opening speech in english meeting

Opening a Meeting

Whether you are holding the meeting or attending the meeting it is polite to make small talk while you wait for the meeting to start. You should discuss things unrelated to the meeting, such as weather, family, or weekend plans.

Sample Dialogue:

Once everyone has arrived, the chairperson, or whoever is in charge of the meeting should formally welcome everyone to the meeting and thank the attendees for coming.

• Well, since everyone is here, we should get started.
• Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming today.
• I think we'll begin now. First I'd like to welcome you all.
• Thank you all for coming at such short notice.
• I really appreciate you all for attending today.
• We have a lot to cover today, so we really should begin.

Sample Welcome:

Pierre : I think we'll begin now. First I'd like to welcome you all and thank everyone for coming, especially at such short notice. I know you are all very busy and it's difficult to take time away from your daily tasks for meetings.

Introductions

If anyone at the meeting is new to the group, or if there is a guest speaker, this is the time when introductions should be made. The person in charge of the meeting can introduce the new person, or ask the person to introduce him or herself.

• I'd like to take a moment to introduce our new tour coordinator.
• I know most of you, but there are a few unfamiliar faces.
• Stella, would you like to stand up and introduce yourself?
• Hi everyone. I'm Judy Strauss. I'll be acting as Amanda's assistant while Nancy is away on maternity leave.

Roll Call/Apologies

If the meeting is a small group, it is probably unnecessary to take attendance out loud. The person who is taking the minutes will know everyone personally and can indicate who is present and who is absent. In a larger meeting, it may be necessary to send around an attendance sheet or call out names. If an important figure is absent, it may be necessary for the chairperson to apologize for his or her absence and offer a brief explanation for it.

• It looks like everyone is here today.
• If you notice anyone missing, please let Jane know so that she can make a note of it.
• Unfortunately, Ken cannot join us today. He has been called away on business
• Mike will be standing in to take the minutes today, as Lisa is home with the flu.

Some people who hold meetings prefer to pass around copies of the agenda, and others will post a large copy on a wall, or use an overhead projector. No matter which format is used, attendees should be able to follow the agenda as the meeting progresses. Before beginning the first main item on the agenda, the speaker should provide a brief verbal outline the objectives.

Sample Introduction to the Agenda:

How you begin a meeting matters. Explore the dos and don’ts of meeting introductions, and learn how you can use the IEEF framework to begin each meeting the right way.

What do a flustered host, the lack of a meeting agenda, and confused employees all have in common? They all indicate that a meeting is off to a bad start. 

We’ve all attended meetings where we knew from the start that our time would be wasted. For a meeting to be productive , it must be organized, have a clear purpose, and have a prepared agenda. 

If you regularly lead team sessions or one-on-ones, or you may need to host a meeting sometime soon, it’s important to learn how to introduce yourself in meetings. Read on to explore why the beginning of a meeting is important, learn the do’s and don’ts of meeting introductions, view examples of how you can begin a meeting on the right foot, and see some creative examples of how you can begin each meeting meaningfully. 

• Why is the start of a meeting so important?

Dos and don’ts of meeting introductions

• Meeting introduction steps and examples

Ways to start a meeting

How to start a meeting using the ieei framework, start meetings off on the right foot with fellow, why is the start of a meeting so important .

The beginning of a meeting sets the tone and introduces the major themes for the entire session. On one hand, if a meeting host makes it clear at the beginning that they’re unprepared, attendees may take it as a clear sign that the meeting won’t be valuable. An organized host, on the other hand, shows employees that their attendance and efforts are valued and that the session will run smoothly. 

Meeting introductions can transform the effectiveness of your meetings

How a meeting begins can significantly influence engagement. Meeting introductions should briefly outline the meeting’s purpose and objectives, ensuring everyone is on the same page. With AI-generated meeting agendas, you get custom recommendations for impactful introductions based on meeting type, tone, and participants. Save time on preparation and get inspired with Fellow today!

If you want ideas on how to open a meeting, here are a few creative and engaging ways you can begin a meeting the right way:

• Celebrate wins
• Surprise your team with a fact or statistic
• Share a memorable quote
• Tell a personal anecdote

1 Celebrate wins

Set a positive tone for your meeting by encouraging attendees to celebrate big and small wins. For example, the host could begin by congratulating the group on the recent success of a project, acknowledging a new hire, or giving an individual praise for leading a specific task. Alternatively, the meeting host can ask that each person give a shoutout to another member of the team. In doing so, the meeting host may lead attendees to begin associating group sessions with good news and team progress instead of boredom and mundane status updates. 

2 Surprise your team with a fact or statistic

An interesting way to begin each meeting is by offering the group a surprising statistic or fun fact to get everyone’s attention. The stat can be relevant to the meeting topic or completely irrelevant, depending on what tone you want to set. For example, if you want to captivate the group and make them smile, you can offer up a random fun fact like, “Did you know that avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable?” and ask that everyone else does the same. If you want to make the group feel motivated or get them thinking about the meeting topic, you can tell the group a statistic about your industry or organization. 

3 Share a memorable quote

Everyone loves a good quote! Quotes represent everything that people want to say but don’t know how. At the beginning of your next meeting, offer up a motivational or positive quote to deliver wisdom and provide a quick morale boost through well-worded thoughts. If you’re a “to the point” kind of leader, something quick-witted like, “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary” might work. Alternatively, if your team is facing any kind of adversity, a quote like, “Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell and got back up again” might work well. 

4 Tell a personal anecdote

You can use the start of a meeting as an exercise in storytelling. If you want to grasp your attendees’ attention, share a real-life experience about a personal success, professional roadblock, or anticipated event. Discuss an experience that relates to the meeting topic, the group’s interests, or the team’s values. For instance, you can share a story about how a recent news event relates to your meeting topic, discuss new and exciting developments in your field, or tell a story about a recent professional success of yours. 

Consider these dos and don’ts when kickstarting a meeting. Keeping these in mind will help you get things off to a productive and meaningful start.

• Don’t take too long. Remember to be respectful of attendees’ time and keep in mind that some may have a meeting after the one you’re leading. Keep the introduction short and sweet.
• Do include attendees. Try using the word “you” to get people excited about participating and having a conversation. Doing so will also highlight what’s in the discussion for them.
• Don’t overpromise or exaggerate. Be as transparent as you can regarding the state of the project and don’t promise unrealistic results by the end of the meeting.
• Do get creative. Done well, the introduction can be a time for you to have some fun and get attendees comfortable around one another. 
• Do use Fellow for your introduction meeting agenda . 

Meeting introduction steps and examples 

Ready to kickstart the meeting with an introduction that sets the tone? Here are four steps for leading a meeting introduction, plus how to apply them to both informal and formal settings.

• Start with an introduction
• Announce the subject and duration of the meeting
• Explain the purpose
• Explain why the participants were chosen to be there

1 Start with an introduction

It’s a good idea to start a virtual or in-person meeting by greeting everyone and introducing yourself. This can be especially helpful if there are attendees who may not know you because they’re new to the organization, or if you’re stepping in for someone else as the meeting facilitator. 

• Informal: Hi everybody, I’m [your name], [your role] at [company name]. Thanks for joining the call today! I know most of you, but there are a few new faces! I’m excited to get started.
• Formal: Hello everyone, and thanks for joining. My name is [your name], and I’m the [your role] at [company name]. I appreciate everyone’s punctuality at this meeting. Let’s get started.

2 Announce the subject and duration of the meeting

Next, you’ll want to make sure everyone is aware of the subject of the meeting so they have an understanding of what’s about to be discussed. You should also mention how long the meeting will last.

• Informal: We’re all here to discuss our very exciting upcoming product launch! This meeting should last about an hour.
• Formal: Today, we’re going to talk about our new product launch. The meeting will last an hour.

3 Explain the purpose

Once the subject matter and duration have been established, touch on the purpose of the meeting . The last thing you’ll want is for attendees to be unsure why the meeting is taking place. Even though you should have had a clear purpose outlined in the agenda sent out before, it’s a good idea to remind everyone before the meeting gets started.

• Informal: When we’re done here today, we will have outlined a product launch schedule and assigned roles to everyone.
• Formal: Before this meeting concludes, a product launch schedule will have been established, in addition to everyone’s roles to make the launch a success.

4 Explain why the participants were chosen to be there

Finally, go over why all of the meeting participants were chosen to be there. You don’t necessarily need to go person by person, especially if the meeting has a high number of attendees, but a brief comment about who is meeting will suffice.

• Informal: You’re all here because everyone in this room/on this call will play a huge part in ensuring the product launch is a success!
• Formal: Everyone in attendance today will play an integral part in launching the product on time to our customers. 

You’re not limited to the IEEI framework, as there are other ways to start a meeting that can be considered. Consider these six alternatives if you’re looking for other ways to start a meeting. 

• Make use of meeting templates
• Leverage small talk
• Use icebreakers
• Reiterate ground rules
• Outline the objectives
• Share quick status updates

1 Make use of meeting templates

Get your meetings off to the right start by leveraging Fellow’s extensive library of expert-approved meeting templates , with pre-loaded meeting introduction sections for icebreakers or introductions. Check out our Remote Team Meeting Template or Hybrid Team Meeting Template to help you set a positive tone from the get-go.

2 Leverage small talk

People often roll their eyes when conversations veer into small talk—there are only so many times you can chat about the weather or your weekend plans. But small talk doesn’t have to be boring! Leveraging it the right way can help attendees know one another better.

Consider these outside-the-box small talk questions:

• Are you reading any good books right now?
• What’s your go-to comfort food?
• Would you rather have four ten-hour work days or five eight-hour work days?

Similar to an icebreaker, small talk is a great way to share a short conversation with attendees. 

3 Roll call

If the meeting you’re introducing is with a smaller group, taking attendance out loud is probably unnecessary. It’s likely that the person taking the meeting minutes will know everyone on a first-name basis and can note who is present and who isn’t in attendance.

If you’re leading a larger meeting that’s in person, you may choose to send around an attendance sheet. If someone vital to the matter being discussed is absent, it may be necessary to apologize for their absence and provide a short explanation as to why they’re not there. 

An example of this is: You’ll probably notice that [name of CEO] isn’t here today as they were called away on business.

4 Use icebreakers

You can also lean on icebreakers to start a meeting. These team-building questions can foster trust and build psychological safety with one another. There are a ton of options you can choose from! Some of our favorites are:

• What are your hobbies outside of work?
• What is your favorite thing to cook?
• What is your favorite reality TV show?
• Where is your dream vacation?
• Where is your favorite sit-down restaurant? 

You may be surprised by the attendees’ answers!

5 Reiterate ground rules

You can also start the meeting off by reminding everyone of the meeting ground rules . These are the standards or guidelines set up ahead of time that the attendees should follow for the meeting to be as productive and successful as possible. 

Some examples of meeting ground rules are:

• State your name before you begin speaking
• Stay 100% focused during the meeting by avoiding incoming emails, direct messages, and text messages
• Never interrupt the individual who is speaking or sharing a point
• Come prepared with action items to discuss with the team
• Stay on topic to allow enough time for everything on the agenda
• Have your camera on when it’s your turn to speak during a virtual meeting

6 Outline the objectives

Another alternative is to include an outline of the meeting objectives during the introduction. It’s far too common for attendees to join a meeting feeling like they have no idea what’s about to be discussed and what they’re expected to bring to the table. Establishing clear and concise objectives before a meeting starts can help avoid this confusion.

Some examples of how you can outline the objective during the meeting introduction are:

• “Thanks for joining this meeting! Today’s objective is to create a plan of action surrounding the new recruiting strategy for open positions that we’re looking to hire for this quarter.”
• “Thank you everyone for being on time for today’s meeting. The objective today is to develop a new plan to reduce customer churn in the second half of the year.”
• “Hi everyone! Thanks for joining on time. The objective today is to plan for the upcoming holiday party and discuss the theme, menu, and yearly awards.”

7 Share quick status updates

Finally, sharing quick but informative status updates is another great way to start things off. Depending on how many people are in attendance, you can have everyone share two to three sentences about where they are on a project or initiative or, for larger meetings, have the leader of each team or department share pertinent updates on a need-to-know basis. This keeps everyone informed and accountable for what is being worked on by each team.

Too often, meeting hosts start sessions by diving straight into the first meeting agenda item. An ineffective beginning can set a negative tone for the remainder of the meeting, which is why it’s so important to start the meeting on the right foot. 

At the start of each session, the host should state the purpose of the meeting, quickly review the agenda, and ask participants if they have any questions. One way leaders can learn how to address a meeting is by incorporating the IEEI framework into each group session. 

IEEI stands for Inform, Excite, Empower, and Involve. Use this abbreviation as a reminder of what to include in the opening of your meeting remarks. 

At the beginning of the meeting, the host should inform attendees of the purpose of the meeting and the objective the group is striving to achieve. Let participants know why they’re there and what the group will have once the meeting is done to keep everyone on track. The start of the meeting should help participants understand why they’re in attendance and how their contributions during the session will help the group achieve its goals. 

If helpful, you can use an opening line like, “The purpose of this meeting is to… At the end of the meeting, I want the group to have achieved…” to set the tone. 

In the second part of your meeting introduction, let attendees know why they should care about the topic at hand. Without excitement, morale and engagement may be low. in your opening remarks and meeting greetings, strive to use the words “you” and “your” multiple times in your opening remarks to indicate what’s in it for your participants. 

Here is an example of opening remarks you can give as the host to excite the attendees:

• “Hello everyone! Thank you for joining me this morning to discuss our team’s hiring process. The purpose of the meeting is to simplify our recruiting process. When the meeting ends, this group will have three key OKRs to simplify our overall hiring process, a game plan for how to speed up our hiring moving forward, and a step-by-step process to procure new recruitment software. This is exciting because if we achieve these meeting objectives, this team will walk away with a newly simplified hiring process to make our work more efficient!”

In the third step of the IEEI framework, ensure that all attendees are clear of the power they hold while in the meeting space. Empowering your teammates and stakeholders will encourage them to speak up and offer their thoughts, ideas, and insights. While you shouldn’t be corny, offering a simple, empowering statement in your opening remarks can be beneficial. 

Here are a few meeting introduction ideas you can use to empower your meeting attendees:

• “You’re all here because your manager thought you were the best employees to work on this specific project. I’m really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can move forward today and reach our goals!”
• “Our team is looking to all of you for your candid feedback and expertise on how we can ensure this new initiative is a success.”
• “Senior management is looking to this group to create recommendations that will guide the company’s mission and values into the future.”

The final step of the framework is to involve attendees in the meeting conversation early so they are eager to participate throughout. At this stage, the meeting host should ask a question tied to the meeting’s objective . The goal of this step is to create an open and collaborative environment for everyone to contribute. 

Here are a few examples of involvement questions you can ask meeting attendees:

• “If we’re going to achieve the outlined objective, there are a few key issues we should address in advance. Let’s have a conversation about these. In order to be successful today, what specifically must we address first?”
• “Now that you understand what we hope to achieve today, what other outcomes would you like to see come out of today’s session?”
• “It’s been a while since we’ve had a group session. Let’s begin by going around the table and having everyone give a quick one-minute update.”
• “What would make you say, “That was an amazing meeting!” at the end of this session?” 

If you regularly lead team meetings or 1-on-1s, learning how to start a meeting impactfully is crucial. To take your meeting introductions to the next level, leverage Fellow as your all-in-one meeting management software. Fellow offers AI-generated meeting agendas and custom recommendations to help you craft thoughtful and impactful introductions.

With our extensive library of expert-approved meeting templates , complete with designated introduction sections and icebreakers, you can set an engaging tone right from the start. You can also gather insights post-meeting with the meeting feedback feature on how the introductions and the overall meeting were perceived. This allows for continuous improvement of the meeting process. Start optimizing your meeting habits today!

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38 Top Opening and Closing Remarks for Meetings

Meetings are more than just gatherings; they're opportunities to inspire, engage, and leave a lasting impression. Your choice of opening and closing remarks can make a significant impact on the success of your meeting. In this article, we'll explore 38 top opening and closing remarks that will help you set the tone, convey your message effectively, and create a memorable experience for your attendees. From professionalism to warmth and from motivation to gratitude, we've got you covered.

1. The Warm Welcome

A warm welcome sets the tone for a positive meeting. Begin with a friendly greeting, acknowledge the importance of the gathering, and express your enthusiasm for the discussions ahead. Make your audience feel appreciated and comfortable.

2. The Purpose Statement

State the purpose of the meeting clearly. Explain why everyone is gathered and what you aim to achieve. This helps attendees focus on the main objectives and ensures a productive discussion.

3. The Icebreaker

Break the ice with a light and relatable anecdote or trivia related to the meeting's topic. Icebreakers help create a friendly atmosphere and encourage engagement.

4. The Quote of Inspiration

Incorporate an inspiring quote that resonates with the meeting's theme or objectives. A well-chosen quote can motivate and set the right mood for the meeting.

5. The Agenda Overview

Provide a brief overview of the meeting's agenda. Highlight key topics, speakers, and the expected flow of the discussion. This ensures that everyone is on the same page.

6. The Call to Order

If you're chairing a formal meeting, a simple "I call this meeting to order" is a professional and effective way to start. It signals the beginning of official proceedings.

7. The Gratitude Note

Express gratitude for everyone's attendance and contributions. Acknowledge the effort and time invested by participants, showing your appreciation.

8. The Vision Statement

Share the long-term vision or goal that the meeting aims to support. Aligning the current discussion with a broader vision can inspire attendees.

9. The Progress Recap

If it's a recurring meeting, briefly recap the progress made since the last gathering. It keeps everyone informed and engaged.

10. The Interactive Question

Pose a thought-provoking question that encourages participants to think and engage. This can be a great way to kick off discussions.

11. The Motivational Story

Share a brief motivational story or anecdote that relates to the meeting's objectives. Stories can inspire and engage attendees.

12. The Problem-Solution Framework

Introduce a problem or challenge that the meeting aims to address and then present it as an opportunity for solution. This framework fosters problem-solving and innovation.

13. The Empowering Statement

Empower your audience by reminding them of their roles and contributions. Let them know that their participation is essential for the meeting's success.

14. The Team Acknowledgment

Recognize the collaborative effort of the team. Highlight the strengths and skills of your group members and the importance of teamwork.

15. The Ethical Reminder

Reiterate the importance of ethical conduct and respectful interactions during the meeting. A reminder of professional conduct is always beneficial.

16. The Key Takeaway Preview

Give a sneak peek of the key takeaways attendees can expect by the end of the meeting. This keeps participants focused on the value they'll gain.

17. The Roadmap Presentation

Offer a roadmap of what to expect throughout the meeting. Outline the flow, segments, and breaks to keep everyone oriented.

18. The Participant Engagement

Encourage participants to engage actively. Let them know that their contributions are valued, and their involvement is crucial for a successful meeting.

19. The Appreciative Conclusion

End the meeting on a positive note. Express your gratitude once again, summarize the key points, and convey your confidence in the team's abilities.

20. The Future Vision

Share your vision for the future and how the meeting aligns with long-term goals. This provides a sense of purpose and direction.

21. The Call to Action

End with a clear call to action. Specify the next steps, assignments, or tasks that need to be addressed after the meeting.

22. The Reflection Moment

Encourage participants to take a moment to reflect on what they've learned or discussed during the meeting. This promotes mindfulness and retention.

23. The Pledge of Commitment

Ask attendees to commit to the meeting's objectives and put their best effort into achieving the desired outcomes.

24. The Professional Closure

End with a formal closing, such as "I now declare this meeting adjourned." It signals the conclusion of official proceedings.

25. The Gratitude Recap

Summarize the gratitude expressed throughout the meeting and emphasize the value of teamwork and collaboration.

26. The Personal Acknowledgment

Acknowledge each participant individually, thanking them for their contributions and involvement during the meeting.

27. The Challenge Statement

Challenge participants to apply what they've learned in their roles or departments. Motivate them to make the meeting worthwhile.

28. The Collaborative Pledge

Invite attendees to pledge their commitment to collaborate effectively and support one another.

29. The Milestone Celebration

Celebrate any achievements or milestones reached during the meeting. Recognize hard work and dedication.

30. The Action Plan Overview

Give an overview of the action plan that will follow the meeting. This ensures clarity and alignment on the next steps.

31. The Inspirational Closing

End with an inspiring quote or message that leaves attendees motivated and looking forward to the future.

32. The Decision Recap

Summarize the key decisions made during the meeting and emphasize their importance.

33. The Commitment Request

Request a commitment from attendees to actively participate in post-meeting tasks and assignments.

34. The Team Encouragement

Encourage your team by recognizing their dedication, hard work, and commitment to the meeting's goals.

35. The Progress Reminder

Remind participants of the progress made during the meeting and encourage them to maintain the momentum.

36. The Next Meeting Preview

Preview what attendees can expect in the next meeting. This keeps them engaged and looking forward to future discussions.

37. The Recognition of Challenges

Acknowledge the challenges discussed during the meeting and emphasize the team's ability to overcome them.

38. The Lasting Impact

End with a reflection on the lasting impact of the meeting's discussions and decisions. Inspire attendees to carry the meeting's significance with them.

In conclusion, your choice of opening and closing remarks can shape the outcome of your meeting. These 38 remarks are designed to help you inspire, engage, and make a lasting impression on your audience. Whether you're fostering teamwork, expressing gratitude, or motivating your team, there's a remark for every situation. Use them strategically to ensure your meetings are not only productive but also memorable. Make your mark, set the tone, and create exceptional meetings that leave a lasting impact on everyone involved.

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How to Start a Speech: 7 Tips and Examples for a Captivating Opening

By Status.net Editorial Team on December 12, 2023 — 10 minutes to read

1. Choosing the Right Opening Line

Finding the perfect opening line for your speech is important in grabbing your audience’s attention. A strong opening line sets the stage for the points you want to make and helps you establish a connection with your listeners.

1. Start with a question

Engage your audience from the very beginning by asking them a thought-provoking question related to your topic. This approach encourages them to think, and it can create a sense of anticipation about what’s coming next.

• “Have you ever wondered how much time we spend on our phones every day?”

2. Share a personal story

A relatable personal story can create an emotional connection with your audience. Make sure your story is short, relevant to your speech, and ends with a clear point.

• “When I was a child, my grandmother used to tell me that every kind deed we do plants a seed of goodness in the world. It was this philosophy that inspired me to start volunteering.”

3. Use a quote or a statistic

Incorporate a powerful quote or an intriguing statistic at the outset of your speech to engage your audience and provide context for your topic.

• “As the great Maya Angelou once said, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'”

4. Make them laugh

Injecting a little humor into your opening line puts everyone at ease and makes your speech more memorable. Just make sure your joke is relevant and doesn’t offend your audience.

• “They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but if the doctor is cute, forget the fruit!”

5. Paint a mental picture

Draw your audience in by describing a vivid scene or painting an illustration in their minds. This creates an immersive experience that makes it easier for your audience to follow your speech.

• “Picture this: you’re walking down the beach, and you look out on the horizon. The sun is setting, and the sky is a breathtaking canvas of reds, oranges, and pinks.”

2. Using a Personal Story

Sharing a personal story can be a highly effective way to engage your audience from the very beginning of your speech. When you open your talk with a powerful, relatable story, it helps create an emotional connection with your listeners, making them more invested in what you have to say.

Think about an experience from your life that is relevant to the topic of your speech. Your story doesn’t have to be grand or dramatic, but it should be clear and vivid. Include enough detail to paint a picture in your audience’s minds, but keep it concise and on point.

The key to successfully using a personal story is to make it relatable. Choose a situation that your audience can empathize with or easily understand. For example, if you’re giving a speech about overcoming adversity, you could talk about a time where you faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge and overcame it.

