The Articulate Method circular waveform logoThe Articulate Method™

Short · 1 min 5 s · Published 3 September 2026

Influence

Stop Opening Presentations With "Today I Will "

Open a presentation with stakes instead of an agenda line.

Watch on YouTube If the player does not load, open the lesson directly on the channel.

What this lesson covers

“Today, I will talk to you about…” opens with zero stakes. Three hook frames replace it: a relevant question, a clearly stated problem, or a useful contrast.

In the video

Points below are taken from the published video and its description on the official channel.

Practice plan for this lesson

Written by The Articulate Method for this website. It is extra practice around the video, not a transcript of it.

  1. NoticeBefore you practise, speak for 30 seconds on a familiar topic and listen for the influence habit this lesson describes: “Open a presentation with stakes instead of an agenda line.”
  2. TrySpeak the same 30 seconds again and apply the technique once, deliberately. One attempt is enough.
  3. PractiseRun three short rounds of 20 to 30 seconds. Change the topic each round so your attention stays on the influence technique, not the words.
  4. RecordRecord 60 seconds in one take. Do not restart after a mistake, and do not delete the file.
  5. ReviewListen once. Name one observable change, and one place today where you will use it in a real conversation.

Use with these resources

Lesson questions

How long should I practise this lesson?

Set aside 10 to 15 minutes: watch the lesson once, record the speaking task, then review the recording once.

Do I need to restart when I make a mistake?

No. Continue speaking after a mistake so you practise recovery and fluency rather than perfection.

How will I know whether the lesson is working?

Compare your recordings and identify one observable change in clarity, pace, structure, pronunciation, or delivery.

Related lessons