered different answers and when she herself answered the question, those who thought of different answers were intrigued to listen to her justification and as a result of this, they stuck by!

6. Two Easily Remembered Questions that Silence Negative Thoughts By Anthony Metivier

“How would you like to completely silence your mind?” Anthony Metivier

We, humans, have restless minds- always pondering over something or the other.

So, what’s likely to happen when someone asks us if we would like to silence our minds? Ironically, we’ll be restless to know the answer. That’s what the speaker did through his TED Talk.

The next time you are giving a speech, you can consider opening it with a question that would result in a similar effect of restlessness in the minds of the audience.

For this to truly happen, make sure that your question is not generic. Otherwise, all your efforts will be in vain.

Ain’t we tired of listening to the phrase, “Laughter is the best medicine”?

I’m sure we all are but the reason why it’s still so prevalent is because of its universality.

Of course, laughter is the best medicine to an opening remark too. It makes your audience laugh and who doesn’t love a good laugh? We all do!

Humor puts the minds at ease and makes you sound more human, because of which, the audience perceives you as a credible speaker.

How to Use Humor In An Opening Remark?

Step 1: Know your audience well. Your joke must resonate with them so as to make the desired impact. For instance, if you are addressing a school crowd and you make a joke about workplace communication mistakes. It won’t make the audience chuckle, would it?

Step 2: Puns? Self-deprecating humor? Or Funny Anecdotes? Identify the types of humor and figure out which one suits your personality in the best way. If you are not sure what types of humor are there and wish to seek a step-by-step guide on including humor in your presentation, make sure you read A Guide To Using Humor In Your Speech . Remember to choose the type of humor in alignment with your personality otherwise, it will look forced and won’t result in the impact you desired

Step 3: Step out and do a pilot survey! Try out the opener on a few folks who are similar to your target audience. Examine their reaction and, if required, adjust the joke

Step 4: Keep in mind that once you begin your speech with a pinch of humor, your audience will be expecting a few moments of laughter throughout the rest of your speech too. So, make sure you save 2-3 jokes (not more than that) for the remainder of your speech to meet those expectations

Examples of Speeches that used Humor in Opening Remarks

1. thoughts on humanity, fame and love by shah rukh khan.

“I’m a movie star. I’m 51 years of age. And I don’t use Botox as of yet.” Shah Rukh Khan

This TED Talk right here is the perfect case in point for you to witness all the four steps to humor (as discussed in the previous section) in action.

Known for his great performance in doing justice to a number of family roles in Bollywood films, the actor Shah Rukh Khan, in his TED Talk used the power of humor to make himself sound more human to align his talk with his perceived personality.

A humorous take on the drug, Botox, not only relates to the speaker’s professional credibility but also established the relatability quotient.

2. Ellen DeGeneres’ 86th Oscars Opening

“It’s been a tough couple of days for us. It has been raining. We’re fine. Thank you for your prayers.” Ellen DeGeneres

Two lessons on humor can be perfectly drawn from this talk:

• Make sure you include humor when the event calls for it in its truest sense.

Since Ellen DeGeneres was hosting the Oscars Opening Ceremony, nobody expected her to be all serious in terms of her talk. The audience is expecting a more relaxed and chill vibe from the speaker.

So, starting her talk with a piece of humor not only sounded like a safer bet but also the most effective one.

• Humor must align with the personality of the orator

What’s the thought that comes to your mind when you listen to the name, “Ellen DeGeneres”? I’m sure for most of us, it’s someone who’s great at presenting her opinions in a convincing manner with the help of comedy.

And that’s what you expect from her personality: Humor!

3. How Indian Parents Make You Tougher By Hasan Minhaj

“Do you know when brown kids get slapped? Every brown birthday party.” Hasan Minhaj

The element of surprise won’t work if your audience is familiar with what you are about to tell them.

So, make sure that you are addressing the right element of surprise to the right audience to make them chuckle. And Hasan Minhaj did it absolutely right!

In this TED Talk, Hasan Minhaj told a piece of surprising cultural information about Indian teens to the American Audience and not the Indian Audience (because they will be familiar with it and it won’t be a shock).

