Verbal Bridges 2/3

I LOVE verbal bridges (AKA 'anticipation hooks'). They make public speaking easier and so much more fun.

I'll share my 30 favorite bridges over 3 posts. Please keep this list to yourself :).

Story bridges (start a story / anecdote):

1. This reminds me of...

2. The following story truly happened...

3. When I was in high school...

4. One day when...

5. One of my favorite stories is...

6. Do you guys want to hear a good story...?

7. Who of you is familiar with the story of...?

8. Back when we were young, me and my brother...

9. Who was here when x happened...?

10. What would you do if the following happened to you...?

Note the 3 dots after each sentence. We must always drop a silence after each bridge. The silence gives you time to breathe and think, AND it creates anticipation in the audience (good tension).

Knowledge of a concept like this is step 1. But it really only becomes useful with step 2: practice. Find a safe environment (like our Confident Speaker Course), so you can master these tools when you need them most.