Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Planning your speech
• Part 2 of 4: Prepare your talk
• Part 3 of 4: Review and practice your speech
• Part 4 of 4: Giving your speech
• Tips

The first impression is very important on how you come across to others, so it's very important how you introduce yourself. An introductory speech is referred to by some as a "lift speech" because it should be succinct enough to allow you to introduce yourself and tell someone about your goals and interests in the time frame of an elevator ride. It's also important to break the ice while others get to know you a little better. Choose your words carefully when writing a speech to introduce yourself. It can make or break your credibility.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Planning your speech

1. Determine what kind of audience you have. If you are writing an introductory speech for a professional affair, you will likely choose a different message and use a different language than introducing yourself to a group of peers in an informal setting. Before writing the speech, ask yourself the following questions:
   • Which audience is the speech intended for?
   • What is the purpose of my introduction?
   • What expectations will others have?
2. Determine what's relevant. If you have all the time in the world, you can think of lots of interesting and relevant things about yourself. But the secret to a successful introductory speech is that it is short and to the point. That means knowing what things will be the most important and relevant for your listeners to learn about you. You must transfer that information in the shortest possible time frame.
   • Stick to one or two main points you are going to share about yourself. You can always add a little more if it turns out you have time to spare.
   • Depending on your audience and the purpose of your speech, you need to determine whether the focus is fairly narrow or broader. For example, when introducing yourself to a group of potential investors, you should focus on your skills so that they can gain confidence in you. But if you introduce yourself to a more general audience - for example, at a speech to peers at university - you can elaborate a bit more.
   • Remember that you are presenting "yourself" in general, and you want to come across as an interesting and well-developed individual.
3. That doesn't mean you should start talking about your love for football when you introduce yourself in a professional setting.
4. Think about the purpose and tone of your speech. Whenever you prepare a speech, keep in mind what your goals and outcomes should be. Ask yourself what message you want to convey to your listeners. Are you introducing yourself because you want to network with other business people, or is it informal (with new friends)?
   • Are you trying to convince someone of your views with this introduction, or do you want to inspire / motivate others to work hard under your leadership?
   • All of these things affect what you are going to say in your speech and how you say it.

Part 2 of 4: Prepare your talk

1. Create a rough outline of your speech. Start by outlining a outline of key points. Remove all the frills from the speech and determine what is most important to say, and in what order you want to convey these facts. This will be the basic structure on which you will build your speech.
   • State your name in the very first sentence of your speech. That can be very simple: "Good afternoon! My name is Peter Smit, and I am a student of computer science at the University of Amsterdam".
   • If the introduction has to do with your job, immediately state your interests and career goals in the same sentence. This saves you time and shows that your personal interests can serve your professional goals. For example, "I'm currently working on an app that allows people to order pizza from their Twitter account".
2. You may also want to list your past achievements, if they are relevant and appropriate. "This is the fifth app I'm making. My second app, which allows people to find dog walking places in the area, has won an award at my university."
3. Think about whether to mention hobbies or other interests. Depending on the situation, you can also name a few relevant hobbies or additional experience that you have. Mentioning hobbies or interests can help solidify your authority in a particular area, but it can also appear superficial, depending on the purpose of your introductory speech.
   • Explaining your passions or goals and how they helped you get to a point can help you tell a compelling story about yourself. For example, if you're writing a speech to your classmates, you might want to explain how you became interested in computers at a young age, and why that matters to the way you pursue your career goals today.
   • However, if you introduce yourself to potential customers at a business lunch, they probably aren't really interested in your hobbies. They want to know exactly what you are doing right now and what you can do.
4. Write a rough version with experiences / hobbies, and one without, and practice both versions for an objective listener who can give you feedback before giving the talk.
   • Sell ​​yourself. If you want to make a good first impression in a professional context, it is important that the speech conveys your abilities and talents. You can achieve this without patting yourself on the chest by linking your past achievements to your future goals and aspirations, letting others know that the things you want to achieve are grounded in the things you have accomplished in the past .
   • Emphasize your qualities, talents, and experiences that are most relevant to this audience and opportunity. For example: “My background as an app developer and my extensive network of professional contacts means I know exactly what young professionals want these days. My apps offer ease of use and instant gratification”.
5. You need to present yourself as an expert and try to make a strong, lasting impression.
   • If you're trying to sell yourself to a group of new co-workers, you probably don't need to tell them about your family or anything else outside of the workplace that isn't directly relevant.
6. Differentiate yourself from your group members. Present yourself honestly, but do it in a way that your story is different from that of others. If you played an important role in a major project, name that role. Continue by sharing what you have learned from the experience and what ideas you have about how the project could be carried out even more effectively if it were redone.
   • You can demonstrate your skills and experience and at the same time present yourself as someone who is looking ahead and always learning and developing. For example, you could say, "I spend a lot of time attending conferences and meetings about apps so I can learn what audiences I'm looking for. I want to make sure I stay well informed about app development."
   • Try to link this to a broader statement of your career goals and personal development.