4. The Clues to A Great Story By Andrew Stanton

“A tourist is backpacking through the highlands of Scotland, and he stops at a pub to get a drink. And the only people in there is a bartender and an old man nursing a beer. And he orders a pint, and they sit in silence for a while. And suddenly, the old man turns to him and goes, “You see this bar? I built this bar with my bare hands from the finest wood in the county, gave it more care and love than my own child. But do they call me McGregor the Bar Builder? No.” Points out the window. “You see that stone wall out there? I built that stone wall with my bare hands. Found every stone, placed them just so through the rain and the cold. But do they call me McGregor the Stone Wall Builder? No” Points out the other window. “You see that pier on the lake out there? I built that pier with my bare hands, drove the pilings against the tide of the sand, plank by plank. But do they call me McGregor the pier builder? No. But you fuck one goat…” Andrew Stanton

When humor is combined with effective storytelling, a great laugh is expected from the intrigued minds sitting in the audience.

Remember how we used to tell small anecdotes as kids while telling any joke? That’s what needs to be done here.

Build up the curiosity with the help of a story and end that story by bringing in an element of surprise to make your audience chuckle. Unexpected humor is always welcome!

We’ve all grown up listening to bedtime stories.

As we approached our teenage years and adulthood, we switched to narrating anecdotes from our lives to our friends, family, and colleagues.

In a nutshell, it’s the stories that connect us and will continue to serve this very purpose.

Hence, it’s only fair for us to channel this magic of storytelling into our public speaking events as well.

How to Narrate A Story in An Opening Remark?

Step 1: Pick a story from your life or narrate something that happened to someone you know or simply form a gripping story. Whatever it might be, just make sure you are not exaggerating to come off as a relatable speaker. Most importantly, the story you choose has to be related to the theme of your speech

Step 2: Now that you have the story in mind, pick a narrative to design the structure of your story. Wait, don’t know what storytelling narrative structures are? Read 9 Storytelling Approaches For Your Next Speech or Presentation to know different ways to effectively narrate a story

Step 3: Use simple language while writing your story and be descriptive enough to help them imagine. Keep in mind that your audience should relate and it’s possible only when they can understand your story in its truest sense

Examples of Speeches that used Stories As Opening Remarks

1. life begins at the end of your comfort zone by yubing zhang.

“It’s a cold and foggy winter morning and I’m standing on the world’s tallest bungee platform. The platform I’m standing on is so tiny that I’ve to stand on my toes and balance myself against the wind…” Yubing Zhang

While highlighting how stepping out of one’s comfort zone is crucial, the speaker narrates a personal anecdote of her bungee-jumping experience.

To form a connection with the overall theme, she goes on to narrate how one bungee cord leap taught her the biggest lesson of her life.

Through the remainder of her talk, she then focuses upon sharing her lessons and guidance on how one can step out of his/her comfort zone to facilitate personal growth.

2. How to Figure Out What You Really Want By Ashley Stahl

“It was 2:45 pm on a rainy friday in Los Angeles. My dad was just brewing a cup of coffee in the kitchen when he answered a call from an unknown number…” Ashley Stahl

While the previous example on storytelling taught us to build a connection with the overall theme of our speech, this TED Talk by Ashley Stahl teaches the significance of body language and voice modulation in effective storytelling.

Observe how she narrates this story with effective pauses and uses inflection to create a sense of drama and suspense.

That’s something we all should keep in consideration while narrating any story.

Storytelling is only effective when conveyed properly with the help of facial expressions, body language, and vocal tonality. This is all done to appeal to the sentiments of the audience because eventually, it is what will make our talk all the more persuasive.

3. How “SHE” became an IAS Officer By Surabhi Gautam

“My story starts from a small, sleepy village of Madhya Pradesh with a population of barely a thousand people…” Surabhi Gautam

You don’t necessarily have to focus all your energy on writing your story with a proper build-up.

If you are using a story to build your credibility as a speaker as well as intrigue your audience, one simple way could be to just begin your speech with something as simple as, “My story starts from…”

Just like this speaker did!

Nothing fancy, nothing over the board but still manages to captivates the interest of the audience because of the following reasons:

• She communicates in the language of people by using simple words
• Starting with something like, “My story starts from…” sent an indication that she’s about to narrate the story of her life and as a matter of fact, we all are intrigued naturally to listen to different people’s life stories

4. Speaking Up Without Freaking Out By Matt Abrahams

“Panic. Embarassed. Exposed. No, that’s not how I’m feeling right now. Those are the feelings I had when I was a fourteen year old boy…” Matt Abrahams

Let’s be honest for a moment- we all have been through the feeling of “Panic, Embarrassed, Exposed” (just how Matt puts it) when asked to speak on stage.

