Authority is established in the first five seconds. Not by being loud — but by being controlled, deliberate, and grounded.

Your opening line determines whether your audience sees you as confident… or uncertain.

Here’s the exact formula professional speakers use to open any presentation with vocal authority.

1. The Pre-Opening Breath

Your voice cannot sound authoritative if your breath is nervous.

Do this before your first word:

1. Exhale all the way
2. Low inhale for four seconds
3. Pause one beat

This stabilizes your tone and prevents shaky delivery.

2. The First Sentence Rule

Your first sentence must be:

• slightly slower
• slightly lower in pitch
• slightly more deliberate

Rushed openings kill authority. Measured openings create it.

3. The Forward Tone Placement

This is one of the biggest secrets of strong openings.

Before you speak, give a gentle “mmm” to bring your resonance forward into the face.

A forward-placed voice sounds:

• clearer
• more confident
• more controlled

4. The “Authority Stance”

Your body anchors your voice.

Create stability in your posture:

• feet grounded
• shoulders back and relaxed
• jaw loose

This opens your breathing and projects confidence before you even speak.

5. Choose a Strong Opening Line

Your first words should be structured and intentional:

• “Thank you for being here—let’s begin.”
• “Here’s what we’re going to cover today.”
• “Let’s start with the most important question.”

Clear. Direct. Controlled.

6. Finish Your First Sentence Downward

Do NOT trail upward at the end — it sounds like a question.

Finish your sentence with a gentle downward pitch.

This creates immediate credibility.

The 20-Second Authority Opener

1. Exhale
2. Low, wide inhale for 4 seconds
3. Soft “mmm” forward placement
4. Authority stance
5. Speak your opening line slowly

This is the exact sequence used by top executives and keynote speakers.

---

---