Episode #284: Don't Be Predictable And Boring When Presenting

Why Do Most Commencement or Business Speeches Fail to Capture Attention?

Many speakers—students, executives, and even seasoned professionals—start with predictable phrases: “I’d like to thank the university…” or “Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce…”.
This familiar opening immediately lowers energy, triggers audience disengagement, and sends them back to their phones.

In Japan, where formality is common in 日本企業 (Japanese companies), 外資系企業 (multinational companies), and academic ceremonies, predictable openings feel safe—but they fail to grip attention. Modern audiences, especially in Tokyo, expect authenticity, relevance, and storytelling.

Mini-summary:
A predictable opening kills audience engagement. Your first sentence must grip attention and set you apart.

A strong opening does one thing: it pulls listeners into an experience.
The most effective method is to start with a short, emotionally resonant story—one tied to the place, the people, and the moment.

Graduating students have four years of memories.
Executives and managers in 東京 (Tokyo) bring decades of business stories from リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training), 営業研修 (sales training), プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), and daily corporate life.

Your opening story should be:

• Short

• Uplifting

• Related to the audience

• Easy to visualize

Mini-summary:
Start with a brief, uplifting, relatable story to immediately hook your audience.

Look for stories that reflect shared experiences.
For commencement speeches, that may be:

• A defining classroom moment

• A surprising challenge

• A humorous but revealing memory

For business speeches in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) or 外資系企業 (multinational companies), stories may involve:

• A breakthrough client meeting

• A leadership challenge

• A lesson learned during プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training)

• A coaching moment from エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching)

One key rule:
Avoid sad, embarrassing, or heavy stories on celebratory occasions.

Mini-summary:
Pick stories that highlight shared, positive, and memorable experiences.

Effective stories contain vivid details that help listeners visualize the scene:

• Season (“on a muggy Tokyo summer day”)

• Location (“in the Otemachi boardroom”)

• Timing (“two years before COVID-19”)

• People the audience knows

For example:
“Two years ago, before COVID-19, on a muggy Tokyo summer day, I walked into the gorgeous wood-paneled boardroom of our client in Otemachi to meet Mr. Tanaka, the newly appointed President.”

This works because executives in Tokyo know the climate, the district, the corporate atmosphere, and even the likely character of a “President Tanaka.”

Mini-summary:
Add sensory and contextual details to place the audience inside your story.

How Many Stories Should You Include in a Speech?

The length of your speech determines the number of stories:

• Commencement Speech (5 minutes): 1–2 stories

• Business Presentation (20–40 minutes): 3–5 stories

• Training or Keynote: Stories can frame every major point

In DEI研修 (DEI training), leadership development, or sales training, stories act as the glue that binds concepts to memory—far more effectively than raw data, charts, or bullet lists.

Mini-summary:
Use more stories for longer talks; they reinforce key messages and improve retention.

• A predictable opening loses the audience instantly—start with a gripping, uplifting story.

• Use vivid details (season, location, timing, known people) to create shared mental imagery.

• Match your number of stories to the length of your speech for maximum impact.

• Story-driven communication strengthens leadership, sales impact, and executive presence—core principles of Dale Carnegie’s global methodology.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.