Avoid False Starts: Speaking of Introductions

Scheduled to Speak? Five Tips for a Great Introduction

Once upon a time, I was invited to speak to a very special group of women entrepreneurs.

The host was a well-known speaker and I assume she would introduce me with grace and power. Her introduction was flat. She depressed the audience within seconds. Not only could she not pronounce my name, she could not create cadence with the sentences of my bio. The result was that I had to re-do my introduction and plug in a lot more motivational messages and humor in order to pull the group back to me and my presentation. While I was able to recover the moment, I learned a big lesson that night. And that was: When it comes to a public presentation...Take Nothing For Granted! Here are 5 tips for managing your introduction.

1. Prepare your Own Introduction and Insist it be Used

No one should have to figure out what is most important about you. Write the introduction and tailor it to your audience. It should be short with lots of punch. Pick the salient points form your history to support your credibility and underscore why YOU are speaking on the topic of the day. This prepares the audience for your talk and sets the stage for you. After all, if great comedians have 'pumpers', why would we think we don't need the help?

2. Insist your Introduction be Used

Insisting your introduction be used requires you to know how much time is allotted for the intro and what the host's expectations might be for the introduction. Accommodate the structure but be sure you create the content.

3. Give your Prepared Introduction to your Host well in Advance of your Presentation

Everyone needs time to prepare for a presentation. The more time the host has to prepare the more likely they'll give an adequate or perhaps outstanding performance.

4. Make your Host Practice with You

This might seen awkward, as if you don't trust the host. Too bad. This is critical for your success. Watch for pronunciation, emphasis, and personality. Change things around in the moment, if it seems necessary.

5. Decide IF your Host should Introduce you

If, after hearing the host practice, you feel the host won't serve your end goals, then ask to be introduced by name only and then take it from there. Here's what I say: 'I don't want to put any pressure on you to make this introduction and I'm very comfortable introducing myself. Would you mind?' If the host agrees, and they usually do, then take over.

For more info on presenting with confidence, shoot me an email @ kschulweis@gmail.com

Kathleen Schulweis