By narrating a story that most of the audience members can relate to, Matt won the hearts of a majority of his audience members and established his credibility as a speaker.

5. The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything By Josh Kaufman

“Two years ago my life changed forever. My wife and I welcomed our daughter Lela in the world…” Josh Kaufman

“This has been the turning point of my life”

How do you feel when someone says something like this to you? Intrigued to know more?

This is the power that the speaker used here. He narrated a story of how being a parent changed his life and eventually, relates this experience to the topic of his speech, which to be honest, is fascinating to witness!

6. The Happy Secret to Better Work By Shawn Achor

“When I was seven years old and my sister was just five years old, we were playing on top of a bunk bed. I was two years older than my sister at the time — I mean, I’m two years older than her now — but at the time it meant she had to do everything that I wanted to do, and I wanted to play war. So we were up on top of our bunk beds. And on one side of the bunk bed, I had put out all of my G.I. Joe soldiers and weaponry. And on the other side were all my sister’s My Little Ponies ready for a cavalry charge. There are differing accounts of what actually happened that afternoon, but since my sister is not here with us today, let me tell you the true story –“ Shawn Achor

A descriptive story narrated using stylistic language has the strength to move the audience and immerse them into a fictional world.

In terms of storytelling, this technique is by far the most effective yet simplest way.

It’s commonly used while giving out persuasive speeches as it helps the speaker to align the audience’s thoughts with the speaker’s point of view. That’s what Shawn did through the help of his childhood story.

Of course, we all love surprises. Who doesn’t, right?

So, here’s a crazy idea! Why not surprise your audience with your opening remark?

Here’s how you can do so.

How to Surprise your Audience through your Opening Remark?

Option 1: Go up on that stage, say something totally unexpected and blow the minds! Now, your job doesn’t end here. Once you are done speaking your opening remark, provide your audience as to why you said what you said and what more are you going to offer through the rest of your content. Look at the first example in the next section to see its application.

Option 2: Another thing that you can do is to tell your audience something completely unknown related to the topic of your speech. Something that would make them go like, “Wait, what?” You can either present a shocking piece of information, an unknown taboo of that culture, or even a shocking habit of that cultural population.

Option 3: Tell something unknown not about the culture you are talking about but about yourself. We as humans are always attracted to gossip about other people’s lives. Of course, the audience would be interested in knowing something shocking about your life. But through the content of your speech, do remember to build that connection with your speech.

Examples of Speeches that Surprises its Audience through its Opening Remarks

1. how to start a speech by simon lancaster.

“Who wants to get high? Yeah, you up for some? Should we really get this party started?” Simon Lancaster

Who comes up on stage and asks the audience, “Who wants to get high?”

It’s purely unexpected and shocking!

But in this TED Talk, as the speaker focuses upon highlighting the steps to crafting a strong opening remark (just like we are discussing at this moment), he took it upon himself to use this very element of surprise to capture the audience’s attention.

2. Why I Don’t Use A Smart Phone By Ann Makosinski

“The last time I used a flip phone was 3 hours and 24 minutes ago.” Ann Makosinski

Now, after listening to her opening remark, do you want to know why is she still using a flip phone in the 21st Century? (At least, I do)

And that is the strength of a strong opening remark.

After generating this needed curiosity in the minds of her audience, the speaker focused the remainder of her talk telling these reasons to the audience, one by one.

So, yes! We can safely say that starting our speech with an unpopular opinion is an elegant yet simple way to kick-start our speech.

3. How to Control Emotion and Influence Behavior By Dawn Goldworm

“I can control your emotions and influence your behaviour without showing you anything, without touching you and without saying a word to you.” Dawn Goldworm

Hearing this opening remark is not just shocking but scary too!

I’m sure, just like me, you wish to unearth this secret to control and influence behavior so that you can control minds too.

It’s natural for you to listen to the remainder of the talk for this sole reason.

This way, capturing the attention of her audience was made easy for the speaker, Dawn Goldworm.

4. Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable By Luvvie Ajayi Jones

“I’m a professional troublemaker!” Luvvie Ajayi Jones

Listening to this opening remark, “what is your reaction?”

Are you thinking how exactly is she a troublemaker just like me? If yes, then the speaker has successfully inculcated this curiosity in us.

