Don’t Bury the Lead: Start Strong in Public Speaking

Imagine attending a conference where the keynote speaker opens with a dry list of statistics instead of the jaw-dropping revelation that those statistics support. The audience is left puzzled, struggling to understand the point. This is a classic example of “burying the lead”—a common pitfall in writing and public speaking where the most important information is hidden deep within the message rather than being presented upfront.

What Does It Mean to Bury the Lead?

“Burying the lead” is a phrase borrowed from journalism. It refers to placing crucial information too far down in a piece of writing or speech, causing the audience to miss the core message. In public speaking, burying the lead can dilute the impact of your speech, leaving your audience disengaged or confused.

Why It Happens

This often happens when a speaker feels compelled to set the stage with too much background information or attempts to build suspense by delaying the reveal of their main point. While context is important, starting with the most vital information grabs the audience’s attention and provides a clear direction for the rest of your message.

Examples of Burying the Lead in Public Speaking

Example 1: The Business Presentation

• Burying the Lead: A manager begins a presentation on a new project by detailing the history of the company’s previous initiatives before finally mentioning that the new project will generate a 50% increase in revenue.
• What Should Have Happened: The manager should have led with, “This new project is set to increase our revenue by 50%,” then provided the supporting details.

Example 2: The Inspirational Speech

• Burying the Lead: A speaker at a charity event starts with a long narrative about the organization’s founding before revealing that they’ve just secured funding to expand their services nationwide.
• What Should Have Happened: Opening with, “We’ve just secured funding to expand nationwide,” would immediately capture the audience’s interest, making the story of the organization’s founding more compelling.

Applying This to Public Speaking

To avoid burying the lead in your public speaking, follow these guidelines:

1. Identify Your Core Message Early: Before crafting your speech, pinpoint the most critical point you want to convey. This is your lead, and it should be stated within the first few sentences or paragraphs.
2. Structure Your Speech Around the Lead: Once you’ve identified your lead, structure the rest of your speech to support and elaborate on this key message. This approach ensures that your audience always understands the main point, even if they tune out some of the supporting details.
3. Use a Strong Opening Statement: Start your speech with a bold statement, surprising fact, or a compelling story that directly ties into your lead. This grabs attention and sets the tone for what’s to come.
4. Practice the Inverted Pyramid: Like in journalism, where the most critical information comes first, followed by less important details, your speech should front-load the key points. This keeps your audience engaged and ensures they walk away with the essential message.
5. Avoid Overloading on Background Information: While context is essential, be careful not to overwhelm your audience with too much background before getting to the main point. Instead, weave the necessary context into your speech after you’ve delivered the lead.

The Power of a Strong Lead

In public speaking, as in journalism, the lead is your hook. It’s what keeps your audience engaged and ensures they leave with a clear understanding of your message. By leading with your most crucial point, you create a more impactful, memorable, and persuasive speech.

Next time you’re preparing a presentation or speech, don’t bury the lead. Start strong, captivate your audience from the first moment, and make sure your message is loud and clear.