Make sure to connect your story to the main point or theme of your speech. After sharing your experience, explain how it relates to the topic at hand, and let your audience see the relevance to their own lives. This will make your speech more impactful and show your listeners why your personal story holds meaning.

3. Making a Shocking Statement

Starting your speech with a shocking statement can instantly grab your audience’s attention. This technique works especially well when your speech topic relates to a hot-button issue or a controversial subject. Just make sure that the statement is relevant and true, as false claims may damage your credibility.

For example, “Believe it or not, 90% of startups fail during their first five years in the market.” This statement might surprise your listeners and make them more receptive to your ideas on how to avoid pitfalls and foster a successful business.

So next time you’re crafting a speech, consider opening with a powerful shocking statement. It could be just the thing to get your audience sitting up and paying full attention. (Try to keep your shocking statement relevant to your speech topic and factual to enhance your credibility.)

4. Using Humor

Humor can be an excellent way to break the ice and grab your audience’s attention. Opening your speech with a funny story or a joke can make a memorable first impression. Just be sure to keep it relevant to your topic and audience.

A good joke can set a light-hearted tone, lead into the importance of effective time management, and get your audience engaged from the start.

When using humor in your speech, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Be relatable: Choose a story or joke that your audience can easily relate to. It will be more engaging and connect your listeners to your message.
• Keep it appropriate: Make sure the humor fits the occasion and audience. Stay away from controversial topics and avoid offending any particular group.
• Practice your delivery: Timing and delivery are essential when telling a joke. Practice saying it out loud and adjust your pacing and tone of voice to ensure your audience gets the joke.
• Go with the flow: If your joke flops or doesn’t get the reaction you were hoping for, don’t panic or apologize. Simply move on to the next part of your speech smoothly, and don’t let it shake your confidence.
• Don’t overdo it: While humor can be useful in capturing your audience’s attention, remember that you’re not a stand-up comedian. Use it sparingly and focus on getting your message across clearly and effectively.

5. Incorporating a Quote

When you want to start your speech with a powerful quote, ensure that the quote is relevant to your topic. Choose a quote from a credible source, such as a famous historical figure, a well-known author, or a respected expert in your field. This will not only grab your audience’s attention but also establish your speech’s credibility.

For example, if you’re giving a speech about resilience, you might use this quote by Nelson Mandela: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Once you’ve found the perfect quote, integrate it smoothly into your speech’s introduction. You can briefly introduce the source of the quote, providing context for why their words are significant. For example:

Nelson Mandela, an inspirational leader known for his perseverance, once said: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

When you’re incorporating a quote in your speech, practice your delivery to ensure it has the intended impact. Focus on your tone, pace, and pronunciation. By doing so, you can convey the quote’s meaning effectively and connect with your audience emotionally.

Connect the quote to your main points by briefly explaining how it relates to the subject matter of your speech. By creating a natural transition from the quote to your topic, you can maintain your audience’s interest and set the stage for a compelling speech.

In our resilience example, this could look like:

“This quote by Mandela beautifully illustrates the power of resilience. Today, I want to share with you some stories of remarkable individuals who, like Mandela, overcame obstacles and rose every time they fell. Through their experiences, we might learn how to cultivate our own resilience and make the most of life’s challenges.”

6. Starting with a Question

Opening your speech with a question can be a great way to engage your audience from the start. This strategy encourages your listeners to think and become active participants in your presentation. Your opening question should be related to your core message, sparking their curiosity, and setting the stage for the following content. Here are a few examples:

• For a motivational speech : “Have you ever wondered what you would do if you couldn’t fail?”
• For a business presentation : “What’s the biggest challenge your team faces daily, and how can we overcome it?”
• For an educational talk : “How does the way we use technology today impact the future of our society?”

When choosing the right starting question, consider your audience. You want to ask something that is relevant to their experiences and interests. The question should be interesting enough to draw their attention and resonate with their emotions. For instance, if you’re presenting to a group of entrepreneurs, gear your question towards entrepreneurship, and so on.

To boost your question’s impact, consider using rhetorical questions. These don’t require a verbal response, but get your audience thinking about their experiences or opinions. Here’s an example:

• For an environmental speech : “What kind of world do we want to leave for our children?”

After posing your question, take a moment to let it sink in, and gauge the audience’s reaction. You can also use a brief pause to give the listeners time to think about their answers before moving on with your speech.

7. Acknowledging the Occasion

When starting a speech, you can acknowledge the occasion that brought everyone together. This helps create a connection with your audience and sets the stage for the rest of your speech. Make sure to mention the event name, its purpose, and any relevant individuals or groups you would like to thank for organizing it. For example:

“Hello everyone, and welcome to the 10th annual Charity Gala Dinner. I’m truly grateful to the fundraising committee for inviting me to speak tonight.”

After addressing the event itself, include a brief personal touch to show your connection with the topic or the audience. This helps the audience relate to you and gain interest in what you have to say. Here’s an example:

“As a long-time supporter of this cause, I am honored to share my thoughts on how we can continue making a difference in our community.”

Next, give a brief overview of your speech so the audience knows what to expect. This sets the context and helps them follow your points. You could say something like:

“Tonight, I’ll be sharing my experiences volunteering at the local food bank and discussing the impact of your generous donations.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some effective opening lines for speeches.

A powerful opening line will grab your audience’s attention and set the stage for the rest of your speech. Some effective opening lines include:

• Start with a bold statement: “The world needs your creativity now more than ever.”
• Share a surprising fact: “Did you know that the average person spends (…) years of their life at work?”
• Pose a thought-provoking question: “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”
• Tell a short, engaging story: “When I was 10 years old, I discovered my passion for baking in my grandmother’s kitchen.”

Can you provide examples of engaging introductions for speeches?

• Use humor: “As a kid, I believed that 7 pm bedtime was a form of torture. Now, as an adult, I find myself dreaming of 7 pm bedtime.”
• Share a personal experience: “On a trip to Italy, I found myself lost in the winding streets of a small village. It was there, amidst my confusion, that I stumbled upon the best gelato I’d ever tasted.”
• Use an analogy: “Starting a new business is like taking a journey into the unknown. There will be challenges to overcome, and you’ll need resilience, determination, and a strong compass.”

Which speech styles can make a powerful impact on the audience?

Different speech styles will resonate with different audiences. Some styles to consider include:

• Inspirational: Motivate your audience to take action or overcome challenges.
• Storytelling: Share personal experiences or anecdotes to illustrate your points and keep listeners engaged.
• Educational: Provide useful information and insights to help your audience learn or grow.
• Persuasive: Present a compelling argument to convince your audience to adopt a particular perspective or take specific action.

How do successful speakers establish a connection with their listeners?

Establishing a connection with your listeners is key to delivering an impactful speech. Some ways to connect with your audience include:

• Show empathy: Demonstrating understanding and concern for your audience’s feelings and experiences will generate a sense of trust and connection.
• Be relatable: Share personal stories or examples that allow your audience to see themselves in your experiences, thus making your speech more relatable.
• Keep it genuine: Avoid overrehearsing or coming across as scripted. Instead, strive for authenticity and flexibility in your delivery.
• Encourage participation: Engaging your audience through questions, activities, or conversation can help build rapport and make them feel more involved.

What are some techniques for maintaining a friendly and professional tone in speeches?

To maintain a friendly and professional tone in your speeches, consider these tips:

• Balance humor and seriousness: Use humor to lighten the mood and engage your audience, but make sure to also cover the serious points in your speech.
• Speak naturally: Use your everyday vocabulary and avoid jargon or overly formal language when possible.
• Show respect: Acknowledge differing opinions and experiences, and treat your audience with courtesy and fairness.
• Provide useful information: Offer valuable insights and solutions to your audience’s concerns, ensuring they leave your speech feeling more informed and empowered.
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Leadership [Examples, Tips]
• Effective Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace (Examples)
• Empathy: Definition, Types, and Tips for Effective Practice
• How to Improve Key Communication Skills
• Examples of Empathy (and 38 Empathy Statements)
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The Right Way to Start a Meeting

• Liane Davey

Make a good first impression.

We all know there’s a price to pay for a making bad first impression: A limp handshake conveys low confidence; a wrinkled suit makes you seem lazy; oversharing comes across as emotional instability. But do you ever think about the first impression your meetings make? Frequently restarting meetings for stragglers sends the message that participants have more control than you do. Issues opened for discussion with no clear purpose get hijacked by participants with a clearer agenda than yours. Monologues validate everyone’s fears that your meeting is going to be about as valuable (and as scintillating) as watching an hour of C-SPAN.

• LD Liane Davey is a team effectiveness advisor and professional speaker . She is the author of The Good Fight , You First , and co-author of Leadership Solutions . Share your comments and questions with her on Twitter at @LianeDavey .

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• How to Start a Speech: The Best Ways to Capture Your Audience

You’ve heard the saying,  “First impressions are lasting; you never get a second chance to create a good first impression” —  right?

The same is true when talking about how to start a speech…

The truth is, when you start your speech, you must focus everything on making a positive first impression on your audience members (especially if you are doing the presentation virtually ). Capturing the audience’s attention from the very beginning is crucial to prevent them from being distracted, losing interest, or forming negative opinions.

The introduction is the formal greeting for speeches, so let’s be sure to get this right to hook the audience. Understanding the importance of speech openings can significantly impact making a strong first impression. Planning and delivering the first words with confidence and relevance is essential, as they set the tone for the entire presentation and ensure you deliver a professional start, free from hesitation or irrelevance.

Here are 15 different ways to start a speech as well as 2 extra BONUS tips at the end.

1) Thank the Organizers and Audience

You can start by thanking the audience for coming and thanking the organization for inviting you to speak.

Refer to the person who introduced you or to one or more of the senior people in the organization in the audience.

This compliments them, makes them feel proud and happy about your presence, and connects you to the audience like an electrical plug in a socket.

2) Start With a Positive Statement

A presentation tip at the start is to tell the audience members how much they will like and enjoy what you have to say.

For example, you might say:

“You’re really going to enjoy the time we spend together this evening. I’m going to share with you some of the most important ideas that have ever been discovered in this area.”

Remember that  speaking is an art,  so be an artist and take complete control of your performance,

3) Compliment the Audience

You can begin by complimenting the audience members sincerely and with great respect.

Smile as if you are really glad to see them as if they are all old friends of yours that you have not seen for quite a while.

You can tell them that it is a great honor for you to be here, that they are some of the most important people in this business or industry, and that you are looking forward to sharing some key ideas with them.

You could say something like:

“It is an honor to be here with you today. You are the elite, the top 10 percent of people in this industry. Only the very best people in any field will take the time and make the sacrifice to come so far for a conference like this.”

4) Start Your Speech With the First Sentence Referring to Current Events

Use a current event front-page news story to transition into your subject and to illustrate or prove your point. You can bring a copy of the newspaper and hold it up as you refer to it in your introduction.

This visual image of you holding the paper and reciting or reading a key point rivets the audience’s attention and causes more people to lean forward to hear what you have to say.

5) Refer to a Historical Event

For many years, I studied military history…

Especially the lives and campaigns of the great generals and the decisive battles they won. One of my favorites was Alexander the Great. Standing in the symbolic shadow of such historical figures can provide a powerful and engaging start to any speech, especially when drawing parallels to contemporary challenges.

One day, I was asked to give a talk on leadership principles to a roomful of managers for a Fortune 500 company.

I decided that the campaign of Alexander the Great against Darius of Persia would make an excellent story that would illustrate the leadership qualities of one of the great commanders in history.

I opened my talk with these words:

“Once upon a time there was a young man named Alex who grew up in a poor country. But Alex was a little bit ambitious. From an early age, he decided that he wanted to conquer the entire known world. But there was a small problem.

Most of the known world was under the control of a huge multinational called the Persian Empire, headed by King Darius II. To fulfill his ambition, Alex was going to have to take the market share away from the market leader, who was very determined to hold on to it.

This is the same situation that exists between you and your major competitors in the market today. You are going to have to use all your leadership skills to win the great marketing battles of the future.”

6) Refer to a Well Known Person

You can start by quoting a well-known person or publication that recently made an interesting or important statement.

One of the subjects I touch upon regularly is the importance of continual personal development.

I will say something like:

“In the twenty-first century, knowledge and know-how are the keys to success. As basketball coach Pat Riley said, ‘If you are not getting better, you are getting worse.’”

7) Refer to a Recent Conversation

Start by telling a story about a recent conversation with someone in attendance.

For instance, I might say:

“A few minutes ago, I was talking with Tom Robinson in the lobby. He told me that this is one of the very best times to be working in this industry, and I agree.”

8) Make a Shocking Statement With a Startling Fact

You can start your talk by making a shocking statement of some kind.

For example, you might say something like:

“Here’s a startling fact: According to a recent study, there will be more change, more competition, and more opportunities in this industry in the next year than ever before. And 72 percent of the people in this room will be doing something different within two years if they do not rapidly adapt to these changes.”

Click here If you want to learn more techniques to wow your audience.

9) Quote From Recent Research

You can start by quoting a relevant, recent research report.

One example is:

“According to a story in a recent issue of Businessweek, there were almost 11 million millionaires in America in 2018, most of them self-made.”

10) Start Your Speech With a Strong Opening By Giving Them Hope

The French philosopher Gustav Le Bon once wrote, “The only religion of mankind is, and always has been hope.”

When you speak effectively, you give people hope of some kind.

Remember, the ultimate purpose of public speaking, is to inspire people to do things that they would not have done in the absence of your comments.

Everything you say should relate to the actions you want people to take and the reasons that they should take those actions.

11) Be Entertaining

Bill Gove used to walk onto the stage after his introduction if he had just finished talking to someone on the side and was breaking off to give his talk to the group.

The audience got the feeling that his entire talk was one continuous conversation, devoid of meaningless filler words .

Bill would often go to the edge of the stage and then drop his voice in a conspiratorial way, open his arms, and beckon the audience members to come a little closer.

He would say, “Come here, let me tell you something,” and then he would wave them forward as though he was about to tell a secret to the entire room.

The amazing thing was that everyone in the room would lean forward to hear this “secret” that he was about to share. People would all suddenly realize what they were doing and break out in laughter. It was a wonderful device to get the audience into the palm of his hands.

12) Ask a Question

You can open by making a positive statement and then pose a rhetorical question to engage your audience and set the stage for your presentation.

Try something like this:

“This is a great time to be alive and in business in America. But let me ask you, what does it truly mean to be self-employed in today’s economy?”

Raise your hand to indicate what you want people to do. I have used this line, and after a moment of thought, I then say to someone who looks intrigued in the front, “How many people here feel truly self-employed?”

Invariably, someone will say, “We all do!”

I then compliment and affirm the answer: “You’re right! We are all self-employed, from the time we take our first jobs to the day that we retire; we all work for ourselves, no matter who signs our paychecks.”

Similarly, a 17-year-old science fair winner effectively engaged their audience with a question at the beginning of their TED Talk, showcasing the power of this technique.

13) Open With a Problem

You can start with a problem that must be solved. If it is a problem that almost everyone has in common, you will immediately have the audience’s complete and undivided attention.

For example, you could say:

“Fully 63 percent of baby boomers are moving toward retirement without enough money put aside to provide for themselves for as long as they are going to live. We must address this problem and take action immediately to ensure that each person who retires will be able to live comfortably for the rest of his or her natural life.”

Introducing a new idea at this point can be a powerful way to engage your audience further, by promising a solution that is both innovative and beneficial.

14) Make a Strong Statement, Then Ask a Question

You can start by making a strong and powerful statement and then ask a question. You then follow with an answer and ask another question. This gets people immediately involved and listening to your every word.

Here’s an example:

“Twenty percent of the people in our society make 80 percent of the money. Are you a member of the top 20 percent? If not, would you like to join the top 20 percent or even the top 10 percent? Well, in the next few minutes, I am going to give you some ideas to help you become some of the highest-paid people in our society. Would that be a good goal for our time together today?”

15) Tell a Personal Story

You can start your talk with a personal story. Some of the most powerful words to capture the complete attention of the audience and make a personal connection are, “Once upon a time…”

From infancy and early childhood, people love stories of any kind. When you start off a presentation with a personal anecdote using the words, “Once upon a time…” you tell the audience that a relatable story is coming. People immediately settle down, become quiet, and lean forward, eager to hear how your experience might mirror their own or offer them new insights.

When I conduct full-day seminars and I want to bring people back to their seats after a break, I will say loudly, “Once upon a time there was a man, right here in this city…”

As soon as I say these words, people hurry back to their seats and begin to listen attentively, connecting with the story on a personal level.

Incorporating a personal story is very effective.

In fact, it’s probably one of the best public speaking tips I’ve learned to this day.

Bonus Tip: Tell Them About Yourself

Very often, I will start a serious speech or presentation to a business, sales, or entrepreneurial group by saying:

“I started off without graduating from high school. My family had no money. Everything I accomplished in life I had to do on my own with very little help from anyone else.”

It is amazing how many people come up to me after a talk that began with those words and tells me that was their experience as well.

They tell me that they could immediately identify with me because they too had started with poor grades and limited funds, as most people do. As a result, they were open to the rest of my talk, even a full-day seminar, and felt that everything I said was more valid and authentic than if I had been a person who started off with a successful background.

Building a bridge like this is very helpful in bringing the audience onto your side.

Bonus Tip: Get Them Talking to One Another

You can ask people to turn to the person next to them to discuss a particular point.

For instance, you could say:

“Tell the person next to you what you would like to learn from this seminar.”

Whatever you ask your audience members to do, within reason, they will do it for you. Your commands and your thought leadership will easily influence them, as long as you ask them with confidence.

By following any one of these tips for starting your speech, you are sure to grab your audience’s attention every time. How do you start a speech? Let me know in the comments.

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About Brian Tracy — Brian is recognized as the top sales training and personal success authority in the world today. He has authored more than 60 books and has produced more than 500 audio and video learning programs on sales, management, business success and personal development, including worldwide bestseller The Psychology of Achievement. Brian's goal is to help you achieve your personal and business goals faster and easier than you ever imagined. You can follow him on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest , Linkedin and Youtube .

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200+ Business Meeting Phrases

Face-to-face interactions are important in the world of business.

Meetings are the very reason international business travel is so popular these days. Business people are traveling the world more and more to meet their global partners in person .

So we’ve put together 20 phrases you can use to make a great impression and communicate effectively  in your next international business meeting.

Beginning the Meeting

Opening the meeting, introducing yourself, introducing others, presenting the agenda, setting objectives, during the meeting, discussing updates, moving forward, keeping the discussion on track, handing over the meeting to someone else, speaking up during meetings, sharing your perspective or opinion, agreeing during the meeting, disagreeing during the meeting, suggesting something in a meeting, interrupting the meeting, asking questions, asking for clarification, asking to hear something again, asking for others’ opinions, asking for more information, finishing the meeting, summarizing the meeting, closing the meeting, thanking attendees, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

When starting a meeting, you’ll want to start by giving the meeting participants all the information they need to take in and enjoy the meeting. This includes things like introducing yourself and others, and setting the meeting’s agenda and objectives.

Before anything else, start on a friendly footing with a warm and friendly greeting. Try one of the following:

• Good afternoon, everyone.
• Welcome, everyone.
• Thank you all for being here today.
• I’d like to call this meeting to order.
• Let’s get started, shall we?
• I hope you’re all doing well today.
• It’s a pleasure to see everyone here.
• I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our guests.
• Before we begin, let’s take a moment to introduce ourselves.
• We have a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in.
• Shall we begin with a quick overview of the agenda?
• The purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss…
• I’ve called this meeting to address the following issues…
• We have some important matters to discuss today.
• I’d like to start by reviewing the minutes from our last meeting.
• Please feel free to chime in at any time with your thoughts or questions.
• Let’s aim to wrap up the meeting by…
• As we go through the agenda, please keep your focus on our main objectives.
• We have allotted time for each agenda item, so let’s try to stay on track.
• I encourage everyone to participate and share their perspectives.

Since you’re the one running this meeting, be sure to introduce yourself. Beyond your name, give a little more biographical information, such as your position and why you’re the one presenting this meeting.

• Good morning, everyone. My name is… and I am the regional sales manager.
• Hello, everyone. I’m… and I work as a manager in the marketing department.
• Hi, I’m… I’ve been with the company for two years and currently serve as a regional sales manager.
• Good day, everyone. Allow me to introduce myself. I am… and I lead the marketing team.
• Greetings, all. My name is… and I hold the position of sales manager.
• Hello, everyone. I’m… and I’ve recently joined the company as the new vice president of sales.
• Good morning/afternoon. I’m the manager of marketing here at the company. It’s a pleasure to be here.
• Hi, everyone. My name is… and I handle business relations here at the company.
• Greetings, colleagues. I’m… and I’ve been part of the analytics team for four years.

Sometimes you’d like the meeting participants to know about some other key people in attendance. They may be part of the project team, or you may ask them to take over later in the meeting. If this is the case, use one of these phrases:

• Allow me to introduce… who is our new CEO.
• I’d like to introduce… who is a key member of the marketing team.
• Please meet… our VP here at at the company.
• This is… who recently joined us as the new marketing manager.
• I’d like to introduce you to… a valued member of our data team.
• Meet… who handles marketing here at the firm.
• I’d like to introduce… who comes highly recommended and brings a wealth of experience in marketing.
• Please welcome… our esteemed colleague from the public relations department].
• I have the pleasure of introducing you to… who will be assisting us with data analysis.
• Say hello to… who is a vital member of our team and plays a crucial role in this new project.
• Let’s go around the table and introduce ourselves before we start.

An important part of any meeting is informing the participants what will take place during the meeting. To give this information, consider presenting your agenda with one of these phrases:

• Let’s begin by reviewing the agenda for today’s meeting.
• First on the agenda, we’ll discuss…
• The main focus of today’s meeting will be on… and…
• We have a few key topics to cover today, starting with…
• Our agenda includes… followed by… and…
• Today’s meeting will be structured around the following agenda: …
• We’ll start by addressing… which is crucial to meeting our goals.
• The first item on our agenda is… where we’ll discuss new sales strategies.
• Before we move on to the next item, are there any questions or clarifications about… ?
• Our meeting will be divided into three main sections:…

Keeping a meeting on track is important for effective organization. To state your meeting’s objectives, use these types of phrases:

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• Let’s establish the main objectives for today’s meeting.
• Our goal for this meeting is to achieve the following objectives.
• The primary purpose of today’s discussion is to address the following objectives.
• We need to set clear objectives to ensure a focused and productive meeting.
• The objectives for this meeting are designed to…
• Let’s make sure our objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
• Our main objectives are as follows:…
• By the end of this meeting, we aim to accomplish… and…
• The success of this meeting will be determined by meeting the set objectives.
• Let’s keep our objectives in mind as we proceed with the discussions.
• Our objectives should align with our long-term business goals and strategy.
• To stay on track, let’s periodically review whether we’re meeting our objectives.
• It’s crucial that we prioritize our objectives and address them in order of importance.
• As we move forward, let’s focus on achieving the set objectives efficiently.
• Before we proceed, does anyone have any additional objectives to add to the list?

When the meeting is taking place, you may need to discuss updates since the last meeting or tell the participants how the project is moving forward. You may also need to keep the discussion on topic, or hand over the meeting to someone else. Here’s a list of phrases to accomplish those goals:

When you have something new to report about a project or task, consider using one of these useful phrases to give out that new information:

• Let’s start with some updates on…
• I’d like to hear from… regarding their progress on the new project.
• We’ve made significant progress on… since our last meeting.
• Here’s a quick overview of the recent developments in…
• I’d like to share some positive updates about…
• We’ve encountered a few challenges during the past week, and I’ll provide an update on how we’re addressing them.
• Let’s open the floor for updates. Who would like to start?
• I’ll be giving an update on the… project that was assigned to me.
• Our team has achieved a lot, and we’re on track to meet our targets.
• I’ll highlight the key updates in our department and discuss their impact on our overall progress.

