![]() Allow me to introduce…… You would think an introduction of a speaker or presenter would be pretty easy. Mention their name, a bit about what they do, what you think, a couple of wise cracks to embarrass them, a few gratuitous laughs and job done. WRONG!! Work colleagues and friends are famous for this type of introduction. They think they are being funny and getting the audience ready for you but what they are really doing is minimizing your credibility as the speaker or presenter and making themselves look like knuckleheads. The importance of the introduction cannot be minimised. It is crucial and indeed does have a massive impact in preparing the audience for what they are about to hear. As a speaker, I would ensure I have prepared my own intro and spoken to the MC to ensure they are clear that they are to read what is provided and NO ad-libbing. As an MC, I would contact the speaker and ask them to provide their own introduction or the key points they want you to include. So what makes a great introduction? 1 The Speakers Name
2 Topic
3 Importance
4 Credibility
An introduction should be brief and well planned. Don’t try to present too many facts in the short time. Writing a good introduction is only half the job. The other half includes a relaxed professional delivery that creates a friendly link between the speaker and the audience. An introduction should take only 1-2 minutes. What should NOT be part of an introduction? These should be avoided at all costs.
“Our next speaker is (Speakers name) and their speech topic is (Speech Title)
Remember this is about preparing the audience for the presentation. If you’re presenting multiple speakers a professional introduction will also include recognition of the previous speaker. A few well-chosen remarks keeping it brief would be appropriate then moving on to your introduction. Don’t under estimate your importance as the introducer and the role your introduction plays in preparing the audience and setting the scene for a successful presentation. As always we look forward to your comments and feedback. Until next week, my name is Con and I am The Con Versationalist
1 Comment
Darrell
25/2/2020 07:43:42 am
A great piece Con. Keeping an intro simple and structured supports the speaker.
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AuthorCon is an accomplished and articulate speaker, trainer and certified coach who is passionate about helping businesses and individuals create greater success by teaching speaking and communication skills. These skills contribute to improvement and better outcomes in every area of business, such as sales, customer service and controlling fear and anxiety around presenting your thoughts and ideas (standing up and speaking out). Archives
June 2023
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