Author:
Peter Berry
Date Of Creation:
12 February 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
An introduction can make or break a speech. Guest speakers are dependent on you to give them an interesting introduction to engage your audience. A good introduction requires research on the speaker's reputation. Write down your speech explaining what your audience will get as they listen. By memorizing your presentation and giving it enthusiasm, you can make any guest speaker great.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Speaker research
Ask the speaker what they want you to say. In most cases, the speaker will prepare and give your introduction. Even if they are not prepared, they can provide information for you to use. When the speaker is busy, talk to people who know them, such as their acquaintances or colleagues.
- When the speaker provides the introduction, use it. You should read through it a few times and be prepared to present energetic and enthusiastic.
Find out what the speaker is going to talk about. You can ask questions to know the focus of your speech. The speaker or event organizer can tell you. This way, you will be able to refine your speech to introduce the speaker's topic. The intro should provide exact information the audience might want to hear.- For example, the speech will be about motivating young girls to learn computer programming.Don't take the time to explain how the speaker can guide these skills to an adult.
Look up the speaker's biographical information. Please study the speaker information online. Articles, interviews, and websites related to the speaker will provide this information. You can type their name into the search bar and refine their speech-related details. Often times, you will find the relevant obvious facts for the introduction.- For example, a professor's biography on the school's website may inform you that, "Ms. Nhung used her scientific research to identify 10 new species of birds". Try to find information relevant to the topic they will present.
- Articles and interviews will also provide useful basic facts, such as “Miss Nhung spent last summer building a school in Africa”.
Avoid using sensitive or embarrassing information without consent. Remember that your introduction is meant to feature the speaker. Issues like legal troubles, health problems, or family problems are all complicated. They take time and create a negative image. It is not appropriate to mention the public criticism or controversy that others have made about the speaker. It's not a good idea to talk about their families either.- Always ask your speaker for permission before you use these details. Make sure you can explain why it matters with the introduction.
Find other speeches the speaker has given. When you find a speech, pay special attention to the introduction. Find any speaker details you could use. Read the speech out loud and look for well-written sections. You can adapt these sections to improve your introduction.
- Don't use speaker speech to write your introduction. Maybe this time they'll be giving another speech, so you'll create mixed expectations for your audience.
- Be careful if you are using information from another speech as it is copyrighted material and cannot be used without the presenter's approval.
Include an unexpected detail if it matches the intro. You can find a detail that defines the speaker's personality even if it's not well known. That detail could also be information shared between you and the speaker. A surprisingly interesting detail did not detract from the focus of the speech. In many cases, it can be used to make the audience laugh or to appreciate who the speaker is.
- For example, you met a speaker while working at a dog adoption center. Introduce this connection at the beginning of your speech. End by affirming, "I know Miss Nhung will inspire you to work better with schoolgirls - as well as your dog".
Pronounced the correct name of the speaker. Make sure you learn the correct pronunciation. You can find it online. If this is not possible, contact the speaker, anyone they know, or the organizer of the event. Wrong pronunciation makes your introduction look unprofessional. It is embarrassing and adversely affects the reputation of both you and the speaker.
Check out any speaker titles. Introducing speakers with suitable titles demonstrates their professionalism and increases their reputation. Refer a doctor as Doctor A. Introduce a judge as Judge A. Maybe the speaker has titles you don't know about, such as Him or Lady for someone who gets the title by British royalty.
- Speakers can tell you how you should recommend them. This information may also be found online or from others.
Part 2 of 3: Write your introduction
Keep your introduction under 3 minutes long. Remember, you need to introduce speakers. The intro should not take up the entire event time. A few short passages are enough. This is enough time to mention the reputation of the speaker and capture the audience's interest.
Explain the qualifications of the speakers. The goal of the introduction is to explain why a speaker was chosen to speak. Relevant reputable information will be discussed here. Please highlight the professionalism of the speaker on the subject. Examples of qualifications include published work, work experience, and success stories. Demonstrate that the speaker is reputable, but keep the qualifications brief and relevant.
- If a speaker is presenting on the topic of improving teamwork, say he has changed the work environment at some Fortune 500 companies.
- If your speech is about knitting at home, you don't need to list all of the Fortune 500 degrees, awards, or work experience.
Tell the audience what they will get when they listen. Your task is to attract the attention of the audience. To do this, let's say that the audience will get a lot from the speech. The knowledge should be relevant to the event oratory. For example, if the topic of speech is public speaking, the audience wants to know what they can learn from their lives.
- For example, you could say, "Today, Mr. Son will prove that anyone can speak with charisma and a little anxiety is not always bad news."