When one project or task is moving along well, or you’re moving onto another project, use one of these phrases to signal and you’re moving the meeting forward:

• Let’s move forward and discuss the next agenda item.
• Now that we’ve covered this topic, it’s time to address….
• With that update, we can now proceed to…
• We’ve reached a decision on the previous issue, and we can now focus on the next.
• Having discussed the first topic, we are ready to move on to the next agenda item.
• Now, let’s consider how we can implement the ideas generated during the brainstorming session.
• We’ve received valuable input, and it’s time to work on incorporating that into our action plan.
• With everyone’s agreement on the previous point, we can now proceed to the next topic.
• Let’s move the discussion forward by addressing the next key issue.

If a meeting or discussion seems like it may be getting off track, you can use one of these phrases to keep the participants focused on the topic at hand:

• Let’s stay focused on the agenda items to ensure a productive meeting.
• I’d like to remind everyone to keep our discussions relevant to the meeting objectives.
• To maintain efficiency, let’s try to keep our comments concise and to the point.
• If we could all stay on topic, it will help us make the most of our allotted time.
• We have a lot to cover, so let’s avoid going off on tangents during the discussion.
• If I may, let’s redirect the conversation back to the current agenda item.
• I understand that this is an important point, but let’s table it for now and come back to it later if time allows.
• To respect everyone’s time, let’s address any unrelated discussions outside of this meeting.
• I appreciate the enthusiasm, but let’s ensure we’re not veering too far from the main topic.
• If there are no further comments on this agenda item, let’s move on to the next one.

Sometimes, one of your colleagues knows more about a project than you do. That’s when you want to hand over the meeting to someone else. Use these phrases to do that smoothly:

• I’d like to hand over the floor to… for their insights on this matter.
• Now, I’ll pass the baton to… to share their findings from the recent research.
• I invite… to take the lead and provide an update on this project.
• Next, I’ll turn the floor over to… for their perspective on the current challenges.
• Let’s hear from… as they will be spearheading the new marketing campaign.
• I’ll hand it over to… to provide more details on the budget projections.
• Now, I’d like to give… the opportunity to present the proposal they’ve been working on.
• I’ll step back and let… guide us through the new process they’ve designed.

There are times when you need to speak up during meetings in order to have your point heard. This can include sharing your personal perspective or opinion, agreeing with others during a meeting or politely disagreeing with others. You may also need to suggest something, politely interrupt, ask a question, ask for clarification, ask for others’ opinions or ask to hear more detail. Here are some extremely useful phrases for accomplishing those meeting goals:

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When you have a great idea or perspective, you should share it with the group. Consider using of these phrases to do that:

• In my view, I believe that…
• From my perspective… is worth considering.
• I’d like to share my thoughts on this.
• In my opinion… is essential for meeting our goal.
• From where I stand, I see… as a potential solution to this challenge.
• I’d like to weigh in on this matter… aligns well with our objective.
• My perspective is that… could positively impact this project.
• From my experience… has proven effective in similar situations.

When you agree with someone during a meeting, be sure to tell them. You can use one of these phrases to do that:

• I completely agree with…
• I’m on the same page as…
• I share… viewpoint on this matter.
• I couldn’t agree more with…
• That’s a valid point, and I agree.
• I’m in agreement with… suggestion.
• You’re right, and I agree with you.
• That makes sense, and I fully agree.
• I concur with… on this issue.

Sometimes, you just don’t agree with someone at a meeting. To politely disagree, consider the following phrases:

• I see where you’re coming from, but I have a different perspective.
• I respectfully disagree with that idea.
• I understand your point, but I don’t think it’s the most suitable approach.
• I have some reservations about that suggestion.
• I’m afraid I can’t fully support that proposal.
• I respectfully dissent on this matter.
• I’m not convinced that this is the right course of action.
• I have a different opinion regarding this issue.
• I’m not entirely comfortable with that proposal.
• I must disagree with the approach suggested by…

When you have a new idea or suggestion to bring up in a meeting, you can use one of these useful phrases to smoothly give that information:

• I’d like to suggest that we…
• How about we consider…?
• I have a suggestion regarding this topic. What if we…?
• It might be worth considering… as a possible solution.
• I’d like to propose that we…
• Have we thought about… to address this issue?
• One option we could explore is…
• I’d like to bring up… for consideration.
• Let’s think about… as a potential way forward.

Sometimes you have information to add that just can’t wait. When this happens, you will have to politely interrupt the meeting. You can use these phrases to do that:

• I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have an important point to add.
• Excuse me, may I interject for a moment?
• If I may, I’d like to make a quick comment on this topic.
• Can I jump in here with a relevant thought?
• Sorry for the interruption, but I believe this is pertinent to our discussion.
• Allow me to interrupt for a moment to share some insights.
• Pardon me, I’d like to add my perspective on this matter.
• May I interrupt briefly? I think this point requires clarification.

Asking questions is one of the most effective ways to learn more about a project or task. Here are some excellent question phrases for getting more information:

• Could you clarify this issue for us, please?
• I have a question about this topic.
• Can you provide more details on this proposal?
• I’d like to know how this decision will impact the project.
• What are the next steps for this initiative?
• Is there any progress on this?
• Could you share the reasoning behind this strategy?
• What are the potential challenges we might face during the implementation of this plan?
• How will this align with our long-term goals and vision?

Sometimes you like the idea, but you need more clarification or details before you can really decide if it’s the best approach. When this situation arises, use these helpful phrases:

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• I’m not entirely clear on this topic. Can you please provide more details?
• Could you elaborate further on that point?
• I’m having difficulty understanding this topic. Can you simplify it for me?
• I need some clarification regarding this proposal. Can you explain it again?
• I’m not sure I follow. Can you break down the main points of this issue?
• Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that. Can you go over it one more time?

Sometimes you don’t hear or don’t fully understand something someone has said. When this comes up, use these helpful phrases:

• Could you please repeat that? I didn’t catch the last part.
• I’m sorry, could you say that again a bit more slowly?
• I didn’t quite get what you said. Could you clarify, please?
• Apologies, but I missed some of the details. Can you go over it one more time?
• If you don’t mind, could you repeat the main points you just mentioned?
• I want to make sure I understand correctly. Could you reiterate what you said about this topic?
• I’m having trouble hearing you clearly. Could you please say that again?
• I didn’t catch the details. Could you run through it once more, please?
• My apologies, but I need you to repeat what you just shared.
• I’d appreciate it if you could go back to the part where you explained [Topic].

When you want to hear what your colleagues think about a particular point or idea, ask for their opinions. Here are some useful phrases to do just that:

• I’d like to hear what everyone thinks about this topic.
• What are your thoughts on this?
• Does anyone have an opinion or perspective they’d like to share?
• We value everyone’s input. Please don’t hesitate to share your opinions.
• Let’s open the floor for any opinions or suggestions regarding this issue.
• If anyone has a different viewpoint, we’d love to hear it.
• Please feel free to express your opinions on this matter.
• I’m interested in hearing what you all have to say about this topic.
• Before we move forward, I’d like to get everyone’s opinions on this issue.

More information is often needed in business meetings and discussions. To solicit (ask for) more information, use these phrases:

• Could you provide additional information on this topic?
• I’d like to know more about this issue.
• Can you expand on this proposal, please?
• I’m interested in learning more about this issue.
• Do you have any further details on this matter?
• Could you share additional insights regarding this proposal?
• I’d appreciate it if you could provide more information on this topic.
• Are there any supporting data or statistics for this claim?

Once the main part of the meeting has ended, you’ll need to wrap it up in a satisfying way. Some great methods to use for this include summarizing the meeting and, of course, thanking the meeting’s attendees for being there. Here are some very helpful phrases for finishing up your next meeting:

It’s always a good idea to remind your busy meeting participants what you covered in the meeting. Give the main points with some other personal commentary if you think it would help. Use these helpful phrases to summarize the meeting:

• Let’s recap the key points discussed in today’s meeting.
• To summarize our meeting, we covered the following main topics:
• In conclusion, the key takeaways from today’s meeting are as follows:
• To briefly summarize what was discussed, we addressed the following issues:…
• In short, the main outcomes of the meeting are as follows:
• To recap, we focused on…
• In summary, we made progress on… in detail.
• To wrap up our meeting, we decided on the following action steps:…

Like a good story, a meeting has a beginning, a middle and an end. These phrases will help you end your meeting with grace:

• Before we conclude, are there any final questions or comments?
• I’d like to thank everyone for their valuable contributions today.
• In closing, I want to express my appreciation for the productive discussion.
• Let’s wrap up our meeting with a quick summary of the action points.
• To end on a positive note, I’m looking forward to seeing the progress on this project.
• If there are no further comments, I declare this meeting adjourned.
• Thank you all for your time and contributions. Let’s reconvene next week.
• In conclusion, I believe we’ve made significant strides towards our objectives.

Never forget to thank the busy people who took time out of their day to attend your meeting. Here are some helpful phrases to do that:

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• I’d like to extend my gratitude to everyone for their active participation today.
• Thank you all for making time to be here and contributing your valuable insights.
• I appreciate each of you for your thoughtful contributions during this meeting.
• A big thank you to all the attendees for their engagement and valuable feedback.
• I want to express my thanks to each person present for their meaningful contributions.
• Your active participation has been instrumental in moving our agenda forward. Thank you.
• Thank you all for your time, commitment, and valuable perspectives during this meeting.
• I am grateful for the efforts and input from each attendee. Thank you for being here today.

With that, you’re now ready to lead and participate effectively in any business meeting. These phrases and expressions are a great starting point for you. I hope you will put them to good use in your next meeting.

By listening and paying attention to the language used at meetings that you attend, you will even be able to add to this list. Good luck!

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Opening A Meeting Effectively In 7 Easy Steps

By Simon Kennell on Apr 19, 2022 12:27:36 PM

Strong openings are the key to productive meetings. Starting a meeting effectively helps you set the tone, introduce the main topic, set expectations, and make a good first impression. In this new episode of Talaera Talks, you will learn an effective step-by-step roadmap to open your meetings and set them up for success.

Opening A Meeting In 7 Steps

The beginning of a meeting is more important than one may think. There is nothing more frustrating than sitting through a meeting without really seeing the point. A meeting opening should be informative , so make sure you let the participants know the purpose and goals of the meeting. But not only that - it should also get participants excited and involved by showing them why this meeting is important to them. To cover all the important points, follow the steps below.

1. Preparation and agenda

When you set up a meeting, stop for a moment and think. Consider the goal of the meeting and what key outcomes you want to get out of it. Then, send out an agenda (ideally a week in advance) with the major points that you'd like to cover during the meeting. The agenda should include the objectives of the meeting, some questions for participants to start thinking about, and potentially some key homework and takeaways that they should be considering.

2. Small Talk

In business, it is polite to make small talk while you wait for the meeting to start. Although the length of small talk varies depending on the culture and the context, a good rule of thumb is to allow between 3 and 7 minutes. Let people get into the feel of the meeting, see each other, and chat a bit before diving into the main topic. Learn how to win at small talk - Surviving the First 5 Minutes of a Virtual Meeting .

3. Welcome and thank everyone for joining

Once all the participants have arrived, the person in charge of the meeting should welcome the attendees and thank them for joining. Choose at least one of the phrases below:

• Alright, it seems we're all here. I see we're all set and ready to go. Thank you for taking the time to meet today.
• Thank you for joining.
• Since everyone is here, we should get started.
• I really appreciate you all for attending this meeting today.
• Thank you for joining us today. It's great to see you all.

At this point, you may need to introduce yourself in a professional way and potentially other participants.

4. Follow up from last meeting’s points

If you have any important points from the previous meeting, now it's the time to follow up.

• In our previous meeting, we discussed points A, B, and C. And we decided on points one, two, and three.
• As you all know, we've been working on the new feature based on the discussion we had last week.
• In our previous meeting, we briefly touched on our business strategy, and today I'd like to dicuss this topic more in depth.
• Last month, we talked about how we could implement a better workflow for new users.

5. Context (Why are we meeting?)

Provide the context of why the meeting is happening. Now, if they're good attendees, they may have read the prep work and agenda that you sent beforehand but it is always good to provide some context. Clearly tell them the reason why you invited them. This step will help you keep everyone involved and interested in the meeting.

• Before we dive into the meeting today, I'd like to set some context for the topic that we'll be discussing.
• Over the past week or so, our team has been discussing this point, and we felt that it was a great opportunity to get everybody together and discuss it in depth. 

6. Objectives and expectations

Set very clear objectives and state the type of action items you would like to define by the end of the meeting. Be specific about the purpose of each agenda item and tell them why you are meeting and what you want to get out of it. You will want to use verbs and action words for this section ( generate ideas, find a solution, decide the budget).

• The goal of our meeting today is to identify what steps we can take to more effectively utilize the marketing budget. So we've gathered you all here today to brainstorm some ideas and we're hoping that by the end of today, we'll have a few action items that can get us to the next place or where we want to be.
• Our main goal today is to gather status reports from the team. This will allow us to see where we stand and what the next steps should be.

7. Meeting roadmap

The last step is to provide a clear roadmap for the meeting. Explain the dynamics and put time markers on it if you think it makes sense. 

• I'd like to start by answering any questions that you may have about the budget and any for me to shed some more light on this topic. I think it would be really helpful to open up the discussion to any ideas that the team may have based on the points that I sent last week. From there, after we've identified a few action items, I like for us to split up the tasks to make sure that, before the next meeting, we're all set on what we need to accomplish.
• I'd like to start the meeting by answering any questions for about 5 to 10 minutes. Hopefully, that can provide you with some clarity. And then from there, I think it'd be helpful to have about 15-20 minutes of open discussion and brainstorm on any of the ideas that our team may have. I want to make sure that we leave about five to seven minutes at the end so that we're all clear on what the next action items are before our next meeting.

Before scheduling a meeting, think about why you need it and what you would like to get out of it. Then, send some preparation materials to participants before the meeting. Allow a few minutes for some small talk, welcome and thank everyone for joining, and follow up on the points from the previous meeting. Make sure you provide context (why we you meeting?), set very clear objectives or goals for what you want to accomplish, and end with a clear roadmap of all the different points that you will be covering throughout the meeting.

It may seem that there are quite a few steps to open a meeting, but it is one of those things that once you try it a few times, it will come naturally. So check it out. Try it a few times. Use the notes. And tell us your best tips to start a meeting effectively.

This article works as supporting material for our podcast episode 44. You can read the transcript below. Make sure you check out all our other Talaera Talks episodes   and subscribe to get new episode alerts.

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If you enjoyed this article, keep reading:

• How To Start a Presentation: Follow These 4 Easy Steps
• 6 Tricks The Best Public Speakers Use To Captivate Their Audience
• 101 Must-Know Transition Phrases for Engaging Presentations Online
• 21 Helpful Tips For Remarkable and Outstanding Presentation Skills
• 8 Little Changes That'll Make A Big Difference With Your Presentations
• 14 Simple Rules That Will Make You A Better Communicator
• Tips on Effective Communication That Actually Work [Podcast]

Talaera Talks - Transcript Episode 44

If you are learning English, including new English words and expressions will help you with effective communication. Remember to check out our other episodes on how to make small talk, how to deliver engaging presentations, how to speak English fluently, and many more: visit the podcast website . Listen to it on your favorite platform.

Intro Welcome to Talaera Talks , the business English communication podcast for non-native professionals. My name is Paola and I am co-hosting this show with Simon. In this podcast, we're going to be covering communication advice and tips to help express yourself with confidence in English in professional settings. So we hope you enjoy the show! 0:24 Welcome back to another episode of Talaera Talks. This is your host, Simon, coming to you from Copenhagen, Denmark. I hope wherever you are, you're having a great day and tuning into this Talaera Bit. So let's get started. What are we talking about today? One of those kind of transition things that you need to do can be a little bit awkward. How do you do it when we're opening a meeting? What are the steps to take to do it in a professional way to do it in a way where you make sure that everybody is comfortable and on the right track that you're going to get the meeting going and in an organized way? So if you are very smart, you will do a little bit of preparation beforehand. So whether you're meeting in person, or whether you're meeting online, it may be a good idea to send out an agenda, possibly a week in advance with a few of the major points that you'd like to cover during the meeting. So this could involve Yeah, the objectives of the meeting, it could also involve some questions that you would like people to start thinking over with some key kind of homework and takeaway that they should be considering. 1:52 So you get to the day of the meeting. And a lot of times, you want to allow maybe 5-6-7 minutes of some small talk, let people kind of get into the feel of the meeting, get to get to see each other get to discuss and chat a little bit. And then when it gets to a reasonable pause, you can start the meeting. And the first thing you want to do is thank everyone for joining. So you could say something like, 'Okay, we're all here, I see we're all set and ready to go. Thank you for taking the time to meet today', or 'thank you for joining'. 2:32 And then if you do have points from the previous meeting, you can use that time to follow up and just say okay, 'so in our previous meeting, we discussed points A, B, and C. And we decided on points one, two, and three'. From there, you want to provide the context of why are we meeting today. Now, if they're good attendees, they may have read the prep work that you sent beforehand. But it's always good to just provide some context. So you can say something like, 'Okay, before we dive into the meeting, today, I'd like to set some context for the topic that we'll be discussing'. Or you could say, 'well, over the past week or so our team has been discussing this point. And we felt that it was a great opportunity to get everybody together and really discuss it in depth'. So you're providing that reason for why people are meeting that's very important. 3:41 Then from there, you want to set the objective. Why? Why are we meeting today? What what is what is the goal? What are we trying to get out of the meeting today? What expectations are we setting? So you could say something like and being very clear, 'The goal of our meeting today is to identify what steps we can take to more effectively utilize the marketing budget. So we've gathered you all here today to brainstorm some ideas and we're hoping that by the end of today, we'll have a few action items that can get us to the next place or where we want to be'. So what I did there was I just set some very clear objectives that by the end of our meeting today, we want to have action items, which is a great way to say we want to have actionable items, things that we need to do that are using verbs that we're going to have done before our next meeting. 4:48 Now, when setting expectations, you could also say 'we're all here today to review the points that I sent out last week in the prep material that I sent out'. And you want to make sure that the objective isn't too big to where it's going to be something that's not realistic for the meeting. You want to make sure that it's realistic. 5:14 And then the last step is to provide a roadmap for the meeting. So you could say something like, 'I'd like to start by answering any questions that you may have about the budget and any clarity that I can provide around that. And then I think it would be really helpful to open up the discussion to any ideas that the team may have based on the points that I sent last week. From there, after we've identified a few action items. I like for us to kind of split up the tasks to make sure that before the next meeting, we're all set on what we need to accomplish'. So there, I gave a very clear roadmap of what we'll be doing throughout the meeting. And of course, if it makes sense to put some time markers on it, you can do that. So you could say, 'I'd like to start the meeting by answering any questions for about five to 10 minutes. Hopefully, that can you provide some clarity. And then from there, I think it'd be helpful to have about 15-20 minutes of open discussion and brainstorm on any of the ideas that our team may have. I want to make sure that we leave about Yeah, five to seven minutes at the end so that we're all very clear on what the next action items are before our next meeting'. 6:36 So what did we do today? We made sure to identify some preparation material we can send before the meeting, we allowed for some small talk, we thanked everyone for joining, followed up on the last meetings points. We made sure to provide context, which is the why we are meeting, we set very clear objectives or goals for what we want to accomplish. And then we made sure to provide a roadmap of all the different points throughout the meeting that we'll be covering. So opening the meeting, it sounds like there's several steps, but really, it's one of those things that once you try it a few times it will come very naturally. So check it out. Try it a few times, use the notes. And as always, keep learning. 7:48 And that's all we have for you today. We hope you enjoyed it, and remember to subscribe to Talaera Talks . We'll be back soon with more! And visit our website at talaera.com  for more valuable content on business English. You can also  request a free consultation on the best ways for you and your team to improve your communication skills. So have a great day and keep learning!

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8 Opening a Speech: Get Their Attention from the Start!

Get the audience’s attention, or the rest of your speech is a waste. I mean it!  Most people spend the majority of their speech preparation time working on the body of their speech and then they tack on an opening and a closing last minute.

The opening and closing deserve the most attention. Why?  If you don’t get the audience’s attention and get them to pay attention to you instead of…  the thoughts in their heads, their grocery lists, their neighbors, their social media…then all the rest of your brilliant content is wasted because they will never hear it. Lisa Marshall of Toastmasters International stresses the opening words are so important that “I spend 10 times more time developing and practicing the opener than any other part of the speech.”

Look at the description of Person A and Person B and tell me which person you like more.

Person A envious, stubborn, critical, impulsive, industrious, and intelligent

Person B intelligent, industrious, impulsive, critical, stubborn, and envious

If you are like most people, you have a preference for Person B.  This illustrates a study by Solomon Ashe. He had subjects rate these two people using a string of descriptive words. Now look back at the descriptions. Look closely and you will notice they are the same words in a different order. Most people put the most emphasis on the first three words in determining how they will create the person. Like Asche’s subjects, your audience will be evaluating those first three words. Let’s bring it back around to speechmaking. The first sentence out of your mouth is crucial and the first three words are especially important.

I am sure you are not surprised to know that people form opinions quickly. To prove this, researchers showed subjects either a 20-minute clip of a job applicant or a 20-30 second clip of a job applicant. They were asked to rate the person on likeability and self-assurance. People were able to form an opinion in under thirty seconds. Not only that but they were able to form the same opinions from a 30-second clip as a 20-minute exposure.

The Battle for Attention

Remember that every piece of content in our modern era is part of an attention war. It’s fighting against thousands of other claims on people’s time and energy. This is true even when you’re standing on a stage in front of a seated audience. They have deadly distracters in their pockets called smartphones, which they can use to summon to their eyes a thousand outside alternatives. Once emails and texts make their claim, your talk may be doomed. And then there’s that lurking demon of modern life, fatigue. All these are lethal enemies. You never want to provide someone with an excuse to zone out. You have to be a savvy general directing this war’s outcome. Starting strong is one of your most important weapons. Chris Anderson, TED Talks, The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking.

“People don’t pay attention to boring things,” according to John Medina, author of Brain Rules, “You’ve got 30 seconds before they start asking the question, ‘Am I going to pay attention to you or not?'” It is important to get your audience’s attention right away. In this chapter, I will share with you several ways to win the war for attention and to start your speech right. I will show you the basic opening and closing structure of speeches and give you many examples of what that looks like.  A speech, like an airplane, needs a good take-off and a good landing. Now it’s time to prepare to have a strong take-off and learn everything that goes into a speech introduction. This chapter is full of examples from a variety of talks. I included quotes from those introductions, but I also included links to each of those talks hoping you will be interested enough to want to listen.

Ways to Start a Speech

Chris Anderson likens this to battle. “First there is the 10-second war: can you do something in your first moments on stage to ensure people’s eager attention while you set up your talk topic? Second is the 1-minute war: can you then use that first minute to ensure that they’re committed to coming on the full talk journey with you?”

When thinking about your speech, spend a lot of time thinking about how to win the battle for their attention. Your introduction should make your audience want to put down their phones and listen. Your introduction should be so compelling they stop their wandering minds and turn their thoughts to you and you alone. Your introduction should start with three strong words where they form a strong opinion of you and your speech.  Let me share how to accomplish this. 

Capturing the audience through the story is one of the most powerful ways to start a speech. A story engages the brain in powerful ways and causes the audience’s brains to sync with the speakers. A well-told story will allow the audience to “see” things in their mind’s eye and to join the speaker’s emotions.

