Ever been introduced, and been disappointed with the outcome?
Perhaps you’ve been asked to supply your own introduction and had no idea where to start? Or you have sat through a long and winding introduction that put you to sleep?
First Impressions
The damage is done. First impressions are everything in these times of speed dating and power networking, yet often we leave our introductions entirely in the hands of amateurs. Fortunately, there are a few tricks that can ensure a smooth introduction even when someone else is introducing you, as is the case at a business meeting, group presentation, training session, or conference speaking engagement.
An introduction is a positioning statement, and needs to:
- Position you and your expertise properly in the minds of the attendees
- Clearly identify your topic
- Be succinct and accurate, with just the right amount of detail
- Set the scene and build energy
- Entice the listener with just a taste of what’s to come
As a professional emcee, introductions are a vital part of my job, creating interest and helping the listener shift focus from one presenter or topic to the next. I want to make speakers look good, but for me to help them, speakers have to help themselves.
All too often when asked for an introduction, they fail to come up with the goods and miss an opportunity to be professionally positioned and in control of their image. A three page life story provides too much information, and details scribbled on a serviette at the last minute are often incomprehensible and may lead to errors.
There is a quick checklist anyone can use to craft an introduction. It is based on four questions used by Toastmasters International, the international organisation that teaches the art of speaking. The checklist is:
Why this speaker? Why are you speaking instead of anyone else?
Why this subject? Why is this topic relevant in today’s marketplace?
Why this audience? Why is it significant to this audience?
Why at this time? Why does this audience need to know you and your information now?
Those questions cover the basics but there is still one more trick of the trade that can set a speaker apart from the rest: the human factor! Perhaps you are a mother of triplets or a high-flying executive that collects exotic animals, these anecdotes can break up a serious introduction, add humour and help the listener relate to you on another level.
Always make sure you end the introduction with your name. It reduces the margin for error. Write it in a large font at the bottom, for the introducer: “please give a warm welcome to John Smith.” The audience will be waiting and will applaud you at the appropriate time.
One last tip
Always take extra copies of your polished introduction to your speaking engagement, and insist they use it!
