Introduce yourself in a presentation

Author: Eugene Taylor
Date Of Creation: 8 August 2021
Update Date: 22 June 2024
Anonim
How to introduce yourself | Kevin Bahler | TEDxLehighRiver
Video: How to introduce yourself | Kevin Bahler | TEDxLehighRiver

Content

Introducing yourself in a presentation is more than just saying your name. It's an opportunity for you to share relevant details about yourself and connect with your audience. In addition, it also sets the tone for the rest of the conversation. The way you introduce yourself affects the way your audience receives the message you want to convey. Make your next introduction spotless by presenting the most compelling information about yourself. Make sure to prepare the introduction in advance and start with an attention grabbing technique to connect with the audience.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Including relevant information in your introduction

  1. Clearly state your name. You need to make sure the audience remembers who you are, so don't mumble or talk too quickly when saying your name. Speak loudly and confidently, making sure to pronounce every syllable.
    • If you have an unusual or difficult to pronounce name, add a small comment to help your audience remember that name. For example, you can say, "My name is Jacob Misen, like" risen "but with an M".
  2. Communicate your message to get the audience excited. Think about how you are going to help your audience and communicate it briefly instead of just listing your qualifications and job title. Your basic data will probably already be listed on the presentation program anyway. Ask yourself what special skills and experiences you have that the audience would find interesting and introduce yourself.
    • If you are the vice president of marketing at a large company, it can actually be much more effective to say something like “I have over a decade of experience using Facebook marketing ads to reach customers in the dance industry” instead of just mention your job title.
  3. Show extra details on a flyer or powerpoint slide. If there is other information about yourself that is interesting and relevant to the presentation, you do not need to list them all in your introduction. Instead, you add them to your flyer or powerpoint presentation. The public can read them there if they wish.
    • In addition, you can also refer your audience specifically to the flyer or powerpoint for more information. For example, if you want to let them know that your articles have been published in many international newspapers, but you don't want to list them all, just say, "I've written for a number of internationally recognized news organizations. You can find the full list on the first page. from my flyer. "
  4. Save some relevant details about yourself for later in the presentation. You don't have to tell the audience everything about yourself right away. Stick to the most interesting and relevant information. If you have other interesting personal information that you want to share, you can add it in other parts of the presentation.
    • For example, you could say "When I designed a website for Richard Branson last year ..." that lets your audience know that you have an impressive resume without having to list it all for them in your introduction.
  5. Plan a smooth transition from the introduction to the content. Once you have a great introduction, it's important that you make the transition to the heart of your presentation seamless and effective. Making a planned transition will also help you maintain confidence because you will know exactly where you are going and how to get there.
    • Try to end your introduction by mentioning a client or project you were working on that is directly related to the topic of your presentation. For example: "I have had the pleasure of working with NXP Semiconductors for the past three years. Just last week we encountered a problem with our logistics database ..." and then you will introduce your presentation on a new software that can solve all the logistical difficulties. are being solved.

