Practical Tips on how to introduce a Speaker

There might be times when you are not the one expected to speak but the task that you have been given is to introduce the keynote speaker at an event. I once had the task given me in respect of a business dinner; thankfully I had been given prior notice so I was more than prepared when the D-day came all thanks to my mentor Richie Dayo Johnson (RDJ) who provided me with ample insight from his stupendous wealth of experience. Needless to say that from the feedback that was received, the audience thought it was an outstanding performance with someone even commenting that it was good PR.

Anyway the introduction of a speaker is just as important as the main speech itself since if it is done right it is capable of setting the perfect mood that will enable maximum reception and so proper care must be taken to get it right every time.

The bottom line is that the best introductions are such that the speaker gets introduced to the audience and vice versa. This will help to create a bond which signifies the existence of mutual interests and leanings. For example if at a seminar on finance you are to introduce a speaker it will be expected of you to highlight the speaker's background in finance as this is a way of increasing the speaker's credibility and thus selling him to the audience who will most likely be people who have a stake in the finance industry too. This helps to create the impression that both the speaker and the audience have something in common.

An introduction is thus like a speech even though a miniature one at that and so it must have an opening, a body and a conclusion. Remember the essence of an introduction is to heighten the expectations of the audience to a reasonable degree so the opening must be such that it catches the attention of the audience. In the body you should tell the audience the relevance of the topic and that of the speaker to the topic. In the conclusion you should set the tone for the main speech by welcoming the speaker enthusiastically to deliver their speech. Wait for the speaker to get to the lectern before you leave as this will enable for a smooth transition from speaker to speaker.

Remember public speaking is a show and you are meant to enjoy it under ideal circumstances so do yourself a good favour by preparing adequately for the introduction just as you would any other important speech. The best way to get better and better at what you do is to practice so make sure you practice the introduction adequately. That way you cannot but get a resounding applause no matter your audience.