Watch this clip by Ric Elias for how he begins his speech with a powerful story. Particularly notice his first four words, “Imagine a big explosion.” 

Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft.   Imagine a plane full of smoke.   Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack.   It sounds scary.   Well, I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D. I was the only one who could talk to the flight attendants. So I looked at them right away, and they said, “No problem. We probably hit some birds.” The pilot had already turned the plane around, and we weren’t that far. You could see Manhattan. Two minutes later, three things happened at the same time.

Ric Elias, Three Things I Learned While My Plane Crashed. 

Consider these other examples and notice how the speaker uses a story.

More powerful introductions using story:

I love you, I believe in you and it’s going to be OK. The three things that I needed to hear three years ago when I felt more abandoned than ever. I remember that day as if it happen this morning. It was Sunday and I had just woken up early at a brisk 12:30 in the afternoon. Ryan Brooks, Honesty, courage, and the importance of brushing your teeth.  When I was nine years old I went off to summer camp for the first time. And my mother packed me a suitcase full of books, which to me seemed like a perfectly natural thing to do. Because in my family, reading was the primary group activity. And this might sound antisocial to you, but for us, it was really just a different way of being social. You have the animal warmth of your family sitting right next to you, but you are also free to go roaming around the adventureland inside your own mind. And I had this idea that camp was going to be just like this, but better. Susan Cain. The Power of Introverts. I grew up to study the brain because I have a brother who has been diagnosed with a brain disorder: schizophrenia. Jill Bolte Taylor, My Stroke of Insight. A few years ago, I got one of those spam emails. I’m not quite sure how, but it turned up in my inbox, and it was from a guy called Solomon Odonkoh.  James Veitch This is What Happens When You Reply to Spam Email. Eleven years ago, while giving birth to my first child, I hemorrhaged and was transfused with seven pints of blood. Four years later, I found out that I had been infected with the AIDS virus and had unknowingly passed it to my daughter, Ariel, through my breast milk, and my son, Jake, in utero. Elizabeth Glaser,  Address to the 1992 Democratic National Convention.

Good stories immediately set the stage and introduce you to the place and to the people. Doing this helps your brain can form a structure where the story takes place. It helps you see the story unfold in your mind.  If you need help starting a story, Vanessa Van Edwards suggests these prompts:

• Once upon a time.
• I’m here for a reason, and it’s an interesting story.
• The best thing that ever happened to me was.

There is an entire chapter on the Power of Story that can be found here.

Humor is a rubber sword – it allows you to make a point without drawing blood. – Mary Hirsch

  When Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane spoke at Harvard Commencemen t in the rain, he started with “There’s nowhere I would rather be on a day like this than around all this electrical equipment.” People laughed, people smiled, and the speech was off to a strong start. Humor works because it gives the audience a hit of the feel-good hormone dopamine. That is … if you are funny. If you decide to use humor, make sure you are funny. Test your humor on honest friends. In addition, the humor you use should fit your personality and your audience. Be warned, some groups would find humor inappropriate, do your research.

Watch this clip for how Tshering Tobgay begins his speech with humor. 

In case you are wondering, no, I’m not wearing a dress, and no, I’m not saying what I’m wearing underneath. (Laughter) This is a go. This is my national dress. This is how all men dress in Bhutan. That is how our women dress. Like our women, we men get to wear pretty bright colors, but unlike our women, we get to show off our legs. Our national dress is unique, but this is not the only thing that’s unique about my country. Our promise to remain carbon neutral is also unique, and this is what I’d like to speak about today, our promise to remain carbon neutral.

Tshering Tobgay, This Country Isn’t Just Carbon Neutral–Its Carbon Negative. 

More powerful introductions using humor

I didn’t rebel as a teenager.   I started late and was still going at it the summer I turned thirty. I just became an American citizen, I divorced my husband, I got a big tattoo of a bat on my arm, and I joined a New York City punk band. Danusia Trevino, Guilty I need to make a confession at the outset here. A little over 20 years ago, I did something that I regret, something that I’m not particularly proud of.   Something that, in many ways, I wish no one would ever know, but that here I feel kind of obliged to reveal. In the late 1980s, in a moment of youthful indiscretion, I went to law school. Dan Pink, The Puzzle of Motivation.  It is really interesting to be a woman and to get to 45 and to not be married yet and to not have kids, especially when you have pushed out your fifth kid on television. Tracee Ellis Ross, 2017 Glamour Woman of the Year. I am not drunk …but the doctor who delivered me was.” (reference the shake she has due to a botched medical procedure at birth causing her cerebral palsey). Maysoon Zayid, I’ve Got 99 Prolbems and Cerebral Palsey is Not One of Them .

Salutation followed by humor

Oh boy, thank you so much, thank you so much.   Thank you, President Cowan, Mrs. President Cowen; distinguished guests, undistinguished guests, you know who you are, honored faculty and creepy Spanish teacher.   And thank you to all the graduating Class of 2009, I realize most of you are hungover and have splitting headaches and haven’t slept since Fat Tuesday, but you can’t graduate ’til I finish, so listen up. When I was asked to make the commencement speech, I immediately said yes.   Then I went to look up what commencement meant which would have been easy if I had a dictionary, but most of the books in our house are Portia’s, and they’re all written in Australian.   So I had to break the word down myself, to find out the meaning. Commencement: common, and cement, common cement.   You commonly see cement on sidewalks.   Sidewalks have cracks, and if you step on a crack, you break your mother’s back.   So there’s that.   But I’m honored that you’ve asked me here to speak at your common cement Ellen DeGenres, Commencement Speech at Tulane. Well, thank you. Thank you Mr. President, First Lady, King Abdullah of Jordan, Norm, distinguished guests. Please join me in praying that I don’t say something we’ll all regret. That was for the FCC. If you’re wondering what I’m doing here, at a prayer breakfast, well so am I. I’m certainly not here as a man of the cloth, unless that cloth is — is leather. Bono at  the  54th annual National Prayer Breakfast.  

Starting your speech by sharing a little-known fact, can be powerful. For this to fully work, you need to have the audience’s attention from the very first word. Read on for how these speakers started strong.

Powerful introductions using facts

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, Teach Every Child About Food. So I want to start by offering you a free, no-tech life hack, and all it requires of you is this: that you change your posture for two minutes. Amy Cuddy, Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are. 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. (Laughter) Also, the person to your left is a liar. Also the person sitting in your very seats is a liar. We’re all liars. What I’m going to do today is I’m going to show you what the research says about why we’re all liars, how you can become a lie spotter and why you might want to go the extra mile and go from lie spotting to truth seeking, and ultimately to trust building. Pamela Meyer, How to Spot a Liar. You will live 7.5 minutes longer than you would have otherwise, just because you watched this talk.  Jane McGonigal. The Game That Can Give You Ten Extra Years of Life. There are 900,000 divorces   in the United States of America every year.   Fewer than 10% of them   ever talked to anybody about their relationship.   So why would you need a science?   Well, we need a science to develop effective treatment   and understanding of how to make love work.   Why?   Why should we care about having great relationships?   Well, it turns out that in the past 50 years,   a field called social epidemiology has emerged,   and it shows that great friendships,   great love relationships between lovers and parents and children   lead to greater health – mental health as well as physical health –   greater wealth, greater resilience,   faster recovery from illness,   greater longevity –   if you want to live 10 to 15 years longer, work on your relationships,   not just your exercise –   and more successful children as well.   John Gottman. The Science of Love.  This room may appear to be holding 600 people but there is actually so many more because within each of us there is a multiple of personalities. Elizabeth Lesser,  Take the Other to Lunch.

Using a physical object can draw the audience’s attention. Make sure you plan the timing of the prop, and you practice with it. It is important that it is large enough for the audience to see and they can see it well enough that they are not frustrated. Depending on your speech, it may be appropriate to put it away, so it is not distracting.

Powerful introductions using props

Darren Tay walks onto the stage and stares at the audience. He pulls a pair of underwear out of his pocket and puts them on over his suit. “Hey loser how do you like your new school uniform. I think it looks great on you. Those were the words of my high school bully Greg Upperfield. Now if you are all wondering if the underwear that Greg used was clean, I had the same questions. Darren Tay, Outsmart, Outlast. Toastmasters 2016 World Champion of Public Speaking . Mohammed Qahtani walks onstage, puts a cigarette in his mouth … then looks up as if noticing the audience and says, “What?” As the audience laughs, he continues. “Oh, you all think smoking kills? Ha-ha, let me tell you something. Do you know that the amount of people dying from diabetes are three times as many [as the] people dying from smoking? Yet if I pulled out a Snickers bar, nobody would say anything.” He goes on to say, his facts are made up and his real topic is about how words have power. Mohammed Qahtani, Toastmasters 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking

JA Gamach blows a train whistle and then starts his speech as if he were a conductor, “All aboard! It’s a bright sunny day and you are taking a train. You are wearing a pair of sandals you proudly made yourself. As you board the train one of your sandals slips off and falls beside the track.  (J.A. loses one sandal that falls down the platform.)  You try to retrieve it. Too late. The train starts to pull away. What would you have done? I would have cursed my bad luck, mad at losing a sandal. JA Gamache, Toastmasters 2007 World Championship. 

Use a Quotation

Powerful introductions using quotes.

Rules for using quotes

• Be sure to use the quote purposefully and not just as placeholders.
• Quotes can just take up valuable space where you could put content unless they are not properly used.
• Let the quote be more important than the author. When using a quote at the opening, say the quote first and then the author. When using a quote at the end of a speech, say the author first and then the quote.
• Keep it short and sweet. Use a quote that gets to the point quickly.
• If you must use long quotes–put them on your slide.
• If you project a quote, read it to the audience. Never expect them to read it while you talk about something else. Never say stupid things like, “You can read, I’ll let you read this for yourselves” or “Your adults, I’ll let you process this.”
• Check the authorship and authenticity of the quote. There are so many quotes on the internet that are misattributed and misquoted. For example, who wrote the quote: “They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel”?
• Do not go for the overused quote or your audience is prone to dismiss it.  Instead of quoting an overused “I have a dream quote” do as Jim Key, the 2003 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking did and pick an equally great but lesser-used Martin Luther King Quote: “The time is always right to do what is right!”

Watch Nate Stauffer at a Moth Grand Slam as he uses poetry to start and carry his story.

Watch this clip for how Andrew Solomon opens with a quote to make us think about depression. 

Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share. 

Reference the Occasion

Ceremonial speeches often call for acknowledgment of those in attendance or a mention of the occasion. Here is how Martin Luther King Junior set up his famous speech. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Martin Luther King Junior, I Have a Dream.

Get the Audience Involved

Having the audience stand, raise their hand, or even nod in encouragement can cause them to focus on your message. This can be particularly helpful if the audience has been sitting for a while. Let me show you a few examples of how that works.

Ask a Question

You can involve the audience from the start by asking them a question.

Watch the first few minutes of Amy Purdy’s speech and how she starts with a question, “ If your life were a book   and you were the author,   how would you want your story to go?” 

More powerful introductions using a question

I’m here today to talk about a disturbing question, which has an equally disturbing answer. My topic is the secret of domestic violence and the question I’m going to tackle is the one everyone always asks. Why would she stay? Why would anyone stay with a man who beats her? Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave- Leslie Morgan Steiner Here’s a question we need to rethink together: What should be the role of money and markets in our societies? Today, there are very few things that money can’t buy. If you’re sentenced to a jail term in Santa Barbara, California, you should know that if you don’t like the standard accommodations, you can buy a prison cell upgrade. It’s true. For how much, do you think? What would you guess? Five hundred dollars? It’s not the Ritz-Carlton. It’s a jail! Eighty-two dollars a night. Eighty-two dollars a night. Michael Sandel, Why We Shouldn’t Trust Markets with Our Civic Life.

How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions? For example: Why is Apple so innovative? Year after year, after year, after year, they’re more innovative than all their competition. Simon Sinek, How Great Leaders Inspire Action.  Can you remember a moment when a brilliant idea flashed into your head? Darren LaCroix,  Ouch! World Champion of Public Speaking.

Have the Audience Participate

If you ask a question you want the audience to answer, be sure to give them time to respond. If they raise their hands, be sure to acknowledge their response. You might have the answer by standing, by raising their hands, by speaking to their neighbor. You might call on one member of the audience to answer for the group.

If you ask a question you want the audience to answer, don’t let your presentation slide give away the answer. For example, one speaker had a slide behind him that said, “Lesson 1: Don’t Worry About IQ.” He has the audience raise their hand if they want to improve their grades then he asks, “So can I get a show of hands, how many would say IQ is going to be the most important to get those marks to go up?” Very few people responded because the answer was “written on the wall” literally.

Watch this clip as Allan Pease engages the audience.

Everybody hold your right hand in front like this in a handshaking position. Uncross your legs. Relaxed position. Right hand in front. When I say the word, “Now” here’s what we’re going to do. I am going to ask you to turn to someone besides you, shake hands as if you’re meeting for the first time, and keep pumping till I ask you to stop. Then you’ll stop and freeze it and we’re going to analyze what’s happening. You got that? You don’t have time to think about this. Do it now. Pick anybody and pump. Pump, everybody. Freeze it. Hold it. Stop. Hold it. Freeze it. Keep your hands locked. Keep them locked. The person whose hand is most on top is saying “I’ll be the boss for the rest of the day.” Allan Pease, Body Language, the Power is in the Palm of Your Hands. 

More powerful introductions using audience participation

I have a confession to make. But first, I want you to make a little confession to me. In the past year, I want you to just raise your hand if you’ve experienced relatively little stress? Kelly McGonigal, How to Make Stress Your Friend. So I’d like to start, if I may, by asking you some questions. If you’ve ever lost someone you truly loved, ever had your heartbroken, ever struggled through an acrimonious divorce, or being the victim of infidelity, please stand up. If standing up isn’t accessible to you, you can put your hand up. Please stay standing and keep your hand up there. If you’ve ever lived through a natural disaster, being bullied or made redundant, stand on up. If you’ve ever had a miscarriage, if you’ve ever had an abortion or struggled through infertility, please stand up. Finally, if you or anyone you love has had to cope with mental illness, dementia, some form of physical impairment or cope with suicide, please stand up. Look around you. Adversity doesn’t discriminate. If you are alive, you are going to have to, or you’ve already had to, deal with some tough times Thank you, everyone. Take a seat. Lucy Hone: The Three Secrets of Resilient People.  Advice from Moth Storytelling Club Have a great first line that sets up the stakes and grabs attention No: “So I was thinking about climbing this mountain. But then I watched a little TV and made a snack and took a nap and my mom called and vented about her psoriasis then I did a little laundry (a whites load) (I lost another sock, darn it!) and then I thought about it again and decided I’d climb the mountain the next morning.” Yes: “The mountain loomed before me. I had my hunting knife, some trail mix and snow boots. I had to make it to the little cabin and start a fire before sundown or freeze to death for sure.”  

Arouse Suspense or Curiosity

Watch this clip for how Kathryn Schulz creates curiosity by showing us Johnny Depp’s tattoo and then talks about her tattoo of regret. We hang on to her every word wondering, “Where is all this going and how bad can her tattoo really be?”

So that’s Johnny Depp, of course.   And that’s Johnny Depp’s shoulder.   And that’s Johnny Depp’s famous shoulder tattoo.   Some of you might know that, in 1990,   Depp got engaged to Winona Ryder,   and he had tattooed on his right shoulder   “Winona forever.”   And then three years later —   which in fairness, kind of is forever by Hollywood standards —   they broke up,   and Johnny went and got a little bit of repair work done.   And now his shoulder says, “Wino forever.”

Kathryn Schulz, Don’t Regret, Regret. 

  Saying unexpected things or challenging assumptions can get a speech started off right. A herd of wildebeests, a shoal of fish, a flock of birds. Many animals gather in large groups that are among the most wonderful spectacles in the natural world. But why do these groups form? The common answers include things like seeking safety in numbers or hunting in packs or gathering to mate or breed, and all of these explanations, while often true, make a huge assumption about animal behavior, that the animals are in control of their own actions, that they are in charge of their bodies. And that is often not the case. Ed Yong. Zombie Roaches and Other Parasite Tales. TED Talk

 Keys to Success

Memorize your first sentence so you can deliver it with impact. Memorize your whole speech opening if possible. Make sure your first three words have an impact.

Typical Patterns for Speech Openings

• Get the audience’s attention–called a hook or a grabber.
• Establish rapport and tell the audience why you care about the topic of why you are credible to speak on the topic.
• Introduce the speech thesis/preview/good idea.
• Tell the audience why they should care about this topic.
• Give a transition statement to the body of the speech.

Step Two: Credibility

First, you hook the audience with your powerful grabber, then you tell them why you are credible to speak on the topic and why the topic is important. If they know your credentials, you would not need to tell them your credibility but you may still want to tell them why you are interested in the topic. Here are a few examples of how some speakers included credibility.

Tell Why You Are Credible

I’m a doctor, but I kind of slipped sideways into research, and now I’m an epidemiologist. Ben Goldacre, Battling Bad Science.  I started studying resilience research a decade ago at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. It was an amazing time to be there because the professors who trained me had just picked up the contract to train all 1.1 million American soldiers to be as mentally fit as they always have been physically fit. Lucy Hone: The Three Secrets of Resilient People.  What I’m going to do is to just give a few notes,   and this is from a book I’m preparing called   “Letters to a Young Scientist.”   I’d thought it’d be appropriate to   present it, on the basis that I have had extensive experience   in teaching, counseling scientists across a broad array of fields.   And you might like to hear some of the principles that I’ve developed in doing   that teaching and counseling. EO Wilson: Advice to a Young Scientist. 

Step Three: Tell Why it is Important

Early on in your speech, you should tell the audience why they should care. You should connect the speech to things they care about. This is where you answer, so what, who cares?

You know, I didn’t set out to be a parenting expert. In fact, I’m not very interested in parenting, per se. It’s just that there’s a certain style of parenting these days that is kind of messing up kids, impeding their chances to develop.  Julie Lythcott-Haims, How to Raise Successful Kids – Without Over-Parenting

Step Four: Tell the Purpose of the Talk (aka Preview/ Thesis)

“If you don’t know what you want to achieve in your presentation your audience never will.” – Harvey Diamond, author

Tell the audience your purpose, clearly give them an overview of the main points.  MIT professor, Patrick Winston says one of the best things to add to your speech is an empowerment promise. You want to tell people what they will know at the end of your speech that they didn’t know at the beginning. It’s their reason for being here.  His empowerment promise was, “Today you will see some examples of what you can put in your armory of speaking techniques and it will be the case that one of those examples–some heuristic, some technique, maybe only one will be the one that will get you the job. By the end of the next 60 minutes, you will have been exposed to a lot of ideas, some of which you will incorporate into your own repertoire, and they will ensure that you get the maximum opportunity to have your ideas valued and accepted by the people you speak with.” Notice that this statement told you what to expect and why it mattered.

Here are examples of how various speakers accomplished this.

For years, I’ve been telling people, stress makes you sick. It increases the risk of everything from the common cold to cardiovascular disease. Basically, I’ve turned stress into the enemy. But I have changed my mind about stress, and today, I want to change yours. Kelly McGonigal, How to Make Stress Your Friend.   We’ve been sold the lie that disability is a Bad Thing, capital B, capital T. It’s a bad thing, and to live with a disability makes you exceptional. It’s not a bad thing, and it doesn’t make you exceptional. Stella Young, I’m Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much

What I’m going to show you is all of the main things, all of the main features of my discipline, evidence-based medicine. And I will talk you through all of these and demonstrate how they work, exclusively using examples of people getting stuff wrong. Ben Goldacre, Battling Bad Science.  I would like to think that we (Arab women) poor, oppressed women actually have some useful, certainly hard-earned lessons to share, lessons that might turn out useful for anyone wishing to thrive in the modern world. Here are three of mine. Leila Hoteit, Three Lessons on Success from an Arab businesswoman We are often terrified and fascinated by the power hackers now have. They scare us. But the choices they make have dramatic outcomes that influence us all. So I am here today because I think we need hackers, and in fact, they just might be the immune system for the information age. Sometimes they make us sick, but they also find those hidden threats in our world, and they make us fix it. Keren Elazari. Hackers: The Internet’s Immune System Try This — Inspired by TED Master Class After you write your thesis, send it to three people with the question, “Based on what you read here, what do you think my speech will be about?”  

Putting It All Together

At this point, you know you need to have a grabber, a preview, a credibility statement, and a so-what-who-cares statement.  Let’s take a look at one of the top TED talks of all time by Jamie Oliver. This speech is a good illustration of everything we’ve been talking about so far and how all this works together.

“Everybody close your eyes.”

I don’t want to close my eyes; it makes me feel awkward and exposed to be in a group of people with my eyes closed. Because of that, I keep my eyes open. The problem is  when I keep my eyes open, I feel like some sort of horrible nonconformist rebel. I feel awkward with my eyes closed and I feel guilty if they are open. Either way, I just feel bad. Besides, half of the time when speakers tell audience members to close their eyes, they forget to tell us when we can open them. If you are wanting me to imagine a story, just tell me to imagine it, don’t make me close my eyes (rant over).

“Can everybody hear me?”

You should plan your opening to be intentional and with power. “Can everybody hear me” is a weak and uncertain statement and this is not the first impression you want to leave. Do a microphone check before the audience members arrive and have someone stand in different corners of the room to make sure you can be heard. Don’t waste your valuable speech time with questions that you should already know the answer to.

“How long do I have to speak?”

You should know that before you begin. Even if the presentations for the day are running over and you are the last speaker, you should ask the MC before you begin. Always plan your first words with power.

“Can you read this?”

You should make your slides big, really big. Test out your slides in advance of your speech, walk all around the room and make sure you can read them. Have a friend check them out as well. You should know they are big enough because you planned for it and tested it.

“Turn off your cell phones and laptops.”

People really hate having things taken away, not to mention that your audience may want to take notes on their devices. Chances are you are speaking to adults, let them determine if it is appropriate to have out their technology.

“I’m sorry, I’m losing my voice.” “I’m stopped up.” “I’m under the weather.”

Stop apologizing! Stop making excuses!  While these lines may be true, they just come of as excuses and can make the audience either feel like you don’t want to be there, or they just feel sorry for you.

“I’m so nervous right now.”

Talking about your nervousness will make you more nervous and will make them look for signs of your nervousness. Just start your speech.

“So, Um, Ok.”

Do not start with hesitation. Plan the first words, memorize the first words, practice the first words.  Do not start with “Ok, so um, now I’d like…” Plan strong and start strong.

Do Not Discuss Your Business with People Watching…Really! I Mean It! Many of us are giving and listening to presentations in an online format.  I have attended numerous presentations this year through Zoom where I have to sit and watch while the organizers engage in personal small talk or deal with the details of the presentation. This is how the speech I recently attended began. “Donna, you are going to share your screen, right?” “Yes. I have my PowerPoint ready to go. Will you push “record” when I give the signal?” “Sure. Where did you say that button is again? Do you think we should wait five more minutes, I think we had more who were coming? Dave, what was the total we were expecting?” “Yeah, we had 116 sign up, but the reminders went out late so this may be all we have. We can give them a few more minutes to log on.” “Donna, How is your dog? Is she still struggling with her cone since her spay surgery? My dog never would wear the cone –she tore her stitches out and broke her wound open. It was terrible. Well, it looks like it is about time to begin, thank you everyone for coming.” If you are organizing an event online, hosting a speech online, giving a presentation online–please keep it professional. Most platforms will allow you to keep the audience in a waiting room until it is time to start. If you have a business to deal with, keep the audience out until you have everything ready to go. Once the audience is in the meeting, you should engage the audience in group-type small talk or you should just start the presentation. In professional settings, you should start the meeting on time. Why punish those who showed up on time to wait for those who aren’t there yet?

