It’s easy to assume that the role of a speaker is to speak in front of an audience about a particular matter or subject of interest.
Most of the time, that assumption is true.
However, there will be times where you may be called upon to introduce another speaker.
… and while doing this may seem like an “easy task,” there’s a careful balancing you must do, lest you inadvertently steal the limelight from the person you’re supposed to introduce and let shine.
That’s why for today’s “Speak on the Shoulders of Giants,” we’re going to help you come up with a great introduction to the person you’re going to introduce during a public speaking engagement!
When being called on to introduce another speaker, your role is to bring that person and the audience together so they can have a bond linking them to each other. This way, the individual you’re about to introduce would have an easier time forming a connection with his or her audience.
This is precisely why your introduction must be carefully crafted and delivered within a reasonable amount of time.
In introducing another speaker, make sure that all of the details about this person are correct, be it the name, title, rank, qualifications, and/or background.
Getting these details right is important because the audience will get everything they know about the speaker from you, so a mistake on your part could either lead to the speaker taking exception from you or the audience getting confused.
Another thing to take note of when introducing another speaker is to make sure to keep it short and brief. If you say too many details, you might end up boring the audience before the talk even starts.
So, what else should you take note of when introducing a speaker?
Dale Carnegie, in his book, “The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking,” said that for most introductions, you can take advantage of the TIS formula:
- Topic – This is where you start your introduction by giving the exact title or topic of the speaker’s presentation.
- Importance – Here, you serve as a bridge between the topic and the particular interests of the listeners.
- Speaker – This is where you talk about the speaker’s qualifications, especially those that are directly related to his or her topic.
Carnegie says the formula can be used in a variety of ways and in a manner where it doesn’t look like you’re introducing the speaker in a formulaic manner.
Aside from these pointers, make sure your introduction is enthusiastic.
Why?
It’s because the introduction also makes an impact on how the speaker is perceived by the audience.
Think about it: What kind of impression will you give about the speaker when he or she is introduced in an unenthusiastic manner?
Your introduction is meant to build up anticipation and intrigue for the speaker and what he or she has to say, so make sure to do it with enthusiasm and eagerness.
—
Your impact as a speaker isn’t just measured on what you have to say, but also in how you introduce others.
This is why it’s important that you know how to introduce a speaker, because there will be a time where you’ll be called upon to do so.
When that time comes, take note of these tips and apply them to your spiel!
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Thursdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person…
… a boardroom with five people…
… or a huge venue with hundreds of people…
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Thursday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to communicate and present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you find this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Thursday’s “Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!”
Cheers,
Henry Desai
Managing Director
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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