But what we all are also wondering is what does that have to do with the theme and the speaker does establish this connection in her follow-up statement right after her opening remark.

So, make sure the next time you are out there presenting a shocking remark, do follow it up with context, always.

5. How to Spot A Liar By Pamela Meyer

“Okay now, I don’t want to alarm anybody in this room, but it’s just come to my attention that the person to your right is a liar. Also, the person to your left is a liar.” Pamela Meyer

While delivering a TED Talk on “How to Spot A Liar”, Pamela begins by spotting a few liars from the audience itself making everyone think, “How did she do that?”

And naturally, with minimum efforts, she lured her audience in to listen to her entire talk as she unfolds different ways in which we all can spot a liar.

6. The Art of Being Yourself By Caroline McHugh

“So, the chances are you have looked in at least one mirror today. You’ve had a shave or you combed your hair or maybe you checked your teeth for spinach after lunch, but what you didn’t know is the face that you’re looking at is not the face that everyone sees.” Caroline McHugh

A shocking way to surprise your audience is to simply begin with some obvious observations and follow them up with a unique observation about the very same things- leaving them surprised by catching them completely off-guard.

To get better at this technique, draw some inspiration from this TED Talk by Caroline McHugh as she does a similar thing.

It is so far the easiest way to start your speech with a bang!

Present a fact to elicit the shock value in the minds- be it positive or negative.

But incorporating the right fact in the right way is an art in itself. Let’s dive right into it!

How to Use Facts as your Opening Remark?

First things first, make sure that your fact is not too generic. It has to be shocking in one way or the other to grip the audience’s attention.

Step 1: Present the fact using simple language. Avoid using technical terms here.

Step 2: Take a pause, give the audience a moment to ponder over it (But don’t wait for TOO LONG!). Next, present an extension of that fact, if you have any, or simply break down the fact by telling the audience how does this fact affects them. Give them the reasons.

Examples of Speeches that used Facts as its Opening Remarks

1. can we not let our breakups break us by tasha jackson.

“I want you all to know that you are loved because today we can be surrounded by so many people but feel profoundly alone. 68% of Gen Z feels like nobody knows them. An average American has only one close friend and one in four feels like no one.” Tasha Jackson

While presenting facts, it’s important that we go from covering a larger umbrella to the smaller one

This way, the audience knows the exact way in which they are getting affected by this piece of information.

That’s exactly how the speaker, Tasha, rolled her TED Talk.

Once the audience was aware of the intensity of how breakups are affecting each one of them, they were all the more intrigued to know how they can not let breakups affect them to such a drastic extent.

It is this incentive that made the listeners pay attention to her talk as she unfolded all the solutions to this, one by one.

2. How to Increase Love in Your Relationship By Jonathan Ljungqvist

“In Sweden, where I come from, we have 40 thousand marriages a year and each year we have around 20 thousand divorces.” Jonathan Ljungqvist

Create the illusion of an audience poll with your piece of fact, just like this speaker did in his TED Talk.

After highlighting the drastic extent of failed marriages in Sweden, Jonathan took a pause to let that information sink in and in his follow-up statement, he started shooting a few questions at the audience.

After waiting for a few seconds (2-3 seconds is the ideal time duration to wait), Jonathan answered and highlighted the problem at hand.

This made the audience respect and agree with his fact, all the way more.

Through the remainder of his talk, he then went on highlighting the steps to increase love in any relationship.

3. I See Dead People: Dreams and Visions of the Dying By Dr. Christopher Kerr

“I read a recent survey, and what Americans fear most is public speaking and dying.” Dr. Christopher Kerr

How do we perceive death as an individual? It’s a question that most of us have a unique answer to.

In an attempt to establish the relevance of his topic, the speaker uses a fact that highlights how feared death is.

It’s what capitalized the attention of the audience and forced them to listen to what different perspectives he had to offer on the topic from a medical standpoint.

4. Saudi Arabia: Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj

“Saudi Arabia has been engulfed in a massive diplomatic crisis over the gruesome killing of Washingto Post Journalist Jamal Khashoggi” Hasan Minhaj

Now, stating facts doesn’t mean that you just go on telling statistical figures. It also includes different pieces of information, particularly news events!

In this talk, Hasan Minhaj recalls one such news event to set the theme of his talk.

