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Think Twice about that “Thank You”

By Bonnie Budzowski
President, InCredible Messages, LP

According to Granville Toogood, author of The Articulate Executive, most people decide within 8 seconds if you, as a speaker, are worth listening to. We can quibble about the exact number of seconds the average person takes to make such a decision, but experts agree that you get precious few seconds to make a good impression.

You know from experience, of course, that most speeches begin with predictable phrases, like “It’s an honor to speak to you today….” or “How about that sports team?” or “Thank you for the opportunity….” No one faults a speaker for saying “thank you,” and no one leaves a presentation because the speaker is polite. Even so, predictable openings waste some of the most important seconds of a speech.

Most people feel uncomfortable about skipping the “thank you” at the beginning of a speech. We are so used to the amenities that it seems unnatural or impolite to eliminate them. Besides, those first “thank you” seconds can help you to get used to the sound of your voice and the look of all those people staring at you from the audience.

My advice is to keep the pleasantries but delay them. Use your first 8 to 60 seconds to grab the audience’s attention, with a statistic, a story, or a benefit statement. Then thread the “thank you” into the speech with subtlety somewhere else.

Make the effort to start your presentation off with something memorable. You don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Permission is granted to reprint this article when the following contact information is included: © 2010 by Bonnie Budzowski, President of InCredible Messages, LP. For more free articles, go to www.IncredibleMessages.com or contact Bonnie at info@IncredibleMessages.com.

Bonnie Budzowski, President of inCredible Messages, is a recognized expert—helping people to use influence and persuasion to sell their ideas and move business forward. Bonnie is a professional speaker, author and coach. She recently launched a new coaching project to help her clients "Write the Book of Their Dreams."

Clients appreciate Bonnie’s practical, humorous and high-energy approach. She holds an MA in Communication and has been called upon to work with corporations, entrepreneurs, universities, and associations.

If you’d like to sell your ideas, boost your influence, or advance your career through a book or presentation, call Bonnie at 412-828-1629, bonnie@inCredibleMessages.com or visit her website at www.inCredibleMessages.com. 

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