Part 2 of 3: Getting the audience's attention before your introduction

  1. Create the atmosphere with music to energize the audience. Playing music as you walk into the presentation room and a few seconds before you start speaking shares your personality with the audience and grabs their attention. This works best if you can reference the text or artist while the music fades and you start the presentation.
    • If you don't have music to match your presentation, you can use a song with the theme to begin. For example, if you're giving a presentation at a sales meeting, play some soft jazz when the participants come in. Then when it's time to get started, play the Black Eyed Peas chorus from "Let's Get it Started" to get your audience's attention. You can then open with an energetic "Good morning!" or "Good afternoon" when the music ends.
    • Keep in mind to choose music that is appropriate for the event. An academic conference may not be the best place for pop music, for example (unless you're presenting research on pop music, of course).
  2. Before introducing yourself, use an attention-grabbing quote. Before saying your name, share a short, relevant quote. So that your audience becomes interested in the topic. It's even better if the author of the quote has a big name in the industry of the audience you're talking to. The audience will recognize the name and that will make your presentation appear credible.
    • For example, if you're giving a presentation on the design of a new easy-to-use coffee machine, you could start your presentation with a reference to Elon Musk, "Any product that needs a manual to work with is broken," then say, " My name is Laurie Higgens, and my coffee machine does not come with a manual ". Talk briefly about your relevant experience and qualifications, then dive into the presentation of your design.
    • Avoid cliched or overused motivational quotes that the audience has probably heard many times before.
    • Quote your quote correctly.
  3. Make the audience think by starting with a revealing statistic. Start by presenting a statistic that illustrates a problem that your presentation will address or try to solve, this can be a great eye-catcher. In many cases, the public won't even realize there is a problem until you make it clear to them. Once you do that, they will be more alert and turn their attention to the solutions they are getting from you.
    • For example, you might start with, "According to Time magazine, Americans issued 4.3 billion prescriptions for drugs and spent $ 374 billion on drugs in 2014." Introduce yourself and your qualifications in medical research and make a presentation on how to prevent doctors from over-prescribing their patients.
    • Don't forget to mention the source of your statistics. You look more professional and reliable and the public can follow up on the information further if they wish.
  4. Connect with the audience and invite them to think about a question. Asking a question turns your audience into participants. Try to choose universal situations that everyone in the audience has some experience with or an opinion about. Make sure that it also ties in directly with your presentation material.
    • If you are giving a presentation on a new airport security-friendly travel bag, try to start your presentation with "How many of you have ever queued at airport security and nearly missed their flight"?
    • You can also invite your audience to close their eyes and let them propose something as you lead to your question.
    • Don't be discouraged if your audience doesn't raise a hand when you ask a question. Sometimes these questions seem more rhetorical to the audience, or they may simply be shy. You often see signs that they are still working on the question when people nod or smile after you ask the question.
  5. Show humor to relax yourself and the audience. Laughter can create a direct connection between a speaker and the audience. Start your introduction by laughing at yourself or exaggerating your own experiences in a humorous way. But don't overdo the humor. Make it natural without trying to force a smile. Make sure any jokes or ironies you use are appropriate for the context in which you are speaking.
    • Try telling stories, showing photos on a powerpoint, or using quotes.
    • Being funny is not only relaxing for your audience, but also helps them remember you after the presentation.
  6. Involve the audience in presenting to a small group. Giving a presentation can be a rather lonely and isolating experience. If you have a small audience, you can also involve them in your introduction. After introducing yourself, ask the audience to introduce themselves and let them express a question or concern related to the topic of your presentation. This way you relieve yourself a bit, keep your audience alert and get to know them at the same time.
    • For example, if you're presenting a pizza delivery app, ask your audience for their name, their favorite pizza topping, and a situation where they've had a particularly wonderful or awful food delivery experience.

Part 3 of 3: Preparing for the presentation

  1. Make a plan and write it down. It's best to have a plan about how you're going to introduce yourself so you don't get confused when you're on stage. It's even better if you can write down your plan so that you can preview it or refer to it during your presentation. You can write down any sentence if you want, especially for practicing the introduction.
    • At the time of presenting, it is usually best to write down a few notes or keywords that remind you of what you want to say so that you are not just reading your note cards.
  2. Repeat your introduction with a friend. Practicing your introduction aloud will help you speak with the right intonation and tempo, so that your message is clear and engaging. You can also take the time yourself and add or remove certain parts from your introduction until you have the information you want. Ask your friend for constructive feedback and advice on how to improve. Practicing out loud will also help you gain confidence.
    • If you don't have a friend to watch your presentation, record yourself on video and play it back later to hone your presentation skills. It may be inconvenient to watch yourself on video, but it will help improve your introduction.You can even record your entire presentation. Keep recording and re-recording until you are satisfied. Then you know that the audience will also be content.
  3. Research the culture in which you will present so that you do not offend anyone. You will want to make a good first impression with your introduction, so make sure you know what is expected of you and what may be disapproved. Research the local culture where you will be speaking: what do they typically wear in this industry? Do they introduce themselves only with their first name, or with their first and last name? Also pay attention to international customs. In some places it is inappropriate to use humor. If you're unsure about your audience, leave the humor out.
    • The best resource to get to know the local culture is the locals themselves. If you have a contact for the place where you will be speaking, ask about customs, dress code and the way the humor is usually received. If you don't know anyone personally, try searching industry-specific online forums. Find YouTube videos of presentations given in the field that are relevant to your industry.

Tips

  • Don't spend too much time introducing yourself. Your introduction should be short and to the point so that you can continue with your main presentation materials. Depending on the length of your presentation, your introduction should last between 20 seconds and 2 minutes.