Recalling news events makes our talk relevant while establishing the context. It signifies that as a speaker you are up-to-date with the information that you have to offer. So, the audience looks forward to hearing a talk devoid of redundancies.

5. Can We Not Let Our Breakups Break Us By Tasha Jackson

We live in a world where dating is the equivalent of buying a new pair of shoes.

Very often, with each dating experience comes the trauma of heartbreaks. As the speaker in this TED Talk rightly said, “breakups break us”.

But how to overcome it has always been a flaming question, particularly among the teens.

But to bring to light the intensity and ever-increasing prevalence of the situation, the speaker took the help of the statistics.

6. Teach Every Child About Food By Jamie Oliver

“ Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead from the food that they eat. “ Jamie Oliver

Here, while throwing light upon an alarming issue (hunger), the speaker considered presenting harrowing stats to get that desired ‘concerned mood’.

Similarly, when you wish to highlight an opportunity (say, the positive side of social media), present positive stats showcasing the success of people through social media.

9. Let’s Visualize with “Visuals”

Visuals are always gripping and easy on our minds.

Show respect towards your audience by giving them a needed break from the monotony of “just listening”.

Be a respite and engage them through the power of visuals for a change. Here’s exactly how you can do this.

How to Connect Visuals with your Opening Remark?

Step 1: Get in touch with the tech team of your public speaking event and see if the needed technical support is there to facilitate the screening of an image/video.

Step 2: Now, find a visual interesting enough to arise the curiosity but not too generic to make it too predictable for the audience- all related to your theme.

Step 3: Craft a short, concise, and to-the-point follow-up statement to explain the relevance of that visual using simple language.

Examples of Speeches that used Visuals as Opening Remarks

1. don’t believe everything you think by lauren weinstein.

*shows picture of an elephant.* Lauren Weinstein

In this TED Talk, Lauren draws a beautiful comparison between elephants and the nature of humans by showcasing a few visuals.

She does this through the use of storytelling. Narrating how despite all the strength an elephant has, it doesn’t attempt to break its chains of captivity.

After establishing this, she goes on to connect this act with the thesis of her speech, that is, how one should not always believe everything they think.

What we can take away from this TED Talk is, when visuals are effectively supported by storytelling and the rhetoric of drawing comparison, the impact increases manifold.

2. The History of Our World in 18 Minutes By David Christian

*plays a video about scrambled eggs* David Christian

In this unique TED Talk, David Christian explains the origin of the history of our world through the video of a scrambled egg. Unique, isn’t it?

That is exactly what we need to learn here.

We don’t necessarily need to find a visual that directly relates to the theme of our speech. Instead, we can go for a visual that we can use as an aid to explain a similar topic, that is, the theme of our speech.

3. How Breathing and Metabolism are Interconnected By Ruben Meerman

*shows image of himself in the sea* Ruben Meerman

This TED Talk right here is an example of how you can establish a direct correlation between the visual and your topic- all through the use of storytelling.

Ruben Meerman began his speech by showing a few pictures of himself to talk about his health transformation.

When the audience witnessed the transformation right in front of their eyes, they were curious to know the secret behind it so that they can apply it to their respective lives.

That’s the power of a gripping visual!

YES! You read it right.

No matter how shallow it sounds but the outfit is the first thing we notice every time a speaker walks up that stage.

And if you are dressed differently than the rest of the speakers, you naturally capture the eyes of your audience.

By this, I don’t mean that you go to a branded store and buy the most expensive outfit from there and wear it for your event. What I mean is to put serious thought into deciding what to wear for your event.

Ideally, one should go for an outfit that is unique yet related to the theme of your speech but doesn’t hurt the dress code of the event too. Here’s how.

How to Connect Clothes with your Opening Remark?

Step 1: The most basic step is to check with the admin if there is any particular dress code that the speakers need to adhere to. If not, feel free to put on your hat of creativity by following the next steps

Step 2: Pick an outfit that connects with the theme of your speech but is still unique enough for the audience to go like, “Wait, what outfit is this?”

Step 3: Go on the stage wearing that outfit, take a pause, let the audience wonder. After a meaningful silence of 2-3 seconds, start speaking. Open up by telling the audience the significance of the outfit that you are wearing

Examples of Speeches that Connect Clothes with Opening Remarks

1. we are all different- and that’s awesome by cole blakeway.

