How Public Speakers Can Captivate An Audience With A Better Intro
Bobbie Carlton is the founder of Innovation Women, an online community for women interested in public speaking.
One of the most often forgotten aspects of speaking and presentations is the introduction. What does the emcee or host say before you step onto the stage?
If you don’t know what the emcee is going to say before your presentation, you have missed out on an opportunity to create a total package for your presentation. Too often, a speaker’s introduction is their biography, ripped from LinkedIn or their speaker website. Sometimes that information is old, outdated or just plain wrong. Without careful management of my introductions, I could easily envision getting introduced using the biography of one of my namesakes, one of whom is a guy. A very nice guy, just not me.
If you do a quick online search for speaker introductions, you get this kind of beige stuff:
• Include a speaker’s name, their title and the title of the talk; wave vaguely in the direction of their entrance.
• Say, “Let’s give a warm welcome to [speaker name], [their title], who has a wealth of experience in [this industry]” with the same vague wave.
• Get the audience’s attention, state the topic, make the topic relatable, establish credibility and preview the main points.
Boring!
The goal of an introduction is to get the audience excited to hear the speaker, put down their phones and pay attention. The moment you have the most attention from the audience is the moment you step out on stage. A good introduction ensures that the moment is full of excitement, mystery and promise. The audience doesn’t know what they are going to get and that is intriguing to them. From there, it is up to you to keep their attention.
Another reason for controlling the introduction is that the audience likely already knows who you are. They signed up for the event. They saw your name, title, company name and biography in the show’s marketing. They might be holding a program in their hand that includes your biography. If they are seated, awaiting your arrival for more than just a few minutes, they might look you up online. Do they really need to hear someone read your biography?
Crafting Your Speaker Introduction
As you create a unique introduction for yourself, you can use questions like these to guide you. (Just don’t forget to give the write-up to the host ahead of time!) Consider:
What might the audience not know about you?
Do you have a surprising or unusual background when it comes to the topic? How might this surprise offer the audience a better solution? (Example: “Our next speaker self-identifies as an introvert. She knows what it is like to step onstage and not be able to find the words she rehearsed so many times. So it might surprise you that she’s here today to talk to you about public speaking and why you should get involved too.”)
Is there a universal question or need among the members of the audience?
Use this as a kickoff to the introduction and create a promise to be fulfilled. (Example: “Have you ever felt nervous about speaking up or speaking out? Our next speaker will empower you with the tools, techniques and mindset shifts needed to overcome your anxiety and speak with confidence.”)
What are your credentials?
And we’re not just talking about degrees and certifications. It could be awards or honors, successes or media coverage. It could be your status as an author or your success as a businessperson. In other words, why are you on that stage? (Example: “Our next speaker has spoken on main stages around the world and has even spoken at the United Nations. She’s here today to share with you how you can do the same.”)
What is your mission?
Can the audience become a part of fulfilling this mission? Do they need a mission of their own? (Example: “Our keynote speaker has made it her mission to get more women on stage at conferences and events. Today you’ll learn how you can become part of this mission.”)
Alternatives To The Traditional Introduction
In addition to switching up the content of the introduction, you may also want to consider a different format or presentation. Here are three slightly different approaches to speaker introductions:
Introduce yourself.
One speaker I know has an unusual name that is often mispronounced. Her solution? Create an introductory video. It’s got music. It’s got bright colors. It’s branded. And it pronounces her name correctly. She’s not leaving anything to chance. She is also the person speaking during the video. She injects a lot of energy and enthusiasm into the introduction and really hypes up the audience for the speaker: herself!
Partner with the introducer.
Can you work with the person doing the introduction, especially if they were part of the decision to select you? Ask them why you were selected. What thing got them excited to hear your talk? Is there a particular pain or problem that you solve for them—and by extension—the audience? Do they have a personal story that can be shared?
Utilize a personal connection.
Pick someone who knows you well to do the introduction. Can they share a personal story, something that pertains to your connection and is relevant to the topic? Is there a “how we met” moment? Ideally, it will be a personal and maybe incongruent story. It can also be a “fun fact” completely irrelevant to the topic at hand that could show the audience a different side of you.
In closing, introductions don’t have to cover everything. The audience doesn’t need your life story to get value out of your presentation. Your introduction should intrigue your audience, but not give away all your secrets. I don’t want the introduction to cover my main points—I’ll do that on my own. Lastly, remember that introductions don’t have to be long. They can be short, punchy and fun!
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