Include a short personal story if available. Chances are you were chosen to speak because you already have interaction with the speaker. You don't have to know the speaker well to do this. When the speaker shows you are close to you, the audience will recognize it. They will be interested in you and want to hear the speech.
- You might say, “20 years ago, I met a man and he challenged me to be better. He has become a good friend ”.
- You can also give a short story, such as “I heard Mr. Son speak in Miami and it touched me”, or, “Dr. Son shared his ideas with me this morning. and I guarantee you will enjoy them ”.
- Be careful not to exaggerate as it may increase the expectations of the speaker. It can reduce a speaker's confidence if you boast too much.
Avoid humor. Humorous stories take time and are often confusing or irrelevant to the speech. Sometimes, they work. You will need to use your judgment when it comes to humor. In some cases, such as after a sad or tiring event, the audience needs to have a good laugh.
- For example you might say, “Anh Son inspired me to go out and make a closet. And when I listened to his speech again, I learned a lot to be able to open my own wardrobe.
Introduce the name of the last speaker. The last word is to applaud. Write your speech towards that goal. This is when the audience needs to show their enthusiasm for the speaker. It is the only part of the speech that lets you introduce the speaker name and title.
- For example, say, "Please join me in welcoming Dr. Son!"
- You can also give the topic of the speech if needed. This is useful during major events, where people are from different locations or have different speakers.
- You can also introduce speakers to the beginning of a speech and repeat their names throughout the introduction. This helps create familiarity with the audience.
Read the speech out loud. Complete your speech, then re-read it yourself. Let's evaluate how it sounds. The tone should be appropriate for the hall. Make changes, remove unnecessary details or words. Besides, you can try a self timer. A good speech will sound smooth without being wordy.
- Think about how you would respond to the introduction if you were an audience.
Part 3 of 3: Presentation of the speech
Practice the introduction. A good introduction should be carefully prepared.Please take the time to listen again before you give your presentation. The reliance on stage notes will distract the audience. Instead, make sure you memorize words and be able to say them naturally. Your introduction should sound fluent and full of energy. You can practice introducing in a variety of ways, such as recording yourself or speaking in front of acquaintances.
- When stage fright matters, try memorizing your introduction while looking in the mirror. Once you feel comfortable, rehearse in front of family and friends.
- An introduction recording is an easy way to listen to yourself when you're alone. Listen again and look for any improvement.
Occasionally introduce rehearsals before going on stage. While waiting for your turn, you can review the introduction. A few rehearsals are acceptable. Avoid stressing yourself with repeated rehearsals and memorization. Let yourself feel secure from the practice and enthusiasm for the speaker. This will help prevent the introduction from appearing scripted.
Introduce yourself when you get started. Introducing your name and title helps if someone in the room doesn't know you. Keep it short so you can finish the rest of the introduction. Remember that you are introducing the speaker, so there is no need to explain in length who you are. If someone has referred you before, you can ignore this.
- Say, "Good evening. I'm Nguyen Hung and I'm the organizer of this event ”.
- When people get to know you, such as a teacher who introduces the speaker in front of the class, you don't need to do this.
Show enthusiasm when speaking. With practice, you'll be ready to read the introduction with enthusiasm. Please maintain high energy levels. Stand up straight. Boost energy as you read the introduction by adding a bit more volume and confidence. Keep in mind what you would like your introduction to be like if you were an audience. You will want it to inspire you to care about your speaker.
Speak loud and clear. Many speakers became anxious or over-eager. They spoke so quickly that they could not hear clearly. You should calm down. This ensures that your audience can clearly hear all of your introduction. You should realize that every word is loud and accessible to the people at the back of the room.
Leading applause. When it comes to the end, stay in your place. Emphasize the last words. Be the first to clap your hands. As an introducer, you are supporting the speaker. The audience will follow your lead, and for a speaker, nothing is worse than a faint applause.
Turn toward the speaker as they approach. You should turn toward them. Your feet should point toward them and eyes should see each other. Give the speaker a sincere smile. Stand still and clap your hands until they approach you.
Shake hands of the speaker. Shaking hands is a positive gesture. The audience will notice that. It is a friendly greeting that shows the relationship between you and the speaker. Continue looking at the speaker until they reach you on stage. Shake their hands and then confidently walk off the stage. advertisement
Advice
- Get the speaker's consent for the introduction you wrote.
- Forget about cliches, such as "This person doesn't need an introduction". Instead, focus on making your introduction unique and vibrant.
- Ask the speaker to review the introduction provided if you don't feel it is right for your audience.
