The most effective way to grab an audience’s attention is to start a presentation on the second slide, a technique borrowed from Lawrence Block’s work on fiction writing. By beginning with the action and mystery, listeners are intrigued and motivated to pay attention. Technical presentations often start with background information that can be a bore to some and unnecessary to others. By flipping the order and starting with a problem or solution, both seasoned and new listeners are engaged. This approach is especially useful for presentations on complex topics like optimizing virtual machines. By crafting presentations in this way, presenters can ensure that their audience is actively involved in the discussion.
https://tidyfirst.substack.com/p/start-presentations-on-the-second