Do you know the most popular word that a TED or TEDx talk starts with? It’s not what I expected. Here’s the simple flip that takes the spotlight off you and pulls the room in.
The Most Popular Opening Word In TED Talks (And Why It’s A Trap)
You’re at an event, about to give a talk to a thousand people.
Stop introducing yourself. Stop starting your talk by saying, “Hi, I’m…”
And stop using the most popular word that starts any presentation ever: “So…”
Most speakers walk on stage and lead with it. Either way, the focus stays on you.
The Flip: Turn The Spotlight Around
My invite is, what if you stopped, actually, and instead of the focus being on you, you actually turned the focus around and asked the audience a question?
When I start out a keynote, presentation, or workshop, I think: what are a couple of low-hanging-fruit, low-risk, but high-value, interesting questions that I can toss out to the audience and have them quickly contribute or participate in some way?
That’s it. Take the spotlight off yourself. Hand it to them.
A Real Example: Opening A TEDx With A Hand Raise
I’m about to MC TEDx Fairview, and the theme is overcoming adversity.
So the question I’m going to start with is, “Hey everybody, welcome. How many of you have experienced something really hard and gotten through it?”
Then: “How many of you have stood on a red carpet and told a thousand people about that really hard thing that you got through?”
Right? That’s what’s about to happen here today.
That little simple hand raise, just inviting the audience to contribute, is a wonderful context hook. It says, “Hey, this is what we’re here for.” It loops everybody in. Everybody’s participating. Even if you were doing something else, in that moment, you’re just focused on the room.
How To Build Your Own Opening Conversation Starter
If you’re speaking anytime soon, this one’s for you. Here’s the simple test: does my opening line keep the focus on me, or does it transfer the focus to the audience?
A great opening question is short, low-risk, and easy to answer with a hand, a nod, or a single word. It’s a conversation starter, not a quiz. It pulls the room in before anyone has a chance to lean back.
Go Deeper
Want to go deeper? Join me live online at the Connectors Summit this December, a live dynamic experience where professional gatherers, facilitators, trainers, and leaders come together to practice, connect, and reset.