Part 3 of 4: Review and practice your speech

1. Cut out parts of your speech. Some career experts recommend making your speech only two to three sentences long. Others believe that you should stick to five to seven minutes in height. If that doesn't work, or if you have more time, it's still good to keep your speech as concise, but informative, as possible.
2. If this is an assignment, stick to the prescribed guidelines.
   • If your speech is to be 3-5 minutes long, 7 or 2 minute speeches are inappropriate.
   • If you need to give a brief introduction to an application, you should definitely not exceed the specified time.
3. Use short, simple sentences. Remember that your speech will be spoken aloud, and your audience will not be able to reread your sentences if something is unclear. Keep your speech so that it is not unclear to anyone what you mean.
4. Avoid rattling sentences and use direct, concise language.
   • Think carefully about the structure of your sentences. Practicing your speech out loud can tell you if certain sentences are too long and need to be re-structured.
5. Practice your speech. You have to practice your speech out loud before actually doing it. Practice different inflections and experiment with the pace at which you speak. You can practice on your own at first, but it can be good to share it with a friend or family member so that you get feedback.
   • Practicing in front of other people will help you know if your speech can hold the attention of your listeners.
6. Think about which parts of the talk did and did not go well.
   • Try to get as detailed feedback as possible by asking general questions when you're done.
   • Besides asking, "How did you like the speech?" you can ask which parts were the best or the weakest.
   • Check that the message of your speech has come through by asking your practice audience what they learned from it.
7. Memorize the speech. Know in advance what you are going to say and how you are going to say it. Although you can sometimes keep your papers with you, it is better to memorize it so you don't have to cheat all the time. If you stand in front of your audience without paper, you give the impression that you have everything under control, know a lot and have self-confidence. You can therefore better hold the attention of your audience.
8. If you keep staring at a piece of paper, it is more difficult for the audience to keep their attention.
   • However, you can bring a card with the main points on it, in case you get stuck. You don't have to put your entire speech on the map, just the main points will do.
   • See that card as a point of reference rather than a backup for your speech.

Part 4 of 4: Giving your speech

1. Try to relax. If you find yourself very nervous about the speech, do some relaxation exercises right before you start. Find a quiet place and take a few minutes to prepare yourself. Take a deep breath, focus on your breath and count the seconds that pass as you inhale and exhale.
   • You can also do some visualizations to calm your nerves and gain confidence before giving the speech.
   • Imagine how you will feel when you finish the speech, when you see all the smiling faces and get applause. Try to maintain that sense of confidence as you deliver the speech.
2. Get the right body language. It may seem unimportant, but not standing up properly will make you appear less confident and professional, and it can distract your audience. Stand up straight and try to look strong. It can help if you stick your chest out and your stomach in, but make sure it looks natural.
   • Don't fold your arms or squeeze your own hands.
   • Do not stare at the floor or the table in front of you.
   • Make eye contact with your audience in a measured and controlled way. Don't rest your gaze on a person, but don't flinch restlessly, either.
   • Try to make eye contact with someone on the left side of the room, then someone on the right. Look across the room, but in a natural, relaxed way.
3. Do not hurry. You don't want to make your speech too long, but you also don't want to stumble over your words or talk so fast that no one understands you. Try to find a balance and speed that is comfortable for you. You need to speak calmly enough that everyone can follow what you say, but not so slowly that the eyes of the people in your audience are closed.
   • Try to talk at a pleasant conversation speed.
   • Practice your speech in front of others first, or record and listen back so that you know if the pace is right.
4. Use humor when you make a mistake. If you make a mistake, don't panic. If you apologize excessively, you are actually emphasizing the mistake, which makes it seem very important. If you find yourself making a mistake, post it with a funny comment and let it go. That shows that you feel comfortable and confident.
   • Self-mockery makes you appear humble and sympathetic. For example, if you skipped a topic and you have to go back for a moment, you can say: "And now I have to go back because I forgot to tell you something. If you really want to get to know me, then this is the time!"
   • You can also quickly, funny shake your head and move on. For example, if you've already messed up your first sentence, you can say, "Well, I'm sorry.I'm so excited about this speech that I can't get my words out now. I will try again ".
   • Also, don't slaughter yourself too much. You still want people to remember your strengths and skills. Move on quickly.

Tips

• If the introduction is too long, you will lose the audience's attention. A good introduction should not be longer than 10 minutes.
• Don't be afraid to appear good. Ultimately, this is your introduction, and it is the first impression you make on people.
• However, you should also not exaggerate or brag, because then the audience will no longer listen to what you have to say.