“The Eloquent Takeoff: How to Begin a Speech That Commands the Room”
By Ubong Essien, CSP — Dean, School of Eloquence
If you lose your audience in the first 30 seconds, you may never get them back.
This was one of the earliest revelations Monica had in her journey to becoming an eloquent speaker. Like many beginners, she used to begin with the safe and familiar: “Good morning, everyone, my name is…”
But Eloquence demands more.
We introduced her to the concept of the eloquent takeoff.
“Your introduction,” I told her, “is your runway. You either take off with power or never get airborne.”
So we taught her the tools:
- A compelling story from childhood or personal experience
- A rhetorical question to engage reflection
- A startling statistic to evoke urgency
- A powerful quote to trigger inspiration
Each one, a potential eloquence appetizer—something that whets the listener’s appetite for more.
In Monica’s case, she chose to open with a deeply personal family story.
The room stilled. The connection was instant.
Her voice grew stronger. Her body leaned forward.
Because she had grabbed the audience’s attention—and her own purpose.
Eloquence isn’t just in what you say.
It’s in how you start saying it.
Master the takeoff. Own the room.
That’s the eloquent way.