A Conversation Over Coffee with Bill Rogers

I asked my long-time friend, Bill Rogers, to write an excerpt to add to the book.  I met Bill when he was the Chief Development Officer for a hospital in Northwest Arkansas and I met him again when he was reinventing himself as a college student getting a Master’s Degree in the theater.  He would love to share a symbolic cup of coffee with you and give you advice about public speaking. 

Perfect morning for a walk, isn’t it? Join me for a cup of coffee? Wonderful. Find us a table and I’ll get our coffee.

There you go; just like you like it. There’s nothing like a great cup of coffee on the patio of your neighborhood coffee shop, is there?

Now that you’re settled in your favorite chair, take a sip, and let that glorious caffeine kick in and do its stuff. Okay, let’s talk.

So, you were asking me about public speaking.

Well, let’s see. Where do we begin?

One of the first pieces of advice I ever received was to imagine that every member of your audience is sitting there in their underwear! Yeah, right. That never worked for me. I tried it once with a local civic group of community leaders both male and female. If the intent of that tidbit is to make you relax, it certainly didn’t work for me. It just made me more self-conscious…and more nervous. I not only got distracted, but I also lost my train of thought, I started sweating, and, of course, imagined myself standing there without clothes. Needless to say, that speech was a disaster and I’ve never used it again. I suggest you don’t either.

In the early days, I also relied very heavily on my typed-up speech. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that unless you find yourself reading it word for word as I did. Nothing is more boring nor puts an audience to sleep quicker than a speaker with their nose down reading a speech. There’s no connection and connection with your audience is key.

As you know, I love theatre and I’ve done a bit of acting over the years. Early on, I learned that the quicker I learned my lines, the more I could play, experiment, and shape my character. It relaxed me and gave me enormous freedom. It led me to find a mantra for myself: “With discipline comes freedom.” This freedom will allow you to improvise as your audience or situation dictates while still conveying the core message of your presentation. That discipline and its resulting freedom apply to public speaking of any kind and, I think, will serve you well.

Another old adage we’ve all heard is Aristotle’s advice. You know the one. No? Well, roughly, it’s to tell your audience what you’re going to say, say it, and then tell them what you just said. That’s the basic formula for public speaking. And it works as a good place to start.

However, effective speaking is much more and, to me, it starts with a story or even a simple sentence.

You know the feeling you get when you read the first sentence of a good book and it just reaches out and grabs you? That should be your goal with every presentation. One sentence to capture your audience’s attention. Something that causes them to lean forward. Something that sparks their imagination.

It doesn’t have to be all that profound either. It can be something very simple. A personal story that relates to your topic. A relevant fact or statistic that defines or illustrates the issue or subject matter at hand.

A couple of classics come to mind. The first is Alice Walker’s, “The Color of Purple.”

“You better not tell nobody but God.”

And the second one is from my favorite novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee.

“When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm broken at the elbow.”

Both sentences hook you immediately. A few simple words speak volumes. After reading or hearing those words, you naturally lean in. You want to learn more. You want to find out what happens next. Every effective speech or presentation does the same thing.

Of course, make sure that the first and last thing you say to your audience is both relevant and appropriate. I share this out of an abundance of caution. I once worked for an internationally recognized and well-respected children’s research hospital and I was given the privilege to speak at a national educational convention. The room was filled wall to wall with teachers. I thought I’d be cute and add a little levity. I opened my presentation with this line, “You know, I’ve had nightmares like this…” Instead of the roars of laughter, I was expecting, a wave of silence ensued. Not only was the line not funny, but it was also wholly inappropriate and I immediately lost my audience. Not my best day. Learn from my mistakes.

Finally, let’s touch on the importance of approaching a speech as a conversation. You and I are sitting here enjoying our coffee and having a friendly, relaxed conversation. Strive for that every chance you get. You may not always have that luxury. Some speeches and presentations simply demand formality. But even in those cases, you can usually make it somewhat conversational. I always try to write my speeches in a conversational style. Like I’m talking to a friend…or trying to make a new one.

So, to recap: tell a story, learn your lines, hook your audience with a simple sentence, close with a question or call to action, use repetition, keep it conversational, treat your audience as a friend, and give yourself permission to relax.

Above all, be yourself. Allow yourself to be as relaxed as you are with those closest to you. If you’re relaxed, if you try to think of your audience as a friend, then, in most cases, they too will relax and they will root for you. Even if they disagree with what you are telling them, they will respect you and they will listen.

How about another cup?

Key Takeaways

Remember This!

• The most important part of your speech is the introduction because if you don’t get their attention, they are not listening to the rest of what you have to say.
• To get attention, tell a story, use humor, share a quote, tell a startling fact, show a prop, ask a question, reference the occasion.
• In addition to the grabber, a good introduction should establish rapport and tell the audience why you are credible.
• An introduction often includes a “so what who cares statement” to tell the audience why this should matter to them.
• The thesis/preview should be clear enough that someone could read just that sentence or couple of sentences and know what the speech is about.

Please share your feedback, suggestions, corrections, and ideas.

I want to hear from you. 

Do you have an activity to include? Did you notice a typo that I should correct? Are you planning to use this as a resource and do you want me to know about it? Do you want to tell me something that really helped you?

Click here to share your feedback. 

Asch, S. E. (1946). Forming impressions of personality. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 41, 258-290. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0055756

Anderson, C. (2016). TED talks: The official TED guide to public speaking. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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Rogers, B. (2020). A conversation over coffee. A personal essay was written for this chapter.

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How to Start a Speech: The Best (and Worst) Speech Openers

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One of the hardest things about public speaking is knowing how to start a speech. Your opening line is your first impression. It’s how you capture attention. It’s how you captivate the audience. So how do you make sure you nail it every time?

The best way to know how to open a speech is to look at what has worked in the past. When we examined the top speeches of all time and the most popular TED talks of all time, we found some interesting speaking patterns.

Time has identified the top 10 greatest speeches of all time. They are:

Opening Lines of the Top 10 Greatest Speeches of All Time

#1: Socrates – “Apology”

#2: Patrick Henry – “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”

#3: Frederick Douglass – “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery”

#4: Abraham Lincoln – “Gettysburg Address”

Opening Line: “Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

#5: Susan B. Anthony – “Women’s Rights to the Suffrage”

#6: Winston Churchill – “Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat”

#7: John F. Kennedy – “Inaugural Address”

Opening Line: “We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom — symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning — signifying renewal, as well as change.”

#8: Martin Luther King, Jr. – “I Have a Dream”

#9: Lyndon B. Johnson – “The American Promise”

#10: Ronald Reagan – “Remarks at the Brandenburg Gate”

How do all of these historical greats start their speeches? Is there a difference between these and some of the more modern top TED talks?

Before we dive in, let’s recap with some critical do’s and don’ts when opening a speech:

Opening Lines of the Top 10 TED Talks of All Time

Here are the opening lines to the top 10 Ted Talks of all time according to view count:

#1: Sir Ken Robinson – “Do schools kill creativity?” Opening Line: “Good morning. How are you? It’s been great, hasn’t it? I’ve been blown away by the whole thing. In fact, I’m leaving.”

#2: Amy Cuddy – “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are” Opening Line: “So I want to start by offering you a free, no-tech life hack, and all it requires of you is this: that you change your posture for two minutes.”

#3: Simon Sinek – “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”

#4: Brene Brown – “The Power of Vulnerability” Opening Line: “So, I’ll start with this: a couple years ago, an event planner called me because I was going to do a speaking event.”

#5: Mary Roach – “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Orgasm” Opening Line: “All right. I’m going to show you a couple of images from a very diverting paper in The Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine.”

#6: Julian Treasure – “How to Speak so that People Want to Listen” Opening Line: “The human voice: It’s the instrument we all play.”

#7: Jill Bolte Taylor – “My Stroke of Insight” Opening Line: “I grew up to study the brain because I have a brother who has been diagnosed with a brain disorder: schizophrenia.”

#8: James Veitch – “This is What Happens When You Reply to Spam Email” Opening Line: “A few years ago, I got one of those spam emails.”

#9: Cameron Russell – “Looks Aren’t Everything; Believe Me, I’m a Model” Opening Line: “Hi. My name is Cameron Russell, and for the last little while, I’ve been a model.”

#10: Dan Pink – “The Puzzle of Motivation” Opening Line: “I need to make a confession at the outset here.”

What can we learn from these opening lines? There are some patterns that can help us. First, let’s start with what you shouldn’t do. Have you ever made one of these cardinal speaking sins?

Never Start a Presentation with…

Anything technical! This is a big mistake people make when they have not done a tech check ahead of time or are feeling nervous. Never start with these openers:

• Is this microphone working?
• Can you hear me?
• Wow, these lights are bright!

Your nervousness. Many people think it is vulnerable to start with how nervous they are about speaking — you can mention this later, but it should not be the first thing. Why? People will then only be looking for signs of your nervousness. Don’t start with:

• I’m so nervous right now!
• Wow there are so many people here.
• I’m not a great public speaker.

A lackluster or non-believable nicety. It’s great to be grateful to the person who introduced you, but it’s not a great way to include the audience. It’s ok to thank the audience for being there—but do it at the end (not as your opening line). These are all too boring:

• Thanks for having me.
• Thanks for that intro.
• Nice to be here.

Boring, shmoring! I have an exception here if you can make it funny. Ken Robinson started with a nicety and then turned it into a joke. He said, “ “Good morning. How are you? It’s been great, hasn’t it? I’ve been blown away by the whole thing. In fact, I’m leaving.”

More Public Speaking Resources

Get even more public speaking tips with our related resources:

• 10 Presentation Ideas that will Radically Improve Your Presentation Skills
• 6 Public Speaking Apps to try Before Your Next Presentation
• My Top 5 Favorite Public Speakers
• 15 Science-Based Public Speaking Tips To Become a Master Speaker
• How to Give Captivating Presentations
• How to Give an Awesome Toast

How to Start a Presentation

A story. The absolute best way to start a presentation is with a story. There is nothing better to capture the imagination and attention of an audience. Try to use these speaking openers as fill-in-the-blanks for your speech.

• I’m here for a reason. And it’s an interesting story…
• The best thing that ever happened to me was…
• Once upon a time…

In his talk, “The lies our culture tells us about what matters,” David Brooks started off with a great opening line AND a story. He said, “So, we all have bad seasons in life. And I had one in 2013. My marriage had just ended, and I was humiliated by that failed commitment.” Makes you want to watch right…

And if you need help on storytelling basics, be sure to check out some of my top 5 favorite speakers .

A BIG idea. Sometimes you want to share your big idea right up front. This can be helpful because it is intriguing and gets people clued in right away. All TED speakers try to integrate their big idea early.

• You’re here for a reason. It’s…
• The single most important thing I want to share with you today is…
• Today, I want to share a big idea…

I love how Stacy Smith starts off her talk with her big idea framed in an interesting way. She said, “Today, I want to tell you about a pressing social issue. Now, it’s not nuclear arms, it’s not immigration, and it’s not malaria. I’m here to talk about movies.”

Special Note: Be very careful to NOT deliver your one-liner by re-reading your title slide. You also want to position it as exciting and intriguing. For example, don’t say, “Today I am going to talk about body language.” Instead say, “Today I am going to teach you the single most important thing you can do to improve your charisma… and it starts with your body.”

A quirky one-liner. If you can use humor — do it! Humor or curiosity is a great way to start a speech on a high. You can get creative with these! Think of an interesting fact about you, your audience or your topic that can lead you into your content.

• One thing most people don’t know about me is…
• A teacher, a mother and a duck walk into a bar…
• I want to tell you something surprising.

When I gave my TEDx London Talk I started off with a quirky one-liner that immediately got a few laughs. It was “Hi, I’m Vanessa and I am a recovering awkward person.” It worked so well it is also the first line of my book, Captivate . 

II love the way Eve Ensler opens her speech with an interesting one-liner: “For a long time, there was me, and my body.”

This is a great tip from Conor Neill. He says that it is great to start with a question that the audience is asking themselves or would be very curious to know the answer to. This might be phrasing a pain point or worry for your audience.

• Do you ever worry about…?
• Have you ever wondered…?
• You might have always thought…

See Cono Neill’s examples here: 

Did you know…? Any interesting factoid or curiosity is bound to intrigue your audience. This is great if it leads into your content or a story. I like to start with did you know… Here are some that I use. You will have to fill in the blank for your audience:

• Did you know that it takes less than a second to make a first impression ?
• Did you know that your nonverbal communication is 12.5 times more powerful than your words ?
• Did you know that we are lied to 200 times a day ?

Jamie Oliver does this amazingly in his TED Talk. He starts with this mind-blowing fact, “Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead through the food that they eat.”

Hopefully these opening lines will give you some ideas to use to open your speech.

How to End a Speech: My Favorite Closers

Do you know how to end on a high? Leave a lasting impression in your presentation? Science tells us that the first and last parts of your presentations are the most important. Get our FREE download to get our closer guide.

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20 thoughts on “how to start a speech: the best (and worst) speech openers”.

Love your material

didnt help me but still good stuff

Thank you Vanessa. I’ve been a public speaker for 25 years and I’m impressed with your content here. Thank you. Looking forward to a deep dive into more of your material. With gratitude.

Found these examples super informative. Can’t wait to mix match the examples to see which one will work best for my presentation!

I am preparing to make a presentation on Public Speaking and came across your article. This is very instructive and timely too.Many thanks.

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#207: Must-Have English Phrases for Online Meetings

Jun 9, 2021 | Advanced Vocabulary , Business Professional English , English Conversation

Among other things, 2020 was the year of Zoom and that phrase we all love to hate, “You’re on mute.” 😬 And 2021 seems to be the same.

So it’s no surprise that you may be curious about how to lead or participate in an online meeting effectively in English.

Of course, some things are the same as a traditional face-to-face meeting, like starting with a greeting. But not everything translates to an online video platform.

When you need to lead a meeting on Zoom, want to join an online book club, or participate in an English conversation class, with today’s Confident English you’ll learn must-have English phrases for online meetings to help you:

• Set up for success.
• Greet others and lead introductions.
• Establish ground rules to minimize distractions.
• Practice effective time management.
• Handle interruptions like a pro.
• Ask others to wait patiently.
• End on a high note.

Must-Have English Phrases for Online Meetings

Below you’ll find a summary of the key points.

Set Up for Success

• If you’ve never used this video platform before, we will open the meeting room 5 minutes early so you can test your microphone and video before the meeting starts.
• We will start our meeting right on time. Please be sure to test your microphone and video before our meeting starts. And, if you’ll be late, make sure you’re on mute when you join. Thank you.
• Review, or create and review, your agenda for the meeting; you can even share it before the meeting by email so everyone is prepared.

Welcome + Greeting + Introductions

• Greet your colleagues as you would normally do in a professional environment 
• If it’s your first time meeting them, formally greet everyone and give a brief introduction of yourself when the host prompts you.  
• If you’re the host, you should introduce yourself at the beginning of the meeting. 

Keep Intros Simple & Concise

• Remember to keep introductions simple and straightforward. 
• Here are two simple formulas that work well in any meeting. 
• Ex . Hi everyone, my name’s Annemarie and I’m the Director of Speak Confident English. 
• Ex . Hello, my name’s Lina and I’m a Junior Analyst at KPMG.
• Ex . Hi everyone, my name’s Annemarie and I’m from Washington DC. I joined this book club because I love reading mystery novels and discussing them with others.
• I’m happy to join you today.
• I’m thrilled to be a part of your group. 
• It’s a pleasure to meet you all today.
• Ex. There are some unfamiliar faces in today’s meeting, so let’s do a quick round of introductions .

Establish Ground Rules for Smooth Communication and to Minimize Disruptions

As a leader and participant, Apply Active Listening Skills (to a Virtual Setting)

• Minimize any distractions (i.e. put your phone on Airplane Mode, close tabs, silence notifications) and give the speaker your undivided attention 
• Nod and use verbal cues (ex. Mhm, uh-huh, yes) 
• If you have any questions during our discussion today, the easiest way to let me know is with the ‘raised hand’ reaction.
• And don’t hesitate to let others know if you agree or understand their point of view with the thumbs-up reaction.
• If you have any difficulties, you need to leave early or have a clarifying question, you can also share that in the chat.

For more on Active Listening, checking our SCE Lesson titled: Signs of Powerful Listening in English (and Why It’s Important)

Maintain Clear, Respectful Communication

• Avoid talking over one another by actively encouraging turn-taking and/or using a visual cue when you have something to say such as raising your hand or using a reaction button
• Mute your microphone when you’re not speaking
• I’m so sorry to interrupt but I’d like to add to what you said before we move on.
• I apologize for interrupting but I’d like to clarify what you said.
• Sorry to interrupt but may I ask a quick question?

For more examples, check out the Confident English lesson titled, “ 11 Ways to Interrupt Someone Politely in English .”

Practice Effective Time Management

• As with any effective discussion, be sure to state the purpose of your meeting at the beginning and briefly go over the agenda for the meeting; have a clear purpose and end result in mind 
• In order to get through our agenda successfully, we’ll save time at the end to address any other questions you might have.
• If you have any questions outside of the agenda today, please save those until the end.
• That’s a great idea/question. Hold that thought because I’d like to get back to it in just a moment.
• I appreciate your comments, Sue. Let’s see what others have to say on that.”
• We’re almost at the end of our meeting, so let’s go over…

Handle Interruptions Like a Pro

• You’ll have to forgive the [noise] in the background.
• Please come back to me, I need to go on mute for a second.
• Sorry, let me finish my thought and then you can go ahead.
• One moment, please. I’d like to mention another thing before we move on.
• It’s completely ok to notify everyone via chat that you need to resolve a technical issue and/or that you will follow up after reviewing the notes.

Ask Others to Wait

• Bear with me for a moment while I…
• Please wait a moment for…
• I apologize for the wait. Please give me a  moment to…
• T hank you for your patience.

End on a High Note

• Let’s go over our priorities…
• To summarize, we will…
• To quickly recap /Just to recap…
• We got a lot done today. Thank you for your time and patience.
• Thank you for joining today’s meeting and for being patient.
• I wish you all a great week/weekend. See you all next week!
• Have a great day! Goodbye.

You know what’s next. It’s time to practice!

If you consistently lead or participate in online meetings, is there a phrase you always use? What is it? Share it with me in the comments. 

And if you know someone else who would love some must-have English phrases for online meetings, be sure to share this lesson with them. You can email it directly or share it on social media.

Have a fantastic Confident English Wednesday!

~ Annemarie

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This is an excellent outline. Thank you so much for your eloquence and the very helpful phrases

I am so glad you shared this information. It is very helpful for me.

Hi Annemarie, Thank you in advance for the helpful lesson of today. I’m still having an important work since the beggining of April and with weekly call conferences with international people. Very funny but the most interested suggetion that I know today is about when we need to interrupt and ask to say or suggest somethig the physical movement of our body toward the screen and rise the finger give immediately the sense that you are asking something. Visual sign of the body explainore than a high voice!!!

Thank you Annemarie, I’m your fun! Very best Gianna

You’re so welcome, Gianna! I’m glad this was helpful to you.

Hi Annemarie! Thank you very much for this interesting lesson! It’s really helpful because I’ve been coping with long and recurring on line meetings over the last two years . I’ve never been so skilled at technological stuffs, but I had to put myself in the game, to suit to the situation and seized the opportunity of learning something new. I will certainly follow your suggestions right away!! I look forward to listening to your new lesson tomorrow. Regards, Vania

Hi Vania, thanks so much for the comment. Doing something new and getting comfortable with conducting meetings online certainly is scary at the beginning. Even though you’ve been doing it for 2 years now, sometimes it’s hard to know how to lead a successful meeting online. I’m so glad to know this was helpful!!

Thank you for sharing the information. As always it was crisp and to the point.

Thank you for the comment, Pramod! We’re glad you liked the lesson.

Thank you for the information about online discussions or meetings Annemarie. This was really helpful. I have been seeing a lot of something like “Dudu is waiting in the lobby”. I would appreciate it if you can explain that.

You’re very welcome, Dudu. Can you tell me the context of the sentence you’re asking about?

Thank you very much, Anamarie, for sharing this video. I have an online meeting with international students tonight, and what you have shared today gave me a lot of confidence to handle the activity. God bless.

Hi Mar, oh, that’s fantastic! I’m glad the lesson was good timing and I hope the meeting went well!

Very nice and very helpful though I can only say that one who proper manner use the tools he can any society can move. I’m Md Shahidul Haque enjoy every Wednesday given speech. So I am feeling a bit proud for the lerling English. May God bless you and your family. I hope you long leave and give service 3 world countries. Thank a lot form Bangladesh.

Hi Md Shahidul Haque, thank you for your comment. We’re thrilled to know you enjoy Wednesday’s lessons, and they are helpful to you.

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How to smoothly start a meeting (when you’re in charge)

Your turn, now!

Tell me: What are your own tips to conduct a smooth meeting?

Write your answer down in the comments!  It’s a great way to practice, and share with the world!

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My tips to conduct a good meeting is to speak slow and clear. I am from Denmark. If I speak too fast, people can’t understand my accent or words.

Hi Philip, Great tips, thanks! Yes, often people think they need to speak fast to speak well, but often it is the opposite! Just think of how difficult it is to talk with Americans because they speak fast. The goal is clear communication, not fast speech. Thanks for reminding us of that!

Thanks! This is really helpful

I think choosing the proper words Is important. Also, prevent some ambiguous words, in case there is any misunderstanding.

Absolutely, Hank!

Thanks so much!

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Useful English Phrases for Running a Business Meeting

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This reference sheet provides short phrases to help you run a business meeting from start to finish. Generally speaking, you should use formal English to run a business meeting. As you participate, it's a good idea to paraphrase others' ideas to make sure you understand.

Opening the Meeting

Welcome participants with quick phrases and get down to business .

Good morning/afternoon, everyone. If we are all here, let's . . . get started (OR) start the meeting. (OR) . . . start.

Good morning everyone. If we're all here, let's get started.

Welcoming and Introducing Participants

If you have a meeting with new participants , make sure to introduce them before as you start the meeting.

Please join me in welcoming (name of participant) We're pleased to welcome (name of participant) It's a pleasure to welcome (name of participant) I'd like to introduce (name of participant) I don't think you've met (name of participant)

Before I get started, I'd like to please join me in welcoming Anna Dinger from our office in New York.

Stating the Principal Objectives of a Meeting

It's important to begin the meeting by clearly stating the main objectives for the meeting.

We're here today to Our aim is to ... I've called this meeting in order to ... By the end of this meeting, I'd like to have ...

We're here today to discuss the upcoming merger, as well as go over last quarter's sales figures. 

Giving Apologies for Someone Who is Absent

If someone important is missing, it's a good idea to let others know that they will be missing from the meeting.

I'm afraid.., (name of participant) can't be with us today. She is in... I have received apologies for the absence of (name of participant), who is in (place).

I'm afraid Peter can't be with us today. He's in London meeting with clients but will be back next week.

Reading the Minutes (Notes) of the Last Meeting

If you have a meeting that repeats regularly, make sure to read the minutes from the last meeting to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

First, let's go over the report from the last meeting which was held on (date) Here are the minutes from our last meeting, which was on (date)

First, let's go over the minutes from our last meeting which was held last Tuesday. Jeff, could you please read the notes?

Dealing with Recent Developments

Checking in with others will help you keep everyone up to date on progress on various projects. 

Jack, can you tell us how the XYZ project is progressing? Jack, how is the XYZ project coming along? John, have you completed the report on the new accounting package? Has everyone received a copy of the Tate Foundation report on current marketing trends?