(comes on stage weaing two different pair of socks and shoes) “Hi, my name is Cole and over the next few minutes, I’m going to teach you that it’s okay to be different. Since a young age, I’ve worn different colored socks and two different shoes.” Cole Blakeway

Fascinating opening remark, isn’t it?

Something as simple as wearing different pairs of socks can instill curiosity and help the speaker make his point, “we all are different”.

Since biblical times, we as humans try to fit in different situations. Be it a workplace, college, or even a social gathering for that matter.

In this TED Talk, Cole attempts to shed light on the lesson of embracing our true selves and how there’s nothing wrong with being different.

The tone of such a powerful talk was set just by wearing different pairs of socks.

2. Looks aren’t Everything. Believe me, I’m a Model By Cameron Russell

(switches to a different outfit and speaks) “This is the first outfit change on the TED Stage, so you guys are pretty lucky to witness it, I think.” Cameron Russell

Of course, the traditional way to pull this technique off is to come on stage wearing a unique outfit.

But Cameron Russell finds her very own unique way of a live outfit change wherein she brings a wrap-around skirt and wears over her dress to make a simple point that appearance is not everything, it goes way beyond that.

Seeing a model by profession mark this unlikely outfit transition made the audience trust her thesis all the way more.

They say that communication is a two-way street.

Yet, more often than not, we forget to keep this in mind during all the public speaking events.

We tend o go on speaking and speaking. While sometimes we manage to keep the audience interested, the rest of the time we simply bore the audience to sleep.

To save you here, an easy bet is to organize an activity for your audience towards the very beginning of your speech.

How to Connect An Audience Activity with your Opening Remark?

Step 1: Familiarize with your audience. What’s the average age of your audience? What’s their educational and work background? Getting these basic details will help you structure an activity that would ensure maximum participation from them. For instance, if you are addressing a bunch of school students, your activity can involve more physical exercises and less mental exercise. Also, ask yourself, “What is the size of my audience?” This will help you decide on the extent of interactivity.

Step 2: Find an activity that is not too basic. Your activity should make the audience curious about your content. Something that makes the audience wonder, “What does this activity have to do with the theme?” But then they are left amazed as soon as you begin to connect the relevance of the activity with your speech.

Step 3: Don’t make it TOO LONG! Keep it short and sweet.

Step 4: Write a vivid description of the steps involved in the activity so that the audience is not left confused about what to do.

Examples of Speeches that Used Audience Activities as Opening Remarks

1. are you a giver or a taker by adam grant.

“I want you to look around the room for a minute and try to find the most paranoid person here and then I want you to point that person out for me. (waits and then says) Okay, don’t actually do it.” Adam Grant

Given that Adam’s audience was comprised of more adults, he made them perform a mental exercise as it’s most likely for them to participate in a mental exercise rather than expecting them to move up their seats to do something.

And that’s what happened. The audience participated! Because all they had to do was simply move their heads around to find out a paranoid person.

Most importantly, the activity wasn’t too generic for the audience for them to predict its relevance. So, it made them curious enough to listen to the remainder of Adam’s TED Talk to witness him unravel its relevance.

2. Girl Up: The Secrets to an Extraordinary Life By Courtney Ferrell

“Okay, I need a favor. I need all the girls who are between the age of 17 and 24 to stand up.” Courtney Ferrell

Audience Matters! I know, I’ve been saying this A LOT but it’s the key to a great speech opening.

Even in this TED Talk, the speaker made all the girls between the age group of 17 to 24 stand up since she knew that more than 50% of her audience would stand up.

It’s a win-win situation, I’ll tell you how.

When Courtney confessed that she’s about to tell the secret to channel the creative spirit of women and how to empower them.

Those who stood up felt directly connected to the theme and the rest were curious enough to know the secret to see if it can benefit them or someone they know.

3. What It’s Like To Grow Up Desi in 2019 By Hasan Minhaj

“Alright, real quick- say your full name and then say the way white people say your name. So, my name is Hasan Minhaj. I would get a Ha-sen Min-haj-a” Hasan Minhaj

Two important lessons here, my friends!

• Interactivity is Influential

Since Hasan was addressing a comparatively smaller crowd of around 7 teens, he could incorporate an interactive activity, giving each of his audience members an opportunity to speak.

• Lead the Activity Ladder

Before asking each of his audience members to speakers, Hasan himself initiated the act of participation from his end.

This way, the audience was all the more thrilled to speak.

Because when you participate, your audience sees it as an incentive and feels more confident to participate seeing that you as a speaker are making an effort too.

