You've mastered Why-What-How, PREP, and story spines. But what if nobody's listening when you start speaking?
The first 10 seconds determine if your audience stays engaged or mentally checks out. That's where hooks come in.
Engagement Message
Recall a recent talk—what did the speaker do in the first 10 seconds?
A hook is your opening move - a compelling start that buys you listener focus. Think of it as earning the right to deliver your main message.
Without a hook, even brilliant content falls flat. With one, average content becomes memorable.
Engagement Message
What's the most memorable opening line you've ever heard?
Let's explore three reliable hook types: Statistics, Questions, and Images. Each serves a different purpose in capturing attention.
Statistical hooks use surprising numbers. "75% of presentations lose audience attention within 30 seconds." Boom - you're listening now.
Engagement Message
Can you think of a shocking statistic from your field?
Question hooks engage by making listeners think. "What would you do with an extra hour every day?" instantly activates their mental participation.
The best questions feel personal and relevant. Generic questions like "How's everyone doing?" don't qualify as hooks.
Engagement Message
What's a question that would make your audience lean in?
Image hooks paint vivid mental pictures. "Picture walking into your office and finding your biggest competitor sitting at your desk, smiling."
These hooks work because our brains process images 60,000 times faster than text. Visual scenarios create instant emotional connection.
Engagement Message
What image would grab attention in your next presentation?