Alan, please tell us how the final arrangements for the merger are coming along. 

Moving Forward

Use these phrases to transition to the main focus of your meeting.

So, if there is nothing else we need to discuss, let's move on to today's agenda. Shall we get down to business? Is there any other business? If there are no further developments, I'd like to move on to today's topic.

Once again, I'd like to thank you all for coming. Now, shall we get down to business?

Introducing the Agenda

Before you launch into the main points of the meeting, double check that everyone has a copy of the agenda for the meeting.

Have you all received a copy of the agenda? There are three items on the agenda. First, Shall we take the points in this order? If you don't mind, I'd like to ... go in order (OR) skip item 1 and move on to item 3 I suggest we take item 2 last.

Have you all received a copy of the agenda? Good. Shall we take the points in order?

Allocating Roles (secretary, participants)

As you move through the meeting, it's important that people keep track of what's going on. Make sure to allocate note taking.

(name of participant) has agreed to take the minutes. (name of participant) has kindly agreed to give us a report on this matter. (name of participant) will lead point 1, (name of participant) point 2, and (name of participant) point 3. (name of participant), would you mind taking notes today?

Alice, would you mind taking notes today?

Agreeing on the Ground Rules for the Meeting (contributions, timing, decision-making, etc.)

If there is no regular routine to your meeting, point out the basic rules for discussion throughout the meeting.

We will hear a short report on each point first, followed by a discussion around the table. I suggest we go round the table first. The meeting is due to finish at... We'll have to keep each item to ten minutes. Otherwise we'll never get through. We may need to vote on item 5, if we can't get a unanimous decision.

I suggest we go round the table first to get everyone's feedback. After that, we'll take a vote.

Introducing the First Item on the Agenda

Use these phrases to begin with the first item on the agenda. Make sure to use sequencing language to connect your ideas throughout the meeting.

So, let's start with Shall we start with. . So, the first item on the agenda is Pete, would you like to kick off? Martin, would you like to introduce this item?

Shall we start with the first item? Good. Peter will introduce our plans for the merger and then will discuss the implications. 

Closing an Item

As you move from item to item, quickly state that you have finished with the previous discussion.

I think that covers the first item. Shall we leave that item? If nobody has anything else to add,

I think that covers the important points of the merger.

These phrases will help you transition to the next item on the agenda.

Let's move onto the next item The next item on the agenda is Now we come to the question of.

Now, let's move onto the next item. We've been having a bit of a personnel crunch lately.

Giving Control to the Next Participant

If someone takes over your role, give control to them with one of the following phrases.

I'd like to hand over to Mark, who is going to lead the next point. Right, Dorothy, over to you.

I'd like to hand over to Jeff, who is going to discuss the personnel issues.

Summarizing

As you finish the meeting, quickly sum up the main points of the meeting.

Before we close, let me just summarize the main points. To sum up, ... In brief, Shall I go over the main points?

To sum up, we've moved forward with the merger and expect to start work on the project in May. Also, the personnel department has decided to hire additional staff to help us with the increased demand.

Suggesting and Agreeing on Time, Date and Place for the Next Meeting

As you end the meeting, make sure to arrange for the next meeting if necessary.

Can we fix the next meeting, please? So, the next meeting will be on... (day), the . . . (date) of.. . (month) at... What about the following Wednesday? How is that? So, see you all then. 

Before we leave, I'd like to fix the next meeting. What about next Thursday?

Thanking Participants for Attending

It's always a good idea to thank everyone for attending the meeting.

I'd like to thank Marianne and Jeremy for coming over from London. Thank you all for attending. Thanks for your participation.

Thank you all for your participation and I'll see you next Thursday.

Closing the Meeting

Close the meeting with a simple statement.

The meeting is closed. I declare the meeting closed.

Explore useful phrases and proper language use in these business English articles:

Introduction and Example Meeting Dialogue

Phrase Reference Sheet for Participating in a Meeting

Formal or Informal? Appropriate Language in Business Situations

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Common business English phrases for a workplace meeting

February 17, 2018 - Dom Barnard

English is the major language of international business. Individuals need to increase their competence and fluency in order to remain competitive in the workplace. Meetings are a key part of this modern workplace and individuals need to develop  effective communication skills  for them.

Understanding the right phrases, language and conversational tone to use during a workplace meeting will help with career progression in our fast-paced international economy.

This article covers essential communication skills for a business meeting, including useful phrases, vocabulary and terminology. You’ll improve your ability to lead meetings and deliver workplace presentations.

Leading a meeting in English

When leading a meeting, it’s important you ask everyone to introduce themselves and provide a brief  meeting agenda . A formal business meeting could start in the following ways:

Introducing yourself

You’ll want to start the meeting by welcoming your attendees and introducing yourself. You can start with a simple greeting, using phrases such as:

• “Good morning / afternoon”
• “Let’s begin”
• “I’d like to welcome everyone”
• “Since everyone is here, let’s get started”
• “I’d like to thank everyone for coming today”

After greeting them, introduce yourself:

• “I’m [your name]. I’ll keep this meeting brief as I know you’re all busy people”
• “I’m [your name] and I arranged this meeting because…”

Asking others to introduce themselves

For effective discussion during the meeting, it’s essential that individuals attending the meeting are well-acquainted with each other. The person leading the meeting could ask everyone to introduce themselves in the following ways:

• “Let’s go around the table and introduce ourselves, [name] do you want to start?”
• “Let’s introduce ourselves quickly – please state your name, job title and why you are here”

You ideally want people to say their name, position in the company and reason for being at the meeting. This will help guide any discussions during the meeting.

Setting the agenda

Likewise, it is important to start the meeting by outlining the agenda clearly and the key objectives of the meeting. The objectives can be stated with the following phrases:

• “I’ve called this meeting in order to”
• “We’re here today to discuss”
• “There are [number] items on the agenda. First…”
• “Today I would like to outline our plans for”

Defining action points to be completed before the next meeting

When the meeting has finished, give an overview of what needs to be completed before the next meeting. Use the following phrases:

• “[Name], can you have these action points finished by next week’s meeting?”
• “Before the next meeting, I want [action point] completed so we can discuss the results”
• “By the next meeting, we’ll have [action point] in progress”

Getting involved in meetings

Active participation in the meeting is reflected by asking questions and interrupting the presenter politely if you do not understand what is being said, or if there is agreement / disagreement. It is a good idea to show that you are actively  involved in the meeting .

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How to interrupt politely

If you accidentally speak over someone or have something to add to what is being said, you can interrupt with the following phrases:

• “Sorry, but just to clarify”
• “Sorry I didn’t quite hear that, can you say it again?”
• “That’s an excellent point [person’s name], what about doing [action point] as well?”
• “From our departments perspective, it’s a little more complicated. Let me explain”

You can also use phrase such as:

• “Excuse me for interrupting”
• “I’ve never thought about it that way before. How does it affect [this point]”

Asking questions

There are many different ways to ask questions during the meeting. The following phrases are suitable when asking for someone to repeat what they have said:

• “Can you repeat that please?”
• “Can you run that by me one more time?”
• “Can you repeat that in a simplified way?”

For clarification the following phrases should be used:

• “I don’t fully understand what you mean. Could you explain it from a different angle?”
• “Could you explain to me how that is going to work?”
• “Just to be clear, do you mean this [repeat the explained point in the way you understand it]”

The person leading the meeting or giving the presentation can also ask:

• “Are there any more comments?”
• “What do you think about this proposal?”
• “Are there any areas of this project we are not thinking about?”

Presenting at a meeting

During the presentation, it’s important to engage your audience and clearly set out the structure of your presentation. You can use the following expressions to achieve this:

Introducing your topic

The presentation should begin by introducing its purpose with phrases such as:

• “Thank you for getting here on time. Today we’re here to discuss”
• “We’re here to discuss the progress on [name of project] project”
• “Due to issues identified in [project name], we’re here to come up with a quick resolution”

The presenter can also outline the presentation procedure to ensure clarity, with the phrases such as:

• “We’re going to run through the main points of the agenda”
• “The presentation will cover these [number of points] topics”

Concluding your presentation

The presentation should end by briefly going over the key messages and action points again. The conclusion should ensure that the individuals present in the meeting leave with a clear idea about the next steps. It’s also polite to thank the audience for attending.

The concluding phrases could be:

• “To summarize then, let me just run through what we’ve agreed here”
• “Before we end, let me just summarize the three main points”
• “To sum up what I’ve presented”
• “That brings me to the end of my presentation, thank you for listening”

Answering questions

The presentation can also end by requesting input or feedback from the participants and  answering their questions , if any. The following phrases will be useful for such situations:

• “Any final thoughts before we close the meeting?”
• “If you have further questions or want to discuss any of it in more detail, we can meet privately or you can send me an email [have email address on the final presentation slide]”
• “I’d like to thank everyone for sharing their time today and any feedback would be valuable”
• “So do we think this is the correct way to proceed?”
• “Are there any objections to what I covered?”

Additional business meeting phrases

Aside from the typical benefits, clear communication is required to hold off an interruption, delegate tasks, confirm decisions, apologise for being late, or excuse you early from a meeting. The following phrases will prove useful for such situations and will help ensure a productive meeting.

When holding off an interruption, you can say:

• “Can we come back to that point later? Let me just finish what I was saying”
• “Can I just finish making my point?”

Likewise, apologise for being late by saying:

• “Excuse me for being late, I was”
• “Sorry for not getting here on time, I was”

Some useful negotiation phrases during a meeting:

• “I hear what you’re saying, however our senior manager is very clear on this one”
• “I understand that we can’t do that, but can we discuss some other alternatives?”
• “I agree with what you are saying, however have you considered [different method]?”
• “How about this as an alternative [proceed to explain your alternative method]”

If you want to leave a meeting early, gather your stuff quietly and politely excuse yourself by saying:

• “Excuse me, unfortunately I have to leave early. I need to be [briefly explain where you need to be]”
• “I’ve got to shoot off, I’ve got overlapping meetings”
• “Sorry I’m going to have to leave now, [reason for leaving early]“

You can plan a future meeting by saying:

• “I’d like to set up a meeting with you at your earliest convenience. When are you free?”
• “I’d love to continue this conversation at a second meeting, when are you next free?”
• “We haven’t covered everything we needed to, shall we set up another meeting?”

When the meeting is on a tight schedule and the discussion is dragging on, you can use these phrases:

• “I’m afraid that’s outside the scope of this meeting”
• “Why don’t we return to the main agenda of today’s meeting”
• “We’ve gone slightly off topic, let us get back to [main agenda]”

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• Formal and informal expressions for opening a meeting

Formal and Informal Expressions for Opening a Meeting

If you are new to running meetings or if you are looking for some more expressions to help you better open a meeting in English, then today I have got you covered.

Running a meeting can be difficult, especially so if English is not your native language. If you are the chairperson for a meeting, then you are responsible for opening a meeting and ensuring that it stays on track.

As with most things in business, there are both formal and informal ways to go about doing business. Sometimes we need to run a small team meeting in an informal setting, while other times we need to host formal meetings with important clients or contractors.

I myself have faced this challenge when working in Spanish. I found it difficult to set the right tone using the Spanish expressions I “thought” I knew would be effective for opening a meeting. Just like I am sure you have worried, I too worried about leaving a good impression with my colleagues and with whoever else was attending the meeting. If you have felt uncomfortable at times with running a meeting in English then I know exactly how you feel.

With this is mind, today I am going to share with you some tips for opening a meeting as well as both formal and informal expressions to help you open your next meeting.

Watch the episode here

Pre-meeting considerations

Before we go any further, let’s start by looking at some quick ideas and tips for opening a meeting. As we discussed in last week’s episode, all important meetings require planning and preparation. Therefore, one of the first things you should do before your meeting starts is to ensure that you have all of the relevant information with you. Additionally, you should test any technical equipment and makes sure your slides and PC work, especially if you are giving a presentation. The next thing that we should be aware of is “small talk”. We should try and engage in small talk right at the beginning of a meeting, even if everybody has not arrived. Small talk can help your guests or other colleagues to feel comfortable and help everyone start to relax before the meeting officially starts. 

Need help in your business meetings?

A Step-By-Step Guide To Participating Confidently in English in Your Next Business Meeting. Do you get embarrassed when you need to attend a meeting in English? Maybe you feel frustrated when you can't express yourself clearly. Do you want to be invisible in a meeting, hoping that you won't need to answer any questions? Learn how to confidently participate in meetings that lead to successful outcomes and more business for you and your company, on my course for English language learners

Small talk before the meeting

Firstly, we should then consider some expressions for small talk. The golden rule is to keep it light and make sure the questions are easy to answer. You should avoid talking about religion or politics. Below I have included some of the types of questions you could use to engage in small talk. 

Small talk with someone you know

The phrases below are great if you already know the person that you are chatting to at the beginning of the meeting. You will notice that they are less formal and suggest that you know aspects about their life.

How are you?

Small talk with someone you do not know

The follow sentences should be used when you are small talking with a customer or someone you have not had a long relationship with. These expressions are more polite and express correct forms for asking people questions, without being too personal..

How are you?

Now that we have aspects of small talk covered, let’s move on to the next part where we cover formal and informal expressions for opening a meeting.

Formal expressions for opening a meeting

Take a look at the following expressions, they can be used to open a meeting. They set a formal tone and should be used when dealing with important external participants.

Opening the meeting

• I would like to get started
• I have called this meeting in order to discuss
• This meeting has been called with the aim of

Welcoming participants 

• It’s a pleasure to welcome Jane Rivers
• We are honoured to have Jane Rivers with us today
• Please join me in offering a warm welcome to Jane Rivers

Referring to the agenda

• I trust you all have a copy of the agenda
• Today, our aim is to cover the following agenda items
• As you will all see, the agenda has 4 main items to be covered today
• This meeting has been called to discuss the following agenda items

Referring to timing

• I would like to keep the meeting to one hour
• To respect everyone’s time, this meeting will last for 60 minutes
• I would appreciate it if everyone could keep their contributions short and concise in order to finish the meeting on time

Handing over to another participant

• Mary, would you be so kind to lead with the first item on the agenda?
• Mike, the floor is your in order to open the first item of today’s meeting
• John, it would be a pleasure hearing from you first

Informal expressions for opening a meeting

Now that we have the language for opening a formal meeting, we can now move on to the final part of today’s episode. In the following section I will provide you with some examples of the same steps using informal language.

• Let’s get started
• If everyone is here, we can start the meeting
• Thanks everyone for coming, let’s kick things off
• Thanks for attending Jane
• Can everyone join me in welcoming Jane Rivers?
• It’s great to have Jane joining us today
• Has everyone got a copy of the agenda?
• There are 4 points on the agenda for today
• I want to get through the following 4 items on the agenda today
• I called this meeting to get your views on the 3 points listed on the agenda
• Let’s keep this meeting to one hour
• Today’s meeting should only take an hour
• Can I get everyone to keep their discussion points to 5 minutes? 
• Mary, can you kick things off?
• Mike, it’d be great if you could jump in and take the floor.
• John, can we hear from you first?

Final thoughts

Leading a meeting in English can seem like a challenge, but with these expressions you should feel confident when opening a meeting. Remember, small talk is a great way to make people feel comfortable, so make sure you practice that. Once you have broken the ice and started with a few questions, things get much easier. Well, over to you my friends, let me know if there are any expressions that you like to use when opening a meeting. Take care and I will see you all next week. 

Confidence in Business Meetings

Do you get embarrassed when you need to attend a meeting in English? Maybe you feel frustrated when you can't express yourself clearly. Do you want to be invisible in a meeting, hoping that you won't need to answer any questions? If you would like to learn how to confidently participate in meetings that lead to successful outcomes and more business for you and your company, then I've got the answer.

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How English can launch your career with Arnau Camprubi

How to manage a discussion when chairing a meeting, how to get the most out of your q&a, verbs of communication to help your express yourself better.

Andrew is the CEO and founder of the Art of Business English. Besides teaching and coaching native Spanish speakers in Business English, he is also passionate about mountain biking, sailing and healthy living. When He is not working, Andrew loves to spend time with his family and friends.

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42 Conference Opening Remarks Examples 

By: Grace He | Updated: December 01, 2023

Here is our list of the best conference opening remarks examples.

Conference opening remarks examples are statements that introduce your meeting to attendees. Examples include serious opening conference remarks, funny opening conference remarks, and inspirational opening conference remarks. The purpose of these remarks is to set the tone for your conference while welcoming attendees to the meeting and introducing your topics for discussion.

These ideas are similar to examples of opening and closing remarks for meetings , check-in questions for team meetings , and team building programs .

This list includes:

• short opening remarks for a program
• opening remarks for a virtual conference
• serious opening conference remarks
• funny opening conference remarks
• inspirational opening conference remarks

Let’s get to it!

List of conference opening remarks examples

From short messages to inspirational remarks, here are our top opening statements for conferences.

Short opening remarks for a program

• On behalf of our hosts, welcome to our conference! We have an engaging lineup of topics and activities for the day. Without further ado, let’s jump right into it!
• Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking the time to attend our conference today. We look forward to a fun and engaging time together.
• Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to our conference. Today, we will learn about team building, company culture, and employee engagement. Let’s get started!
• Greetings! Today’s conference is all about team building, and we are so excited to have you here with us today!
• Hi, team. Thank you all for taking time out of your schedules to join our conference today! We know many of you are busy, so we truly appreciate the effort to attend.
• Hi, we’re so glad to see all of your smiling faces at our conference today. Let’s have a great time!
• Hello, team. We are so glad to have you at our event today! We have exciting news and company updates to share, and we cannot wait to get started.
• Welcome to our event! Please know that you are in for a fun and action-packed day. You can refer to the agenda to stay on track with our activities and sessions. Without further ado, let’s get started!
• Good afternoon, all! We are so thrilled to have you join us for today’s conference. Thank you for attending, and we hope to have a great event.
• Hi, everyone! Thank you for joining today’s program. Let’s have a great time together!

Opening remarks for a virtual conference

• Good morning to all of our virtual conference attendees! We are so glad you could join us today. Before we get started, we would like to thank you for clearing your schedules to attend our event. Thanks to video conferencing technology, we are able to meet with so many colleagues, regardless of location and time zones. We promise to make this event worth your while and are very excited to get started!
• Greetings to all of our online conference attendees! We are so pumped that you could join us on Zoom today from around the world. Technology plays a major role in allowing us to get together while being so far apart. We could not be more excited to get started with our event.
• We want to start our conference by giving a big virtual high-five to all of the team members joining us. Hello! You are in for an exciting and action-packed event today. First, we will discuss critical company updates. Next, we will review new HR processes that benefit all employees. Last, we will open up the virtual floor for a roundtable discussion and Q&A session where you can voice your opinions and ask questions.
• Hi, team! Thank you for your enthusiasm in joining our virtual conference today. It is so great to see you all on camera and in your home offices. Before starting today’s program, we have a few special announcements to go over. We will also have a special guest speaker joining us later in the day to talk about innovation and creativity in tech. This speaker is a well-known figure in the tech space. Can you guess our special guest’s name? Well, you will just have to wait and find out!
• Greetings, cyber crew! How great is technology? We are all here joining the same conference from different places worldwide. Remote work is the future, and we are so glad we could host this event virtually. As we go through the conference, please refer to our agenda to follow along. The agenda deck will help you remain aware of which sessions to attend. If you have any questions or are experiencing technical issues, please stop by our virtual IT helpdesk. We have a team of experts on standby, ready to help you troubleshoot any and all tech issues.
• Welcome, everyone, to our virtual conference. We would like to sincerely thank you all for joining us today from your home offices around the world. Please follow along with our event agenda, and do not hesitate to reach out to our virtual IT helpdesk with any questions or troubleshooting needs. Once again, thank you for your attendance, participation, and engagement!
• Hello, and welcome to our conference! Although our event is virtual, we have worked hard to make this year’s conference as fun and engaging as possible. We hope you find today’s program rewarding and insightful.
• Just because you are not physically near your teammates does not mean you have to give up on building real relationships. Today, I want to share with you all the secrets to team building while working in a virtual setting.

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Serious opening conference remarks

• I would like to extend a warm welcome to those who could attend our conference today. We are constantly experiencing changes and innovations in technology and strategy, so it is important to host conferences like this to keep us all in the loop. Let’s begin this meeting by reviewing our notes from the last session.
• What keeps us healthy as we go through life? If you were going to invest in your future self, where would you put your time and energy?

• So, I know the secret to getting anything you want in life.

• As all of you are aware, we are in the midst of a crisis like no other.

• Thank you all for joining us today. As one of the event organizers, I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak with each and every one of you today. Conferences like this play a critical role in bringing teams together when necessary. Although it is no easy task, we are grateful for the opportunity.
• Hi, team, and welcome to today’s conference. The purpose of this event is to get our employees engaged and active. We have invited guest speakers and professionals in the field to discuss the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Please remain attentive throughout the event and leave any questions until the end of the presentation. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation.
• As I’m sure you all know, our company is undergoing some major changes. We wanted to call this conference to discuss what the future looks like for employees as well as the company as a whole. Please hold any questions for the end, as we may cover what you’re wondering about.
• Hi, everyone. We have decided to call this conference to discuss the upcoming merger and the redundancies within the new firm. We have a plan in place to keep as many of you on board as possible, and we’d like to review that with you today.
• Thank you all so much for taking the time to attend this conference. As you may be aware, our firm is facing a lawsuit. We have laid out everything we know about it along with what we plan to do moving forward. Please refer to the agenda to help us stay on track as we cover the details.
• Hi, team, and thank you for being here. We have organized this conference to discuss harassment in the workplace. This information will show you what harassment may look like and how to respond if you believe it is happening to you. If anyone needs a break at any point, please feel free to step out and rejoin the group when you are ready.

Funny opening conference remarks

• As I was getting ready for today’s meeting, I realized that there’s one thing you and I have in common: neither of us knows what I’m going to talk about today.
• I want to tell you the story of a man who started a new job at a new company. When he met his supervisor, the two hit it off immediately. The supervisor was always there to answer any questions and clear up any confusion for the new hire. In fact, the two got along so well that the supervisor said to the employee, “Don’t think of me as a boss, but rather as a friend who is always right and never wrong.”
• As I was preparing my speech for today, my partner gave me some great advice: “Don’t try to be too charming, intellectual, or funny. Just be yourself!”
• What is the top way to ruin a Friday, you ask? Remembering it’s only Thursday.
• I don’t always trust people who have squeaky clean work desks. Do you know why? Well, because a clean desk is usually a sign of messy desk drawers—or worse, a cluttered mind.
• Staring at my computer screen, I couldn’t help but say to my boss, “Wow, this show is so boring!” To which my boss responded, “That’s because this is a Zoom meeting.”
• Do you hate it when a person answers their own questions? I certainly do. Don’t worry. That’s the only time I’ll answer my own questions during today’s conference. Is it really? Yes. Maybe.
• I gave a speech last week. Afterward, my boss came up to me and said I was both original and good. However, the original parts were not good, and the good parts were not original. So, I have some work to do.
• What do you call a meeting for the Knights of the Round Table? A sir conference.
• Synergy. Collaboration. Team building. You will hear a lot of corporate buzzwords today. Throughout today’s event, just remember: don’t sweat the small stuff.