4. How to Triple your Memory By Using This Trick By Ricardo Lieuw On

“So, I have a little test for you. Don’t panic, I’m not here to judge you…” Ricardo Lieuw On

“Awaken the competitive nature of your audience members!” This should be your motto here.

But first, make sure that you are clear with the explanation of the rules so that it’s easier for everyone to follow.

Look how the speaker has introduced a competitive activity here to awaken the minds.

This serves two purposes:

• Your audience is intrigued to listen to the rest of your talk
• Even if a few members are distracted, you can win them back

Do you remember all the times when your mom used to make you eat green vegetables by instilling some sort of fear?

Be it the fear of dull skin or even poor eyesight for that matter, it eventually made you take that action.

Isn’t this aim of public speeches too? To persuade the audience to take some action after your speech ends? A hundred percent, yes!

So, let’s jump into how we can incorporate fear in our speech opening to make our audience listen to us.

How to Use Fear as your Opening Remark?

Step 1: At the fear of reiterating myself, “Begin with analyzing your audience”. The Best Guide to Audience Analysis is an article for you to help you do just that.

Step 2: Done with analyzing your audience after reading the article? Now, make a list of their potential fears related to the theme of your speech.

Step 3: Figure out that one fear that is not too triggering. Here, ask yourself, “If I were to listen to this, would I be triggered to a huge extent?” If the answer is yes, leave that fear and choose one that is slightly less triggering but

Examples of Speeches that used Fear as its Opening Remarks

1. why the secret to sucess is setting the right goals by john doerr.

“We’re at a critical moment Our leaders, some of our great institutions are failing us.” John Doerr

While highlighting how important it is to set the right goals for development, John Doerr begins his speech by pointing at how the institutions are failing their citizens by setting the wrong objectives.

When you are told that someone is failing you, you feel a sense of disappointment, and you are naturally drawn to know the reason behind it to figure out if there’s something you can do to improve the situation.

This is the exact feeling that we are going for here!

In this technique, we are looking forward to getting our audience to daydream without boring them.

This art of imagination works the best for persuasive speeches. Here’s how!

While delivering a persuasive speech, our aim is to align the audience’s thoughts with our thought process but there needs to be a bridge, right? A bridge that the audience can take to step into your thought process.

This bridge is the art of imagination.

How to Use Imagination as your Opening Remark?

Step 1: Decide the emotion that you want your audience to feel. Do you wish to go for a negative emotion or a positive one? My suggestion for you would be to go for a negative one since negative emotions overpower the positive ones, psychologically speaking.

Step 2: Once you have decided on the type of emotion, craft a descriptive outline for the piece of imagination that is related to the theme of your speech.

Step 3: Using simple yet descriptive language, write down your piece of imagination. Remember to write in a chronological order detailing each and every step otherwise your audience won’t truly immerse in that imaginary world. To explain to you in simpler terms, if a few steps are missing from the bridge, you cannot walk to reach the other side, can you?

Step 4: Focus the rest of your speech telling the audience what to do to avoid the situation (in case of a negative imagination) and what to do to reach the situation (in case of a positive imagination).

Examples of Speeches that used Imagination as Opening Remarks

1. the barrier between us by tvisha bandhu.

“Picture this. You’re in the MRT, you’re scrolling through your phone, and you take notice of this lady walking through the cabin saying ‘hello, hello.'” Tvisha Bandhu

This speech is the perfect example of how one can kick start his speech through the power of closed imagination (one wherein you provided step-by-step details on what to imagine).

Look how the speaker, Tvisha Bandhu, uses her body posture and gestures to emote every sense of feeling encompassed within that imagination.

It works perfectly in sync with her descriptive writing. It’s so descriptive that she has even written the exact dialogues for the characters involved in her imagination such as “Hello, Hello” for the lady who walked through the cabin.

Descriptive writing backed by powerful body language and vocal tonality can increase the impact manifold.

2. Why Do We Fear Speaking On Stage? By Pratik Uppal

“If I ask you to come on the stage right now & deliver a speech, think what kind of excuses would you come up with.” Pratik Uppal

The second example is of an open imagination.

You don’t necessarily need to provide step-by-step details for the audience to make them imagine a situation

One easy way is to simply tell them to ponder over their reaction to a particular situation and then, go on providing a brief of what exact situation they are put in.

