Distinguish Yourself When You Introduce a Speaker
How to Make Effective Introductions
An audience knows a good speech of introduction. Here are some of the more important laws to obey when you are the introducer:
Be brief. The whole thing should take one to two minutes (at most).
Avoid stale phrases, such as: “It is indeed a pleasure ... a man who needs no introduction ... we are gathering here tonight ...”
Get it right. Make certain you know the speaker's name and how to say it. When in doubt, ask her before the event, and while you're at it, make sure the biographical information is also correct.
Avoid giving the speaker false starts. E.g. “... and so I take great pleasure in introducing Mr. Rick Shaw ... (Mr. Shaw rises) ... a man who is eminently qualified in many ways...” (Mr. Shaw drops nervously into his chair.)
Don't try to steal the spotlight. Your purpose is not to steal thunder from the person you are presenting. Nor is it to give the audience a sample of what it is missing because the program committee did not have the good judgment to schedule you for the main speech as well as the speech of introduction.
Answer Four Questions
Your purpose as an introducer is to help the speaker you are presenting to get off to a fast and comfortable start. The best way to accomplish this purpose is to answer four simple questions in your speech of introduction. Answer in the order below. Answer accurately, interestingly, and briefly.
§ Why this subject?
§ Why this subject before this audience?
§ Why this subject before this audience at this time?
§ Why this subject before this audience at this time by this speaker?
Your skillful introduction will create a pleasant harmony between subject, audience, occasion, and speaker. And then comes your critical moment as an introducer-the moment of presentation. At the end of the last sentence of your introduction, with a climactic intonation of unmistakable finality, announce your speaker's name. Announce it clearly and with sharply increased volume.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you (slight pause)
MS. CATHERINE STONE.”
Continue to face your audience as you deliver this last sentence, so the speaker's name is not lost through a premature turn of the head. Then swing swiftly about and face your speaker with an alert expression of friendly welcome on your face. Remain standing in this position until the speaker rises and acknowledges your introduction. Then sit down. Your work is done.
How to Introduce a Speaker
In formal gatherings or larger meetings it's often necessary — and helpful — to introduce the main speaker. If you give it some thought you will make the event more successful, and you will establish your professionalism.
An introduction serves two purposes:
1. It acts as a bridge, a transition from one part of a meeting to another. It gives the audience time to make a mental and emotional shift.
2. It prepares people for the speaker, heightening their sense of openness and anticipation.
Your task is to introduce the speaker, not to take center stage. The spotlight is on you only for a moment so that you can shine it where it belongs: the speaker.
Keep it brief. For informal gatherings 30 seconds is plenty. For larger events, aim for no longer than a minute. Under certain conditions — a very formal event with a very important speaker — you may need to speak for two minutes.
1. Research.
Talk to the speaker in advance of the event. Find out what he or she is talking about and why it has relevance to the audience. Then learn as much as you can about the speaker's experience, education, life, interests, and accomplishments — whatever helps establish the speaker's credibility on the topic he or she is addressing.
Many speakers will send you a resume or their own written introduction. Use it to help you prepare your remarks, but do not read it verbatim. (It is usually too long and self-aggrandizing.)
Learn how to pronounce the speaker's name.
2. Prepare a 3-part outline.
A good introduction tells people why this speaker is talking about this subject at this event.
The first part of your introduction states a common problem or concern the audience shares.
The second part briefly (in a sentence or two) states how today's speech will help them solve that problem or address that concern.
And the final part of your introduction establishes the speaker's credentials — convinces the audience that the speaker knows what he or she is talking about.
3. Perform.
Walk to the podium with confidence. Arrange your notes and adjust the microphone. Take a breath. Look at the audience and smile.
Speak your introduction. Conclude with the speaker's name, which is her or his cue to come forward.
Wait at the podium until the speaker arrives. Shake his or her hand and step back from the podium, handing it over symbolically to the speaker.
See also "How to Give a Speech."
Chris Witt, a coach based in San Diego, works with executives and with technical experts who want to give more effective presentations. If you're interested in learning more about how you could benefit from his coaching, contact him for a complimentary call.
The Importance of Introductions
Knowing how to introduce a speaker is an important skill in our professional and personal lives. Everyone is expected to be proficient but most are not. Are you comfortable when asked to introduce a speaker? It is more likely you are nervous and a bit uneasy about what is expected. Does it feel like an opportunity?
Why not just let the speaker get up and start speaking? (Sometimes that idea has crossed my mind in the middle of a long, dull, and droning introduction covering every achievement in the life of the speaker and frankly, it might be an improvement.) Why are so many introductions such a drag? Bad introductions are so common that introducers mistake them for the norm and most people are ignorant of the purpose and organization of introductions.
The purpose of an introduction is to gain the audience's attention. Members of the audience arrive individually and need to coalesce as a group. The audience may have just come from listening to another speaker on a totally different topic and are still mulling over the ideas. They may be in the middle of an interesting conversation with a friend. They may be thinking about modifying their own speech scheduled for later in the day.
A secondary purpose is to motivate the audience to listen. Just because the audience is there doesn't mean the are ready to listen. Maybe they came to be seen, take a brief nap or escape something else. You can motivate by giving a preview of the speech from the perspective of the audience. Let them know "What's In It for Me"--narrow the gap between the audience and the lectern.
