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
Why
Why
Why
this
this
this
this
subject?
subject before this audience?
subject before this audience at this time?
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."
Related Introduction Thoughts
If you are the speaker, it is acceptable to write your own introduction for the
occasion. The introducer will be happy to have it and it gives you an opportunity
to expand your speech and personalize your background in ways that you would
be more comfortable with someone else doing.
When you are asked to speak and your introducer botches the assignment, feel
free to amend the introduction with pertinent items yourself. "My interest in this
subject stems from a recent harrowing experience and that's what I want to talk
about tonight so that you will be better prepared than I was to face..." "Part of
my job as...is to...and it is that experience that qualifies me to be critical of..."
I like to help welcome the speaker to the podium or lectern with a friendly
handshake. It disturbs me when I am in the audience and the introducer leaves
the lectern and turns his or her back on the speaker. You are aiming for
continuity not the big disconnect. Introductions are like giving a gift. You wrap it
in colorful paper and tie it with ribbon to help create anticipation, excitement and
a sense of the occasion. You do not just shove a gift into the hands of the
receiver with a terse "Here" and walk off.
To
gain
experience
introducing
speakers,
join
Toastmasters
(http://www.toastmasters.org) or see http://www.llrx. com/columns/guide2.htm