Inspirational opening conference remarks

• You may have heard the saying, “There is no ‘I’ in teamwork.” This statement holds true, especially as we gather today for our annual company conference. This team excels in working together to achieve our collective goals. Teamwork and team building are critical to our success as a company, so thank you for all of your contributions. Now, let’s build on this positive momentum and keep reaching toward success!
• One of the most inspirational quotes I can think of comes from American author and poet Maya Angelou. She said, “You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” This quote makes me think of the goals and material objects many people chase today. I want you to ask yourselves: what truly makes you happy? Money and materials, or a life well lived?
• Opportunities do not just fall into place. Many times, you have to create your own opportunities and work hard to achieve your goals. If you face obstacles along the way, then these roadblocks simply serve as tests to show how hard you are willing to work toward your goals. I advise you not to let these obstacles get in the way of your success. Think about how far you are willing to go in order to reach your goals.
• When you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. During today’s conference, we are going to talk about how to reach a point where you feel happy and accomplished at work. We will also discuss how we, as a company, can do better to keep our employees satisfied and engaged each day.
• I would like to begin the conference by saying thank you to all of our attendees. I feel honored and privileged to be addressing you today. Before we begin, I would like to pose a question to the audience: what personal accomplishment are you most proud of? Think about your answer and reflect for a moment. Now, remember how you felt when you accomplished this action. I want each of you to save that feeling and use it as your main source of motivation when you are facing obstacles.
• “The power of one, if fearless and focused, is formidable, but the power of many working together is better.” These wise words from Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, serve as a great reminder of the importance of teamwork and persistence.
• Today, we are here to celebrate our collective accomplishments as a team. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, and we are so fortunate to have each of you on this team. Each member of this team inspires me to work hard and accomplish greatness. Today, we celebrate you all.

Conference opening remarks are crucial in setting the tone for your meeting. For example, positive remarks can motivate attendees to engage more actively with the material. Serious remarks, on the other hand, can signal to attendees that the conference’s subject matter is more somber or significant in tone.

We recommend using your opening remarks to alert attendees to your conference’s main topic or theme. You can also share your meeting agenda and encourage participants to follow along throughout the event. Opening remarks create the perfect opportunity to give team members a warm welcome and introduction to start your event on the right foot.

Next, check out team building quotes for work and team building activities for conference calls . You can also check out our team building meeting guide .

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FAQ: Conference opening remarks examples

Here are answers to common questions about conference opening remarks examples.

What are conference opening remarks?

Conference opening remarks are opening statements, introductions, and sayings to welcome attendees to your event. These remarks can add an element of organization to your event by giving participants an idea of the topics and themes you will cover.

What are good examples of conference opening remarks?

Conference opening remarks are important in setting the tone for your meeting while keeping participants engaged. The best conference opening remarks should motivate and inspire attendees to pay close attention and participate in your event.

For example, your conference opening remarks can include an overview of the event’s agenda, motivational quotes, or reasons for your meeting.

How do you write a good opening address for a conference?

Writing a good opening address for a conference can be difficult. To simplify the process, we recommend restating critical information and reminding attendees of the event’s agenda. Your opening remarks should give participants a better understanding of the goal and purpose of your event.

Author: Grace He

People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com. Grace is the Director of People & Culture at teambuilding.com. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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People & Culture Director at teambuilding.com.

Grace is the Director of People & Culture at teambuilding.com. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, Information Science at East China Normal University and earned an MBA at Washington State University.

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Words in English for Meetings

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Learning English, particularly its business-specific nuances, can be challenging. A key area of this is mastering the language used in meetings. This article aims to help you understand how to open a meeting and provides various words and phrases commonly used during meetings.

Opening Meeting Vocabulary

Let's start with the vocabulary you may encounter, opening meeting or before it starts:

• Agenda: a list of topics or issues to be discussed in a meeting. Usually, it is sent to participants before the meeting and repeated once more while opening the meeting.
• Chairperson/Chair: the person who leads or prescribes the meeting.
• Minutes: the official written record of the meeting, which includes key decisions and action items.
• To convene: to gather for a meeting.
• To schedule: to arrange a meeting for a specific time and place .
• Conference call: a telephone call involving more than two participants.
• Video conference: a meeting held over video, allowing participants to see each other.
• RSVP: an abbreviation for the French phrase "répondez s'il vous plaît", which means "please respond". It's often used to ask invitees to confirm their attendance.
• Venue: the place where the meeting is to be held.
• Invitee: a person who is invited to a meeting.
• Stand-up meeting: a short meeting where participants typically remain standing to promote efficiency.
• Webinar: a seminar conducted over the internet, often for educational or informative purposes.
• Doodle poll: a tool used to schedule meetings based on participants' availability.

Now that you're familiar with these terms, you'll be able to prepare for meetings with confidence. Remember, clear communication starts before the meeting even begins.

Phrases for Opening Meeting

Whether you're leading a meeting or participating in one, knowing how to kick off the discussion effectively is key. Good opening remarks set the tone for the meeting, acknowledge the efforts of the participants, and clearly state the objective. As English language learners, mastering a range of opening phrases will enhance your ability to participate in or lead meetings successfully:

• “Welcome to the meeting! It's great to see such commitment and enthusiasm.” - It is often used as opening remarks for a meeting.
• “I appreciate your presence and active participation in today's meeting. Let's begin by addressing the first item on our agenda." - Another popular phrase that people use as opening remarks for meetings and immediately start the discussion.
• "I trust everyone had a chance to review the pre-meeting materials. Let's jump right into discussing our action points." - Use this meeting introduction when you want to ensure that everyone is prepared for the meeting and ready to discuss the materials distributed beforehand.
• "As we start, I'd like to remind everyone that our main goal for today's meeting is..." - Use this when you want to clearly state the objective of the meeting at the outset, ensuring that everyone is focused on the same goal.
• "I'm glad we're all here today. Let's use our time effectively and ensure we cover all the points on our agenda." - Open a meeting with these words when you want to emphasize the importance of time management and staying on track during the meeting.
• "Before we get started, I'd like to welcome our new team members. We're thrilled to have you with us." - Use this when you want to acknowledge and welcome any new participants in the meeting.
• "Good [morning/afternoon], everyone. Let's start off with some good news..." - Use this meeting introduction when you want to set a positive tone for the meeting by sharing some recent successes or positive updates.
• "Let's begin by taking a moment to celebrate our recent wins. This will help set the stage for our discussion today." - Use this when you want to inspire the team and acknowledge recent achievements before diving into new business .

With these phrases in your vocabulary, you'll be able to start a meeting on the right foot, engage participants, and steer the meeting toward its goals. Remember, the goal is not just to memorize these phrases but to understand their intent and use them appropriately. As you become more comfortable with these phrases, you'll be able to adapt them to suit any English meeting context.

During the Meeting: Essential Terms

The heart of any meeting is the discussion that occurs during it. Understanding the vocabulary used in this context is vital for effective participation.

• Quorum: the minimum number of members who must be present for the meeting's decisions to be valid.
• Motion: a formal proposal put to a vote.
• Adjourn: to officially end the meeting.
• A.O.B. (Any Other Business): a term used towards the end of a meeting to allow participants to raise additional topics.
• Consensus: general agreement among the meeting participants.
• Unanimous: a decision or vote where every member agrees.
• Point of order: an interjection to question the process, usually when someone believes the rules of the meeting are not being followed.
• Seconded: a term used when another member supports a motion proposed by someone else.
• Open floor: a term used when all participants are invited to speak or share their ideas.
• Off the record: a comment or discussion that is not to be officially recorded or publicly reported.
• Roll call: the reading out of names to record attendance.
• Interruptions: Breaking the continuous course of a speech or action of (someone), typically with a comment or question.
• Parking lot: a term for a list of issues to be revisited at a later time.

Mastering these terms will help you navigate meeting discussions smoothly. By knowing when and how to use these words, you can actively contribute to any meeting.

Post-Meeting Vocabulary

After the meeting concludes, there's still work to be done and vocabulary to be learned. Let's explore the terms that come into play post-meeting.

• Action item: a task assigned during the meeting to a participant.
• Follow-up: additional activities or tasks that need to be done after the meeting.
• Minutes: a record of the meeting, noting decisions, action items, and other important points.
• Deadline: the date or time by which something must be completed.
• To recap/Recap: a brief summary or review of the main points of the meeting.
• Next steps: the tasks that will be undertaken following the meeting.
• To delegate: to assign responsibility or authority.
• Wrap up: to conclude or finish something, like a meeting or a topic within a meeting.
• Takeaway: a key point to be remembered or learned from a meeting.
• To disseminate: to distribute or spread information widely.
• Status update: a report on the current state of a project or task.

Being comfortable with post-meeting terminology allows you to follow through on tasks and understand the next steps. These terms will help you wrap up meetings effectively and prepare for future ones.

Additional Meeting Vocabulary

Beyond general meeting vocabulary, there are specialized terms often used in more formal or specific types of meetings. Expanding your vocabulary to include these will help you engage at a deeper level.

• Stakeholder: a person, group, or organization that has an interest or concern in an organization or project.
• Facilitator: Someone who helps guide the meeting, often keeping the discussion on track and ensuring everyone has a chance to speak.
• Scribe: the person responsible for taking the minutes of the meeting.
• Round-robin: a meeting style where each participant takes turns speaking.
• Brainstorming: a meeting or part of a meeting devoted to generating ideas or solutions to a problem.
• Breakout session: a smaller, more focused discussion within a larger meeting.
• Straw poll: an informal vote taken to see how the members feel about an issue or decision.
• Gantt chart: a visual representation of a project schedule, showing tasks, durations, and dependencies.
• Moderator: a person who presides over a meeting and ensures that rules are followed.
• Ice breaker: an activity or question designed to ease tension and promote open communication at the start of a meeting.
• Hard stop: a strict end time for the meeting, beyond which it cannot continue.
• Hybrid meeting: a meeting where some participants are physically present, and others join remotely.

With a grasp of these specialized terms, you can navigate a broader range of meeting styles and settings. This advanced vocabulary will be especially valuable in formal or professional contexts.

Useful Phrases for Meetings

If you're learning English as a second language, you may find it challenging to follow along and participate in meetings, particularly if they're held in English. Understanding and being able to use specific phrases can enhance your ability to contribute effectively to the meeting. In this section, we'll go through some key phrases that will enable you to engage more confidently in various meeting scenarios.

• "Could we take a step back?" - Used when you want to broaden the discussion or return to a previous point.
• "I'd like to raise a point about..." - Used when you want to introduce a new topic or issue.
• "Just to play devil’s advocate…" - Used when you want to introduce a contrasting perspective for the sake of argument.
• "Could we revisit this at a later time?" - Used when a topic is taking too much time, and you'd prefer to discuss it in more detail later.
• "What are the next steps?" - Used to clarify what actions need to be taken after the meeting.
• "Could you clarify what you mean by..." - Used when you need further explanation or specifics on a certain point.
• "Let's take a short break." - Used when a break is needed during a long meeting.
• "I second that motion." - Used when you want to show your agreement with a proposal.
• "I would like to table this discussion." - Used when you want to postpone a discussion to a later date.
• "Before we adjourn, let's recap..." - Used when you want to summarize the key points before ending the meeting.

We hope these phrases will help you express your thoughts and ideas effectively in meetings. Remember, practice makes perfect, so try using these phrases in your conversations to get comfortable with them. The ability to effectively participate in meetings will not only boost your confidence but also enable you to make significant contributions to your team.

Effective communication in meetings is crucial in the professional world. By mastering the vocabulary outlined above, you can more confidently navigate meetings in English. You can participate fully, understand all the details, and follow through on your responsibilities. As you continue learning and practicing, you'll become more adept at handling all types of meetings, making you a valuable team player in any business setting.

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Other articles on this topic

Welcome Speech for Meeting

Welcome speech generator for meeting.

When it comes to speeches , a lot of people, not only students but even employees and some employers, cringe or find the word scary. It does not have to be as long as you know what you are doing, how you are doing it, and what you are writing about. However, even with all that advice, there are still some people who do not want to be the center of making the speech and would want to find someone else to be able to do it. It goes without saying making a speech is the least worrisome thing you can do and you can present, especially if you know what you are talking about and what you are going to be presenting. If you know who your audience is, then making a speech is nothing short of a wonderful experience. 

As we all know, there are a lot of kinds of speeches, and one is  a welcome speech . When we hear a welcome speech, we think of something as easy as welcoming someone. But, it is not as easy as simply welcoming a person or a group of people to the place or to the event. Making a welcome speech has its own tips to get you started, and it has its own details that you need to look forward to in learning. So with that being said, here are your 10+ examples of a welcome speech for a meeting.

10+ Welcome Speech for Meeting Examples

1. welcome speech for governor meeting.

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2. Welcome Chairman’s Speech for Meeting

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3. Welcome Speech for Manager Meeting

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4. Welcome & Introduction Speech for Meeting

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5. Welcome Speech for University Meeting

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6. Welcome Speech for Remote Meeting

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7. Welcome Speech for Event Meeting

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8. Welcome Speech for Shareholders Meeting

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9. Welcome Speech for Meeting in PDF

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10. Welcome & Opening Speech for Meeting

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11. Welcome Speech for Bank Meeting

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What Is a Welcome Speech for a Meeting?

A welcome speech for a meeting is a kind of speech that is made useful to introduce , greet, and welcome important people or those who have higher influences in your company, group, or organization. This welcome speech caters to simply getting new people to be acquainted with the guests or the visitors. In addition to that, a welcome speech for a meeting is often only done when visitors like shareholders, managers, and governors are planning on attending an important event or an important meeting. 

The purpose of a welcome speech is to introduce to the public or to the crowd the names of the people present. It is to welcome them to the event and to be able for them to know who the rest of the people present are. In addition to that, the use of a welcome speech is to introduce the purpose of the meeting, for the people present and for the general public. 

How to Write a Welcome Speech for Meeting?

Making a speech may seem easy or difficult, depending on how you are going to look at it. But did you know that before you can make the speech, you have to write it down as well? If you think that is another difficult thing to do, think again. Here are some tips to help you get through that problem .

1. Remember to Take All Details into Account

The details of the welcome speech are basically the names of the people or the important people who are coming. This is the responsibility of the one who is assigned to make the welcome speech. Always make sure that all details needed are within your reach or that you already have them down as notes.

2. Write a Short Draft of Your Speech

Draft it out . It may sound as simple as that, and it really is, but to make a good welcome speech, one must at least learn to draft out what you need to say. Make sure that you know the theme, the people, the event, and the titles or the ranks of the important people, such as manager, the CEO, the president, etc.

3. Use Simple Words When Writing the Speech

If you think using difficult or unfamiliar jargon would impress your guests and audience, you may want to think again. Using jargon that is not familiar to everyone, in general, would only confuse them. Some may be able to understand it while others do not. To avoid this issue, it is best to use simple or commonly used words to write your speech. There are other ways to impress your guests, but using difficult words is not one of them.

4. Practice Pronouncing the Names of the Guests

Since this is a speech, the next best thing to do while you are also writing is to practice it out loud. Practice how you are going to say their names properly. Practicing helps by making you feel less nervous and less prone to forgetting the entire speech. In addition to that, by writing the names of your guests, you may also want to keep an eye on the spelling.

5. Revise If There Are Any Issues with It

Just as making the final output from the draft, it is always best to review, revise, and recheck if there are any issues you may have missed. Revising your work helps to maintain the flow of your speech.

What is a welcome speech for meeting?

A welcome speech is a kind of speech that anyone makes in order to welcome and introduce an important person to the company or an organization.

How do you write a good welcome speech for meeting?

To write a good welcome speech, all you have to do is to follow the steps found in the tips.

What should not be in a welcome speech?

A welcome speech is just a short speech to welcome people. What should not be in it is introducing every single person in the audience or writing a speech about you.

It goes without saying there is really nothing to fear when you are making or writing a speech. Writing a welcome speech is the easiest kind as all you have to do is to know who your honored guests are and the event you are going to be holding the speech in. In addition to that, writing a welcome speech only takes a few minutes especially when you already have a draft in mind. In this case, welcome speeches can be done by just about anyone: employees, students, teachers, and even employers. Anyone can write it; however, it takes good practice to write a very good welcome speech.

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How to start a meeting on a positive note with a welcome speech for meeting

Writing a concise welcome speech for meeting

• Event Emcee

How To Write A Professional Emcee Opening Script In 10 Minutes: The WAVE Framework

Emceeing  .  9 Min. Read . By: Devon Brown

S taring at a blank page, with the clock ticking and your event just around the corner, can feel like standing on the edge of a high dive — terrifying.

This is especially true when you're grappling with how to write an emcee opening script , a task that can seem daunting even to the most experienced speakers.

You know you need to make a splash with your opening words, but the fear of falling flat feels heavy. Welcome to the all-too-familiar world of what I call 'The Opening Script Limbo,' where your best intentions for a powerful speech opener are trapped in feelings of doubt and anxiety.

You're not alone in this. 

The struggle to script an engaging, timely, and effective opening is a common struggle for thousands of emcees and public speakers. 

The weight of creating that perfect start can be overwhelming. 

Get it wrong, and you risk not just a momentary hiccup but a ripple effect that could dampen the entire event — and your confidence as a speaker.

But what if you could turn that apprehension into anticipation?

What if you could transform those nerves into a confident, commanding presence the moment you step up to the microphone? 

Well, that's exactly what my WAVE framework is designed to do. 

It's your lifeline out of 'The Opening Script Limbo.'

With this 4-step framework, you're about to discover a straightforward path to crafting an opening script that not only engages your audience but also makes sure you’re the event emcee everyone remembers!

Better yet, you can use it to write your script in less than 10 minutes!

Here are the 4-steps to writing your next opening script fast.

Step 1: Welcome… The Gateway To Your Introduction

The first step of the W AVE framework is the W elcome. 

Now, let me be clear, this is more than just a greeting; it's your golden opportunity to create a connection with every single person in the room.

Imagine walking into two different events. 

At the first event, you're met with a generic, monotone 'Good evening, everyone' from the emcee. It's bland and forgettable, and you blend into the crowd, feeling more like a ticket number than a valued attendee.

Now, picture the second event.

As you enter, the emcee glows, saying something like, ' Welcome, friends! Whether it’s your first time joining us, or you’re a familiar face in our community, we’re thrilled to have each of you here. Together, we're about to embark on a remarkable journey where you’’ discover…. ’

This time, you feel seen, acknowledged, and part of something special.

That’s the power of a well-scripted welcome.

When you script the welcome for your next event, do:

1. Be Inclusive:  Recognize the diversity of your audience. Whether they are seasoned attendees or first-timers, local guests, or international delegates, make sure each person feels specifically addressed and welcomed.

2. Show Genuine Enthusiasm: Your energy sets the event's energy. A warm, enthusiastic welcome can energize the audience and build anticipation for what's to come. Let your tone convey your excitement about the event and its value to attendees.

3. Create a Sense of Belonging: Use your welcome to foster a community feeling. Phrases like "We're thrilled to have you here," or "We're in this together" can go a long way in making your audience feel like they're part of something special.

Step 2: Appreciation… Show Heart By Acknowledging Those Behind The Event

After your warm welcome, it's time for the 'Show A ppreciation' step of the W A VE framework. This is where you acknowledge those unsung heroes who've worked tirelessly to bring the event to life.

This not only creates a positive atmosphere but also demonstrates your leadership and gratitude, qualities that resonate strongly with both your audience and your event team, right?

When you script the appreciation, do:

Be Specific and Personal: Mention individuals or teams by name, if possible. For example, "A big thank you to our event planner, Jane, and the entire catering team for their exceptional work."

Highlight Their Efforts: Briefly describe what they've done. This helps the audience understand the magnitude of their contributions. "For the past seven months, these incredible people have been planning, organizing, and ensuring everything you see tonight comes together seamlessly."

Encourage Audience Participation : Invite the audience to show their appreciation. A round of applause or a moment of acknowledgment can create a strong sense of community.

Step 3: Visualization… Clarify the Theme/Purpose of The Event and Set the Stage

Now, let's focus on V isualization, the third vital step in the WA V E framework. This is where you bring the event's purpose to the forefront, showing your audience the journey they're about to go on.

More than anything, you’re showing them “ what’s in it for them ”.

No one attends an event just for the sake of it; they come with specific goals in mind, like boosting their revenue or scaling their tech business. 

Your job is to vividly paint a picture of how this event will help them achieve those goals and ignite their enthusiasm for the journey ahead.

When you script the theme discussion, do:

• Be Clear and Concise: Tailor the theme into a straightforward, compelling message. For instance, "Today, we're diving into Strategies to 10x Your Tech Business in 2024' – giving you a roadmap for unprecedented growth and success."
• Relate to the Audience: Connect the theme to your audience's aspirations and business objectives. "You, as tech entrepreneurs and innovators, are here to discover and implement strategies that will catapult your businesses into new heights and successes."
• Build Anticipation: Highlight what they can look forward to throughout the event. "Prepare to learn from industry giants who will unveil their little known secrets you need to instantly drive more leads, customers, and profits into your business, 24/7, like clockwork!”

Step 4: Exit… Transition From Your Opening Speech with Passion and Purpose

The final part of your opening speech is the ' E xit,' a pivotal step in the WAV E framework. This is where you transition from your introduction to introducing your first speaker, with enthusiasm, energy and passion. 

When crafting your exit, do:

• Build the Excitement: Use your closing words to build the audience's anticipation. Imagine ending with a burst of energy, "So, are you pumped up!? Are you ready to discover how to add hundreds more customers to your business in the next 30 days, without spending an extra dollar on advertising?! Give me a “HELL YES!” if you’re ready for that!"
• Introduce with Impact: Seamlessly introduce the next speaker in a way that maintains the momentum. Picture yourself saying, "Because our very first speaker is a true game-changer in the tech industry, and now, they're about to reveal strategies that will skyrocket your business revenue in 2024! Get ready to have your mind blown and your bank account swollen with strategies never revealed before on stage – please welcome…"

This Exit strategy isn't just a mere transition.

It's your job to make sure the audience is on the edge of their seats!

In summary, the WAVE opening speech framework looks like this:

• A ppreciate  
• E xit 

This is the fastest, easiest, and most stress-free way for you to write an opening speech that captivates your audience from the get-go and sets you up as the unforgettable emcee they'll be talking about for years.

And better yet, with WAVE, you can write an opening speech in minutes. 

No more staring at a blank page for hours, no more doubts about hitting the right note; with WAVE you can script a powerful opening speech fast.

But don’t just take my word for it…

Let me show you, with a sample opening speech, using WAVE.

Sample Opening Speech Using The WAVE Framework

Scenario: Imagine you're about to open a tech conference. The auditorium is packed with eager entrepreneurs, investors, and tech enthusiasts. Now you need an opening script to set the stage.

Let’s try that with the WAVE framework:

{W} "Good evening, visionaries, innovators, and trailblazers of the tech world! Welcome to the 2024 Tech Titan Summit, where the brightest minds converge to redefine the future! Whether it's your first time here or you're a seasoned attendee, know that your presence is what transforms this event from ordinary to extraordinary.

{A} I want to take a moment to express my profound gratitude to those who've made this event possible – the tireless team, our dedicated sponsors, and every one of you here today. Your passion and commitment bring this vision to life. Let's give them all a thunderous round of applause!

{V} Now, let’s dive into why we're all here. This isn't just another tech conference; it's a launchpad for exponential growth. The theme for this summit, '10x Your Tech,' is not just a catchy phrase – it's a commitment, a challenge to each of us to push beyond the boundaries, to not just grow, but to multiply our impact, our reach, our revenue! Today, we're not just sharing ideas but sparking a revolution in the tech industry.

{E} So, are you ready to be part of this extraordinary journey? Let's set this stage on fire with our first speaker, a true maverick in tech innovation, someone who’s reshaped the industry as we know it. Get ready to learn exactly how our first speaker has taken her start-up from a humble home office to a global tech empire, growing their revenue from $1 million to $50 million, without any external funding... and how you can do the same… Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage…"

Is this script perfect? 

