How to Introduce a Public Speaker

Knowing how to introduce a public speaker is a useful skill. It can mean the difference between piquing the interest of the audience and motivating them to listen or boring them to tears. Learn how to give a great introduction for a public speaker.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Talk to the speaker before the event. Find out relevant information about the speaker's experience and skills. Ask the speaker if there is anything he or she would like emphasized in the introduction.

2. Understand the audience. Determine the audience's interests by speaking with members of the audience.

3. Make sure you know the topic of the speech and the purpose of the event. The audience is going to want to know what the speech is about and how the topic is relevant to them.

4. Write out the introduction. Reread and edit it for clarity, then reduce it to a few sentences and make sure you only include relevant information. Use short sentences and simple words. When the introduction is the best it can be, print it on large sheet of white paper in a big black font.

5. Practice your introduction until you have it memorized. Use a tape recorder to help you get the timing perfect. Stand in front of a mirror during your practice to make sure you look natural and enthusiastic.

6. Speak in a clear voice, stand tall, look confident and smile when you introduce the public speaker. Use your print-out as a crutch in case you forget any of the words to your introduction speech.

Tips & Warnings

• Always get the correct pronunciation of the speaker's name and his or her position or title.
• Identify who you are before you begin to introduce the public speaker. Make sure the speaker knows who you are as well.
• Wave your hand in a gentle arc toward the speaker after you've completed your introduction so that the audience knows when to applaud.
• Aim to keep your introduction between one to three minutes.
• When you've finished your introduction, exit in the opposite direction from the speaker's approach after you've shaken hands.
• Do not use canned jokes or presentation software. You're there to introduce the public speaker, not upstage him or her.
• Do not read an extensive list of the speaker's credentials during your introduction. If the speaker has a great deal of relevant credentials, prepare a separate handout or have them placed in the program.

Who Can Help:

• eFax is the world’s #1 Internet fax service.  Send and receive faxes by email and kiss your fax machine goodbye. 30-Day Free Trial