Public speaking tips: 10 easy ways to prepare a powerful introduction

by Thomas Murrell

An introduction is the very first message an audience will hear when you have to speak in public. It can set the scene and make or break a presentation. It is frustrating so very few presenters use this powerful tool. Always request an MC or someone respected to introduce you. This provides instant credibility through third party endorsement.

It is far better for someone else to talk about and endorse your fantastic achievements than yourself!

The more senior, respected, experienced or higher ranked, the greater the credibility boost you will receive. As that well-known phrase goes, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. So do you leave this opportunity to chance? Or do you want to control every word the audience hears?

It is always best to control the introduction and in particular, write your own introduction and importantly brief the person who will be introducing you.

A well-written introduction you have prepared beforehand also allows you to move smoothly and unhesitatingly from the introduction to your opening.

Here are some public speaking tips and 10 Easy Ways to Prepare a Powerful Introduction when giving a speech for any occasion.

1. It has to make sense
   Your introduction must make sense and cover why you are speaking or have been chosen to speak. Read it out aloud to someone else prior to giving it to the introducer.
    
2. Keep it simple
   The best introductions are often the simplest.
    
3. Keep it short
   A short introduction will have the most impact. Remember the audience has come to hear you not the introducer. Bill Clinton has made famous his mistake in the US Congress where he took longer to introduce someone than the actual speech. Don't make this fatal mistake. A good introduction will take between 20 and 30 seconds to read out and be between 3 and 4 paragraphs in length.
    
4. Make an impact
   Good introductions make an impact. Ways to do this could be to start with a rhetorical question.
    
5. Include personal information
   Include personal information to make a human connection with the audience. This helps build rapport and empathy.
    
6. Include the quirky, memorable or unusual
   This helps the audience relate to and remember you. It is also useful as a way of introducing humour or a foil or balance to all your great achievements. The unusual can also surprise and delight an audience. I use my past involvement in the unusual athletic pursuit of hammer throwing to help put a smile on the audiences faces.
    
7. Link to the opening
   Make sure you have a link in your introduction to segue seamlessly into your opening. Remember the introduction and your opening are NOT the same.
    
8. Have large font
   Make sure the introducer can read the introduction. Keep the font as large as possible that will comfortably fit on 1-page.
    
9. Brief the introducer
   Always brief the introducer on pronunciations and any stage directions. It is especially important for them to shake your hand to give you confidence and energy and permission to connect with the audience.
    
10. Give them plenty of time to prepare
    Avoid handing the introduction to the MC at the last moment. Give them plenty of time to prepare and rehearse. Most are nervous and will want to do their best. Always avoid the credibility sapping experience of them saying .."So and so has just handed me this and I'm just going to read it out."

    Don't laugh it has happened to me and nothing dampens your energy and enthusiasm as a presenter more than being introduced with that line.

Here is an example of an introduction I use

INTRODUCTION FOR THOMAS MURRELL - Presentation Skills How can you more effectively get your message across? More importantly, how can do you this when delivering a speech?

Our guest presenter today is an International Business Speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster He is recognized by his peers as a Certified Speaking Professional or CSP, this is the industry's highest award and there are only 53 people with this in the whole of the Asia Pacific Region.

His company 8M MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS provides solutions to media, marketing & communication issues for Top 500 companies, government organisations and leading Universities.

In a former life he was a radio & TV presenter, executive producer and Senior Media Executive, describing his 12 years at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as an "apprenticeship".

A graduate of three Australian Universities, he gained his MBA in marketing from the University of Western Australia and is a former National Junior Hammer Throw Champion!

To talk about Powerful & Persuasive Presentations, please welcome MR THOMAS MURRELL (turn to Tom & shake hand).

Please feel free to use this as a template and modify it for your own situation.