No, of course not – but it's highly effective, incredibly engaging, and it took less than 8 minutes to put together. 

This is the power of the WAVE framework. 

It’s designed to help you quickly craft an opening that resonates with your audience's aspirations and sets the tone for a successful event.

Never Get Stuck In “Opening Script Limbo” Again

Say goodbye to the dread of scripting your event's opening. 

No more second-guessing what to say, worrying if it’s good enough, or wondering how to keep your audience captivated.

Not when you have the WAVE framework in your toolkit:

• Welcome: Create a genuine connection right from the start.
• Appreciate : Acknowledge the team and audience, fostering a sense of community.
• Visualize: Set the stage for the event's theme, aligning it with audience goals and aspirations.
• Exit : Seamlessly transition with energy and purpose, leaving the audience desperate for more.

With WAVE, you’ll not only be able to write an opening speech script in minutes, but you’ll write one that has your audience engaged from the first word, and your event organizers begging you to be their host again!

Take Your Public Speaking to the Next Level

Just mastered the art of the WAVE Framework and you’re confident with writing an emcee opening script like a pro? 

Now, step up your entire public speaking game with the world’s #1 course on public speaking

"Be Awesome On Stage: The Masterclass "  

This course is your golden ticket to becoming a public speaking pro, boosting your confidence, and engaging any audience with ease.  It contains everything I’ve learned in becoming the world’s #1 emcee .

And it’s guaranteed to help you overcome any stage fright   and absolutely crush it the next time you have to speak or present in public.

Read Next:   12 Benefits of Public Speaking for Professional & Personal Life

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Devon Brown  (“Duh-Von” not “Dev-in”) is a speaker, author, entrepreneur, former hip-hop dancer, and World's #1 Event Emcee. Once described as a sort-of ‘MC Hammer meets Tony Robbins’; his style is 50% education, 50% entertainment, and 100% must-experience. Be sure to connect with Devon on social media.

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Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the 23nd Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered)

Good morning, everyone. It's great to see you all again. Thanks for joining us for the twenty-third meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

I'm glad that we're joined again by our partners from Ukraine. Minister Umerov and your teammates, thanks for being here.

As we gather this morning, Ukraine's forces are in a tough fight. In Kharkiv and elsewhere, the Kremlin continues to intensify its bombardment of Ukraine's cities and civilians. And Ukraine urgently needs more air-defense capabilities to defend its skies.

But the Ukrainian people remain resilient and unbowed. And Ukraine's forces continue to impress the world with their skill and their grit.  

Ukrainian forces are fending off Russia's new offensive in the Kharkiv region, and holding strong on the frontlines in Ukraine's east and south.

It has been 840 days since Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And Ukraine's defenders have inflicted staggering losses on the Russian invaders.

Since Putin's full-scale invasion in February 2022, at least 350,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded. Ukrainian forces have sunk, destroyed, or damaged 24 Russian vessels in the Black Sea. And since September of last year — just before the Kremlin began its renewed offensive — Russia has lost more than 2,600 combat vehicles across the front lines in Ukraine. As Russian invaders moved forward west of Avdiivka, they lost more than 160 combat vehicles there in May alone.

So that's just another reminder of the price that Russia has paid for Putin's imperial ambitions. And it's another reminder of Ukraine's determination.

And make no mistake. Ukraine's partners around the world have its back.

Now, it's been nearly two months since President Biden signed the national-security supplemental. The United States is continuing to deliver urgently needed security assistance through more presidential drawdown packages. Since the supplemental became law, the United States has already delivered tens of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of anti-tank mines, hundreds of GMLRS and anti-tank weapons, and more air-defense capabilities to help Ukraine repel Russian forces near Kharkiv.

President Biden also announced a new package of drawdown assistance that will provide Ukraine with more air-defense interceptors, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and artillery systems and munitions.

I am proud that this Contact Group has committed more than 98 billion dollars in security assistance to Ukraine since February 2022. And this coalition continues to find innovative and sustainable ways to rush in critical capabilities to meet Ukraine's most pressing needs.

Let me highlight just a few of them. I'm grateful to Sweden for announcing its largest military assistance package yet — worth approximately $1.23 billion. That includes two Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft, which will be critical for Ukraine's long-range air surveillance.

I'm also grateful to our hosts in Belgium, who have committed to deliver 30 F-16 fighters to Ukraine by 2028, as well as an additional $1 billion in military aid this year.

And I'd like to thank Spain for its recent pledge of more air-defense missiles.

And so countries are moving at flank speed to get Ukraine the capabilities that it so urgently needs. And we must keep doing so. We must keep finding new solutions, especially for Ukraine's air-defense challenges.

And we'll continue to support Ukraine's long-term security. And you can see that in Ukraine's new bilateral security agreements with Belgium, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

This Contact Group is also supporting Ukraine's work to strengthen and modernize its forces for the long haul. The eight Capability Coalitions provide a practical, nimble mechanism for allies and partners to do just that. I'm grateful for the Coalition Leadership Group's work to drive progress across each Capability Coalition. And just yesterday, the Coalition Leadership Group met to discuss the next steps to meet both Ukraine's short-term needs and its long-term requirements.

And I look forward to hearing updates today from the drone coalition. The drone coalition is working to help Ukraine fend off Russian aggression today and deter Russian aggression tomorrow.

For its long-term security, Ukraine needs a robust, effective, and self-reliant defense industry. So the United States is working closely with this Contact Group to strengthen Ukraine's defense industry and to foster joint projects.

Now, we've got a lot of work ahead. And fortunately, support for Ukraine is growing, and not waning.

In fact, I'm pleased to welcome Argentina as a new member. Minister Petri, I'm glad to have you with us.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is a critical moment. The stakes of this war are high. Ukraine's survival is on the line. But so is all of our security. None of us would want to live in a world where Putin prevails. And we would all be less secure if tyrants think that they can trample borders and cow their neighbors.

So we've got a lot to do. But I am confident that this coalition will continue to rise to the challenge.

Again, thanks for being here today.

And with that, we'll all pause for a moment while our friends in the media depart. Thank you.

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Monetary Policy Decision Press Conference Opening Statement

Good morning. I’m pleased to be here with Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers to discuss today’s policy announcement.

Governing Council decided monetary policy no longer needs to be as restrictive and lowered the policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.75%.

We’ve come a long way in the fight against inflation. And our confidence that inflation will continue to move closer to the 2% target has increased over recent months. The considerable progress we’ve made to restore price stability is welcome news for Canadians.

Since our Monetary Policy Report in April, underlying inflation has continued to ease and economic growth has resumed. With the economy in excess supply, there is room for growth even as inflation continues to recede.

Let me provide a little more detail about these dynamics.

After stalling in the second half of last year, economic growth picked up in the first quarter of this year. At 1.7%, growth was lower than projected in the April report. But consumption growth was solid at about 3%, and business investment and housing activity also increased.

In the labour market, businesses are continuing to hire workers. Employment has been growing, but at a slower pace than the working-age population. This has allowed the supply of workers to catch up with job vacancies. Elevated wage pressures look to be moderating gradually.

Inflation remains above the 2% target and shelter price inflation is high. But total consumer price index (CPI) inflation has declined consistently over the course of this year, and indicators of underlying inflation increasingly point to a sustained easing. I’ll highlight four indicators in particular:

• CPI inflation has eased from 3.4% in December to 2.7% in April
• our preferred measures of core inflation have come down from about 3½% last December to about 2¾% in April
• the 3-month rates of core inflation slowed from about 3½% in December to under 2% in March and April
• the proportion of CPI components increasing faster than 3% is now close to its historical average, suggesting price increases are no longer unusually broad-based

This all means restrictive monetary policy is working to relieve price pressures. And with further and more sustained evidence underlying inflation is easing, monetary policy no longer needs to be as restrictive. In other words, it is appropriate to lower our policy interest rate.

If inflation continues to ease, and our confidence that inflation is headed sustainably to the 2% target continues to increase, it is reasonable to expect further cuts to our policy interest rate. But we are taking our interest rate decisions one meeting at a time.

We don’t want monetary policy to be more restrictive than it needs to be to get inflation back to target. But if we lower our policy interest rate too quickly, we could jeopardize the progress we’ve made. Further progress in bringing down inflation is likely to be uneven and risks remain. Inflation could be higher if global tensions escalate, if house prices in Canada rise faster than expected, or if wage growth remains high relative to productivity.

In assessing where inflation is headed, we will continue to closely watch the evolution of core inflation. We remain focused on the balance between demand and supply in the economy, inflation expectations, wage growth and corporate pricing behaviour.

With that summary, the Senior Deputy Governor and I would be pleased to take your questions.

Bank of Canada reduces policy rate by 25 basis points

The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate to 4¾%, with the Bank Rate at 5% and the deposit rate at 4¾%. The Bank is continuing its policy of balance sheet normalization.

Press Conference: Policy Rate Announcement – June 2024

Interest Rate Announcement — Press conference by Governor Tiff Macklem and Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers (10:30 (ET) approx.).

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WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the COP29 International Advisory Committee Members meeting – 13 June 2024

Cop29 presidency team, ngic. baku, azerbaijan.

Your Excellency former President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, 

Dr Ismail Serageldin,

Secretary General Rovshan Muradov,

Our moderator, Your Excellency former Prime Minister Zlatko Lagumdzija [ Zlat-ko La-goom-jee-ya  ], 

Excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,

It is an honour to have the opportunity to address you at this COP29 advisory meeting, and I thank NGIC for the invitation.

The climate crisis is a health crisis.

And it’s not a hypothetical crisis in the future. It’s right here and right now.

Climate-related humanitarian emergencies are increasing in scale, frequency and intensity, with devastating impacts for health.

The same emissions that are killing our planet are killing people.

This year there have been devastating floods in Brazil, record heatwaves across Mexico, and millions of people have been affected by extreme heat in Asia.

Each year, air pollution contributes to over seven million premature deaths - that is one out of eight deaths globally.

Rising seas are edging closer to submerging some countries.

Food insecurity is rising, forcing people to make impossible choices between their next meal and health care.

And climate change is fuelling the spread of diseases like cholera, dengue and malaria. 

All of this makes health one of the strongest arguments for taking immediate action.

The health gains from climate mitigation and adaptation easily outweigh the costs.

They are a compelling argument for strong climate action.

Climate action could save millions of lives each year and generate a return of over four US dollars for every one dollar spent. 

These actions include protecting vulnerable people from the health impacts of heatwaves, investing in renewable energy for health facilities, and removing subsidies for polluting fuels. 

And yet for too long, health has been a footnote in climate discussions.

COP28 in the UAE was a turning point, with an entire day of the programme dedicated to health for the first time. Almost 150 countries signed the ministerial declaration on climate and health.

WHO and the global health community also played a part in keeping a commitment to transition away from fossil fuels in the final agreement.

I’m very pleased to note that health will once again feature prominently in the COP29 agenda, with a thematic day dedicated to health, human capital, jobs, education, children and youth.

At the Bonn Climate Conference this week, the COP29 Presidency has announced 14 Action Initiatives for COP29. 

I’m very pleased to see that many of these initiatives have a health focus.

And even those that aren’t specifically health-focused will bring tangible benefits for human health. 

Initiatives such as those on urban planning, waste and agriculture can save hundreds of thousands of lives annually.

Cooperation and coordination among partners are key for achieving a greater global commitment to a healthier, more sustainable and more resilient future.

As part of the COP29 UN Taskforce, WHO is working closely with the Azerbaijani team on these Action initiatives.

Addressing the health impacts of climate change is key part of WHO’s global strategy for the next four years, which our Member States approved at the World Health Assembly two weeks ago.

They also adopted a resolution on climate change and health, committing to a range of actions on mitigation and adaption.

In March next year, we will hold the Second WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Colombia, bringing together global leaders and experts to focus on concrete solutions to improve air quality, mitigate climate change and protect public health.

Another powerful vehicle for Member States to take action is through the Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health, or ATACH. 

ATACH is an initiative of COP26, and works to build climate resilient and zero-carbon sustainable health systems.

Globally, health systems are already facing the strain of increased illness, injury and deaths from climate change, and will need to be able to withstand increasingly extreme weather events.

Building more climate-resilient health systems means investing in health and care workers to meet the increasing demands the climate crisis is placing on health systems.

At the same time, the health sector is responsible for 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is why WHO is also supporting countries to build more climate-friendly health systems – by increasing their use of renewable energy sources, for example.

Let me leave you with two requests.

First, we seek your support to ensure health has a prominent place in the COP29 agenda, as the most compelling reason for climate action;

And second, we seek your support to encourage all countries to engage with ATACH to build more climate-resilient and climate-friendly health systems.

Thank you all once again for the invitation to address you today, and for your ongoing support for WHO and global health.

I look forward to a fruitful discussion.

I thank you. 

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• Remarks by Dr. Califf and Dr. Bumpus at the FDA Public Meeting: Optimizing FDA’s Use of and Processes for Advisory Committees - 06/13/2024

Speech | Mixed

Event Title Remarks by Dr. Califf and Dr. Bumpus at the FDA Public Meeting: Optimizing FDA’s Use of and Processes for Advisory Committees June 13, 2024

(Remarks as prepared for delivery)

I’d like to thank everyone for joining us today to give input on a topic of importance to all of us - FDA’s use of and processes for advisory committees.

For over 50 years, FDA has relied on advisory committees for external advice from scientific, public health, and medical experts, as well as representatives of industry, consumers, and patients.

While our regulatory decisions are made by FDA career staff, our advisory committees are a vital resource in helping us as we evaluate complicated issues related to drugs, devices and other FDA regulated products, both before and after they go on the market.  Of note, the majority of the thousands of decisions the FDA makes every year do not go to an advisory committee; today we are discussing the issues and products with more complexity than the usual, a situation in which external advice is highly valuable.

But advisory committees don’t just advise on issues related to specific product applications, they can provide counsel on broader scientific, medical, and public health topics as well.

Before my time at FDA, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to serve as a Special Government Employee, or SGE, on the FDA Cardiorenal Advisory Panel, the FDA Science Board's Subcommittee on Science and Technology along with some ad hoc SGE work with some of CDRH’s device advisory committees.  In many ways, the bringing together of complex data and information at an FDA advisory committee is an amazing component of our scientific enterprise.

Advisory committee meetings provide a unique window into the FDA’s work and into associated issues in use of technology and critical areas of medicine and health, and they can play a particularly important role in uncharted areas of public health. For example, during the Covid public health emergency, the Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee provided valuable external advice that FDA carefully considered when making decisions about authorization of the Covid vaccines that played such a key role in countering the pandemic.

Our advisory committees play an important role in opening up the process and increasing transparency, and ensuring that the FDA hears from external voices, free to agree or disagree with FDA reviewers and leaders, as we make decisions and policies. 

We recognize that most people have a lot of things to think about other than the details of FDA advisory committees, but I remain hopeful that we can improve the understanding that advisory committees don’t make the decisions.  Rather our full-time civil servants make the decisions, as specified by law.  I also hope that disagreements in interpretation between our staff and advisors should not always be regarded as a negative.  If we always agreed, we wouldn’t need advice.  

While advisory committees are just that—advisory, many of you have heard me speak before about how important advisory committees are to the FDA’s work.  The Agency has frequently reconsidered ways to optimize our use of advisory committees, and I’ve been pleased to work with Dr. Bumpus on these efforts since she joined the Agency.  Our efforts out of the Commissioner’s Office have focused on finding ways to modernize and improve our systems, and to enhance the experience of Special Government Employees who serve the public as members.  While this infrastructure effort does not have the “glitz” of decisions about policies and products, a lot has been accomplished already in our systems, internal education, and attention to the needs of the SGEs who are so important to us.  A measure of our success will be if SGE’s spend less time on paperwork and more time digesting the complicated science, public health, and medical issues.  

As we work on process improvement, we wanted to be sure to give a forum to hear from the public about your experiences and ideas about advisory committees.  We are eager to hear from you today about these issues.  

As a physician, I know that the best care that leads to the best outcomes for patients is that which is grounded in solid scientific data, research, and expertise. This approach is equally applicable to FDA regulated products and public health issues at large. For this reason, it's equally important that FDA’s advisory committees involve a diversity of membership and experiences, to better understand the needs of our broad population.

There is an important related issue concerning the key role the FDA plays in communicating health information to the public.  I have been vocal about my concern that misinformation is a top threat to public health in America because of how it undermines not only the trust that the public has in the FDA, but in science itself. 

Addressing this issue goes beyond simply publishing accurate information. It involves clear, consistent communication, sound science and sound policy, as well as open dialogue involving the FDA, experts in the topic areas we are addressing and the broader public. 

Environments that open the dialogue and allow a broad array of people to witness how we and outside advisors examine the data and evidence underlying our decisions, and the consideration of experts, provide an avenue to build public trust and confidence in decisions.  An important element of this discourse is discussion of the uncertainties as study designs, interpretation of the needs of consumers and patients, and data analyses are dissected in the course of advisory committee discussions.  I believe that this is an area where a lot of work is needed—having differences of opinion as a part of science rather than using differences to undermine confidence in science.

FDA’s advisory committees include committee members from a wide variety of backgrounds, often including patient or consumer representatives, whose role is to provide a voice for those most impacted by our decisions. 

The public can also submit comments through the public docket or by speaking at the open public hearing portion of advisory committee meetings. 

As our advances in science and technology continue to expand, and the opportunities for new treatments and approaches grows, it is increasingly important for the public to be aware of and understand the work of advisory committees and how that work is factored into the FDA’s decision-making. This will enhance the understanding of emerging products and issues that affect them, demonstrate that it is valuable to voice concerns, recommendations, and feedback, and, if we get it right, increase their trust in the process. 

I am eager to hear your suggestions for the composition of our advisory committees, how we can improve the public’s understanding of advisory committees, and overall, how we can optimize the advisory committee process. 

It is my hope that with your input, we can make our advisory committees stronger than ever.

Thank you for your participation.  At this point, I am pleased to turn the microphone over to our Principal Deputy Commissioner, Namandjé N. Bumpus, for additional remarks.  

Remarks by Dr. Bumpus

Thank you, Dr. Califf, for that insight on the importance of advisory committees and thank you all for joining us today. 

As Dr. Califf said, the FDA relies on advisory committees composed of outside experts who evaluate data to provide advice on scientific, technical, and policy questions and share their perspectives on patient and consumer experience issues, to help the FDA make decisions based on the best science available. 

The FDA has 32 advisory committees, one of which has 18 panels, and 2 subcommittees that cover the full range of products and public health issues that fall under the FDA’s regulatory authority. The types of advice that FDA asks of individual advisory committees can vary. For example, the FDA might ask for an advisory committee to provide feedback on the nuances of data interpretation; the clinical importance of possible benefits, risks, or toxicities of interventions; or product safety and effectiveness.

The topics FDA takes to advisory committees are often intricate. The committees’ consideration might include assessment of multiple co-related outcomes such as the relationship between clinical applications and product development or ethical considerations and emergency use.

Because of the complex nature of their work, it is important that advisory committees are composed of the right experts for the topic, and that administrative burdens for the SGEs are addressed to the extent possible.

Over time, we have received a lot of feedback on our advisory committee process, from their composition to their role in advising FDA. 

Because of this, we have made it a priority to evaluate our advisory committee process and to explore ways to optimize their use.  While the Agency regularly receives input about advisory committees from some specific groups, we would like to hear more broadly from all parties interested in the advisory committee process and how it can inform FDA’s decisions.

As part of this ongoing effort, we have convened this listening session to hear directly from you all on the composition, public perception and overall experience of advisory committees and their members.

I am delighted that we have over 50 speakers sharing their perspectives today and I am confident that this dialogue will provide an important and a useful step forward in our continuing effort to optimize our advisory committee process. 

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St. john's, 28 may 2024, secretary-general's remarks to opening of high-level meeting on mobilization of resources for small island developing states , antónio guterres.

Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,  Friends,

I am happy to join you today.

As I said yesterday, financing is the fuel of development.

But the truth is that many Small Island Developing States are running on empty.

Suffering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which accelerated inflation and increased interest rates.

Battered by a climate catastrophe they did not create.

With shocks that are becoming more and more frequent – and devastating.

Causing nearly 100 billion US dollars in losses for SIDS between 2010 and 2019.

SIDS face even greater challenges to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals than the rest of the world.

Too often, island nations are unable to make the investments they need in sustainable development – as precious resources are diverted to recovery from disasters and to debt service.

And when they turn to the global financial system for assistance, they come, often, empty-handed.

As a result, many SIDS have been forced to take on high levels of debt. SIDS are paying more to service debt than they invest in healthcare and education in a large number of cases.

And while many SIDS rely on Official Development Assistance, that remains comparatively low.

Two-thirds of SIDS are classified as Middle-Income countries – with limited or no access to debt support or concessional financing. 

As the impacts of climate change have intensified, the financing gap in SIDS has become more urgent.

SIDS are doing everything they can.

Prime Minister Gaston Brown of Antigua and Barbuda has been at the forefront of advocacy to develop a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index that truly reflects SIDS needs for development finance, and let’s hope that this will become a reality and be implemented mainly by the international financial institutions.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados has spearheaded the Bridgetown Initiative to transform lending and provide inclusive, resilient finance to countries facing climate crises.

And under Samoa’s leadership, the Alliance of Small Island States has been instrumental in pushing the international community to operationalize the loss and damage fund.

You are leading by example.

But too often, you are facing closed doors – from institutions and systems that you had no hand in creating… have little voice in shaping… and that remain too often unresponsive to your needs.

In current form, the global financial architecture fails to deliver for developing countries in general – and SIDS in particular.

Excellencies, Dear friends,

I have called for an immediate SDG Stimulus to scale up resources for developing countries and provide effective debt relief.

But it’s clear that deeper reforms are needed.

We need action on three fronts to better support and mobilize financing for SIDS to meet their needs and ambitions.

First, we must relieve the burden of debt.

Many Small Island Developing States find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle: borrowing at high costs – influenced by the biased analysis of credit ratings agencies - and facing climate and financial shocks that make repayment almost impossible.

Today, nearly half of SIDS are on the edge or already grappling with unsustainable levels of debt. 

For many, the problem is liquidity.

These countries should have access to effective debt relief mechanisms, including the chance to pause debt repayments temporarily while global economic conditions remain difficult – without fearing for their future.

And debt service must be compatible with a path to sustainable development.

Second, we must transform lending practices so that they work for SIDS.

Under current rules, many middle- and high-income SIDS cannot access concessional finance from Multilateral Development Banks.

And when they do, they are faced with excessive bureaucratic obstacles.

This must change.

We must lower borrowing costs by changing the rules on concessional finance.

That includes taking into account vulnerability to external shocks.

Climate-resilient or state-contingent clauses should become standard in all borrowing – so that countries are given breathing room when they face shocks.

The UN’s Multidimensional Vulnerability Index can play an important role on this.

And third, we need greater inclusivity across international financial institutions.

Global institutions cannot be effective if they are not representative.

SIDS must have a seat at every table, and your voices must be heard.

This is why we have been consistently advocating for the reform of the International Financial Architecture – so that it corresponds to today’s economic realities and provides an effective safety net for developing countries in distress and in particular for SIDS.

Excellencies, friends,

The Summit of the Future in September offers a rare opportunity to move forward on these goals. I look forward to welcoming heads of State and government to New York. 

I urge you to help build momentum around a more sustainable and inclusive financial system.

It is time to turn the tide and create a global financial future that leaves no island nation behind.

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General debate of the 78th session of the general assembly.

The debate of the 78th session is now closed. Links to video on-demand and statements are available below.

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Secretary-General António Guterres (right) meets with Dennis Francis, President of the78th session of the United Nations General Assembly. UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe

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