Preparing a Proper Introduction

Before you ever take the stage or step behind the podium, someone, more than likely, will introduce you.  If you are in a small business meeting, in can be a pretty informal introduction, such as "Steve, tell us what your group found out about the marketing plan." That kind of introduction works well in that setting. However, if you are speaking before a larger group in an auditorium or at a club gathering at which you are the featured guest, that kind of introduction won't work.

The formal introduction serves a number of purposes. First, obviously, it tells people who you are. It gives them a little background about you. Its most important function is to grant you authority and credibility.

Let's do this by example:

John is a firefighter who has a great organic garden at his house. John has been asked to talk at a local gardening club's meeting about his garden.

If his intro is along the lines of "And now I present you local firefighter John who is going to tell you about his organic gardening methods", John has no credibility with his audience. Sure, if he were talking about fire-proofing your house, he is your man, but gardening?

Now let's assume that John takes a few minutes before the meeting and talks to the person who is going to introduce him. John hands them a piece of paper with the following introduction on it:

"Joining us now is John Smith. John has a Masters degree in Botany from Texas A&M University. John has written several articles for Organic Gardening Magazine and is currently putting the finishing touches on his first book "Organic Gardening for Small Scale Farms." Tonight, John is going to tell us about the three most important things that an organic gardener can do in their garden. Please help me welcome John Smith!"

The difference between the two introductions is that the first one offers a hurdle that John must overcome in order to be thought of as someone of authority and expertise in the field. The second positions him an as expert that should be listened to. Same guy, better introduction.

Before your next speech, take the time to prepare a proper introduction. If nothing else, it will make you feel great hearing someone else say all of those nice things about you.