Hey Reader,

​

It was supposed to be a simple task:

​

Start my presentation without telling the audience who I am.

​

I don't NEED to start with the words 'thanks for inviting me' or by explaining how happy I am to be here.

​

It shouldn't be hard.

​

I've watched hundreds of TED talks and I know what a captivating start to a presentation looks like.

​

I must grab their attention.

​

I must make them like me at the beginning.

​

But I've never done it before.

​

I've never launched right into the presentation.

​

I've always started with a thank you, or a summary of who I am.

​

The audience needs to know I've got the expertise to talk about my topic. If I don't do this, they won't trust me.

​

Right?

​

Wrong!

​

The best presentations start with a bang.

​

But I've always had a title slide. And years of medical school, and hospital teaching taught me that's where you begin.

​

I kid you not, for YEARS I couldn't help myself.

​

And I know that 90% of the people I coach for their presentations have the same problem.

​

People are horrified at the idea of NOT INTRODUCING THEMSELVES to the audience.

​

But if you start your presentation with impact then your audience is more like to pay attention.

​

Here are 5 simple ways to start your presentation:

​

• A joke
• A story
• A quote
• A statistic
• A question for them to ask themselves

​

And don't take my word for it, here are 3 of the opening lines from the most popular TED talks.

​

​

​

​

None of them start by explaining who they are.

​

And here's the truth about your audience.

​

They don't care who you are.

​

They care about what you can do for them.

​

And if they really care about who you are...

​

...they can read the freaking program.

​

Or Google you.

​

Don't waste precious stage time by taking them through your CV.

​

When you do this, 60% of them will be checking their emails by the time you get going.

​

And it's the most common problem I see with people I coach.

​

You see, we are nervous.

​

We want to prove our expertise to the audience.

​

We want to share:

​

• where we work
• what qualifications we have
• and how happy we are to have been invited to speak.

​

But here's the thing.

​

The best way to get your audience's attention from the beginning?

​

Ditch all of that.

​

Get stuck in right away.

​

It took me years to learn this lesson.

​

​

See you next week.

P.S. If you're following my progress in getting my NHS Consultant Interview Course ready, it's coming together a treat.

I'm putting my head down in the planning because I know you need fast results. So I want to make sure I squeeze all my tips in.

Most people only get a couple of weeks' notice for their job interviews (gotta love the NHS).

No matter how many people I coach through their interviews (and we are at >50 now) I still get ridiculously excited every time they get offered the job.

Another success this week:

If you're interview prepping then I'll keep you updated on when the Interview Course is ready - just click here to let me know.

​

​