Steve at All Things Workplace has three lines that he thinks lessen the impact of any speaker in an opening:
“I just want to . . .” “Just”? (Oh, it isn’t really all that important).
“I know how busy everyone is. . .” (Right. But we put you on the agenda. Start talking).
“Thank you for taking your time. . .” (You’re welcome. You just took up even more of my time with that wimpy intro).
I definitely avoid those though I’m afraid I might have coined a few new ones along the way. Do you have any other suggestions for openings to avoid? I’m not keen on speakers who try to make me shout Good Morning at them in response to their own Good Morning, but other than that, I’m drawing a blank.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Good Morning, Ms.!!
OK, I just couldn’t resist:-)
Thanks for passing along the article to your readers.
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Yes, that’s it exactly!
“Good Morning!!!
(silence)
“I said, ‘Good Morning!!!!’”
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I would thank people at the end of my schpiel but at the beginning? No. Because lord knows if they are going to bother to listen so why thank them yet.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:33 am
“I won’t waste much of your time by telling you this…”
September 25th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I’m sometimes guilty of saying “it goes without saying…” Really? Cuz you just said it.