In this TED Talk, the speaker asked the audience to imagine all the excuses that they can come up with to dread a public speaking event. Now, pause! Even you think! I’m sure you too can come up with many without anyone telling you what to imagine exactly.

This is what we call open imagination. Widespread usage of this technique can be seen in movies with open endings wherein the end is treated as possibly the beginning.

3. The Surprising Secret that Solves your Problems Quickly By Collins Key

“Imagine if you could take your brain and turn it inside out and then have access to the information to be able to virtually solve any problem. It sounds pretty cool, right?” Collins Key

In the previous sections, we discussed the examples for two commonly-used types of imagination- open and closed.

Here, we shall discuss an example of how you can ask the audience to imagine something out of the world.

If you are a Potter-head, you know the strength that this technique entails. The entire series is based upon fiction encompassing a world where everything goes larger than life, even life itself but you still can’t seem to snap out of it because you are that engrossed.

In this TED Talk, Collins opened up his talk with one such piece of imagination wherein he asked the audience to imagine how would they feel if they could simply take their brain out and turn it inside out to find a solution in the blink of an eye instead of spending hours overthinking for it.

Fascinating, right? This intrigued the audience to listen to the rest of his speech in the search of a secret to solve their problems in the quickest way possible.

4. How to Present to Keep your Audience’s Attention By Mark Robinson

“Imagine it’s Wednesday 28th of August, 1963 & we’re in the United States Of American, specifically Washington DC.” Mark Robinson

Imagination is only effective if you catering the right piece of imagination to the right audience.

Now, take the example of this TED Talk. Had this TED Talk been delivered to an audience who is not aware of the significance of the person being spoken about, Martin Luther King Jr, his speech would have been totally ineffective.

So, make sure that whatever piece of imagination you have to offer is within the understanding of your audience.

This technique doesn’t require any fancy introduction.

For the longest time, great orators have been starting their respective speeches with one quote or the other to persuade their audience through the art of rhythm.

But the inclusion of this technique as an opening remark is easier said than done. Make sure you follow the steps in the next section.

How to Use A Quote as an Opening Remark?

Before we begin, remember not to use a quote that is too common. Use a quote that is less heard of!

Option 1: The easiest and safest bet is to use a famous quote related to the context of your speech. If the propounder of that quote is associated with the topic of your speech in one way or the other, it’s even better since it establishes the credibility of the quote.

Option 2: The other effective way is to make a quote of your own instead of relying upon someone else’s quote. It’s simpler than it sounds. An easier hack is to use alliteration (occurrence of similar sound at the beginning of adjacent words in a phrase) in the phrase you wish to highlight as your opening remark. For instance, even the title of this section, “Quintessential Quality of A Quote” uses this technique. Read Getting Your ‘Wordsworth’: Poetry in Public Speaking to know how exactly you can write a quote using alliteration and similar techniques.

Examples of Speeches that Used Quotes as Opening Remarks

1. increase your self-awareness with one simple fix by tasha eurich.

Tennessee Williams once told us, “There comes a time when you look into the mirror and you realize that what you see is what you’ll ever be. And then you accept it. Or you kill yourself. Or you stop looking in mirrors.” Tasha Eurich

To see the application of the first alternative in action, watch this TED Talk by Tasha Eurich.

While using someone else’s quote, attribution to the speaker is necessary. You can do so by simply saying something like, “As NAME OF THE SPEAKER rightly said…” Nothing too fancy, simplicity works the best.

Talking about the credibility of the original speaker of the quote, since this TED Talk is focused upon “Self-awareness”, it made Tennessee Williams who was a great playwright in Hollywood, a credible speaker to trust.

2. Mistakes Make the Man By Mathew George

“Man makes mistakes & mistakes make the man.” Mathew George

Now, let’s talk about making a quote on our own. Shall we?

The most basic step we discussed under the “how-to” section was alliteration and that’s what the speaker, Mathew George, used in the creation of his opening remark too.

Alliteration provides a rhythm to your speech opening line and makes you sound persuasive naturally.

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We hope that you have found some value here in your journey as a public speaker!

If you wish to know about more such amazing speech opening lines, make sure you check out 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (& How to Create Your Own) .

Not just that! We’ve written a similar article on 50 Speech Closing Lines (& How to Create Your Own) l The Ultimate Guide . Make sure you read that to END YOUR SPEECH WITH A BANG!

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