Organization & Preparation
How is a good introduction organized? Introductions fuse three elements: the subject, the audience and the speaker. The order of the elements is not important, either can come first or last. The important thing to remember is that the focus is not solely on the speaker, it is on bringing together the three elements so they open a window.
What do you need to do to craft a good introduction? The answer is prepare, practice and be enthusiastic. These need not take long once you understand what you are doing and why. Preparation involves learning about the speaker, the topical nature of the subject and the audience's interests and concerns. Get speaker information from the speaker. Get audience background from members of the audience and subject information from the Program Chair, the related current awareness media or your own pipeline.
When you ask for information, ask what the speaker would like you to emphasize or what the speaker thinks is relevant. Some seasoned speakers prefer to write out their own introduction. (They have experienced too many bum intros.) If a speaker provides a lengthy vitae, do not feel obligated to use it all. Shift through and pick out the things that connect the speaker with the subject and audience. In media parlance, you are preparing a coming attraction "tease"--not a eulogy.Write out your introduction. Practice it in front of a mirror or into a tape recorder for timing. Hone it to sound natural and enthusiastic. Reduce your written introduction to a few key words and phrases. Transfer them, in large font, to a large sheet a paper. This will be your crutch and because it is there you will probably not need to look at it.
Fourteen Introduction Tips
1. Know the speaker's name and how to pronounce it. If it is an unusual name, help the audience learn it. "It rhymes with..."2. Know the speaker's title or position. Do not turn and ask the speaker "Is it Associate or Assistant Professor?"
3. Be brief. Aim for between one and three minutes. Five minutes is too long.
4. Do not read the introduction. It will sound flat, unenthusiastic and convey the impression that you are unfamiliar with the subject. It is o.k. to bring notes to the lectern but keep them inconspicuous.
5. Smile and be enthusiastic in tone, gesture and choice of words.
6. Know enough about the subject to sound knowledgeable. Do not turn to the speaker and ask if the topic is epidemiology, epistemology or episiotomy.
7. Announce the speech title as given to you by the speaker. If you have any questions about it, ask the speaker before the introduction. Many speakers select specific titles for a reason or for a pun. If the speaker is not using a title, make sure that your description matches the speakers.
8. Introductions are no place to use slides, overheads or presentation software.
9. Anecdotes are good but should pertain to the subject and be in harmony with the mood of the presentation. Avoid using canned jokes.
10. If the credentials of the speaker are so outstanding that they must be shared with the audience or if there are publications the audience will want to know about, insert them in the program or prepare a separate commemorative handout.
11. Introduction of a panel of speakers is the same except the introducer needs to describe the structure and format of the panel (speaking order, length of time) and the various points of view and perspectives of the panelists. The introduction of the individual panelists can be done two ways: All at once or individually as the panel program progresses. Most audiences prefer a handout with the panelists' credentials so they can refer to it as the panel progresses.
12. Never use the old cliche that the speaker needs no introduction. If the introduction ties the speaker to the audience and the topic then each introduction is unique, plus there is always something new about every speaker.
13. You are the catalyst, not the performer. Do not try to upstage the speaker with your knowledge of the subject. Do not dwell on your relationship with the speaker, even though he or she is your boss, relative or significant other.
14. Identify yourself by name and title, unless this has already been earlier. Remember the speaker also needs to know who you are.
Three Introduction Templates
"Good evening. My name is...and I will be introducing tonight's presentation. Our guest speaker has been called a... by Time magazine and not supportive of our system of checks and balances, that she is overly concerned with revolutionary tactics rather than working within our current political system. Are those strange qualifications for a speaker about to address this Conference of..., striving to work within the system?Ms....'s career has taken her through 25 years of study, research, teaching and administration. She holds 3 advanced degrees in...and... She has written numerous articles scientific and popular journals. As Secretary of the...under the...administration, she has promulgated more changes (as measured by pages in the Federal Register) to the regulations relating to...than in the previous 100 years.
We are all familiar with some of the reasons that the...profession is under attack. As a professional group, we are confronted with problems for which we must take some responsibility. Our speaker tonight intends to illuminate these problems and offer some innovative solutions. Please join me in welcoming..."
"Good afternoon students. Today's class is a new format with a guest speaker. We all need to know how to drive safely, because statistically 10 out of the 40 of us here today will be involved in a serious accident sometime during our life. If we reduce accidents we save lives and lower the cost of insurance premiums--two things we are all interested in.
Larry..., is the assistant director of the State Transportation Safety Agency. He helped draft the first State legislation regarding mandatory seat belts and air bags. He has worked as Claims Manager for...Insurance Company. Larry has been a licensed driver since 16 and has only been involved in one fender bender. He credits his good driving record to having taken this class. His topic is "Arrive Alive." Please help me welcome..."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this audience has done more for the homeless in our community than any other local group. We can be very proud of our record. Our speaker this morning is well known to us. We know him as...and...But how many of you know that he has a hobby of raising turtles? He is President of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club and Editor of the Tortuga Gazette. Joe says he has been fascinated with the idea of carrying your house on your back since kindergarten. Always having shelter is this morning's subject. Let's hear what Joe has to say about "Back to Square One."