Introducing a speaker without making it sound like his CV

“Today I am introducing a senior speaker who is very energetic and enthusiastic. He is a toastmaster for five years and is always helpful. Currently he is our Vice President Public Relations working with a construction company. Please join me in welcoming toastmaster John Smith”

How often have you come across of such introductions? The moment you hear, you instantly think, “Oh this is yet another introduction gleamed from dubious sources”. Alternatively, you must have also heard introductions that sound like reading a CV. It might go something like this, “John Smith is an MBA, has 19 years of experience in Administration and Human Resources, Works with a Construction Company, is a competent communicator, has won best speaker award several times and so on” I am sure you are midst the audience once again listening to an ordinary, expected and a flat introduction.

Now, why do you think this happens? Why is that people seldom giving importance to ‘speaker introduction’? I have been contemplating for a while, but do not have an answer yet for this question. Either Seven out of ten speaker introductions that I come across is a straight read of a written CV or last minute information managed from some dubious sources. I have few tips to create a powerful introduction, which has worked for me, and I want to share that with you. Try! It might work for you as well.

The simple five-step formula is as under:

1. Interview the speaker
2. Outline a 30 second speech
3. Add color and sweeteners
4. Rehearse
5. Deliver

First, while interviewing make sure you have a structured questionnaire. Ask few personal questions about family, type of house he lives in, where he goes on holiday, name of his pet and so on. Dare to deviate from the normal CV stuff and you will soon see the difference?

Second, write a short speech with brevity. Economy of words is critical here. Structure it in a way that would arouse the interest of the audience. Although it is a 30-second speech, ensure that there is an opening, body and a close. After all a thirty-second speech would have about sixty-to-seventy-five words in it. Edit it, if required several times. Remember to keep it short and simple, the audience is there to hear the speaker and not you.

Third, add color and sweeteners. This is where you must think differently and flavor the speech with humor, vivid images and if possible, some surprise elements, an information that the audience is unaware about the speaker.

Fourth, rehearse. It is as good as a speech, and if you want to sound natural, you must rehearse several times.

Finally deliver with poise. Remember to use all your speaking skills to arouse interest in the audience. You must endeavor to build expectation and end your introduction when the interests peak. Your introduction might go something like this.

“So, when John Smith is not teaching English to young children, he lives in a villa in Dubai Marina with his wife, two teenage sons and a German shepherd called Tommy. He has just come back after scuba diving with his friends and family”

I am sure, applying the above five easy steps can enable you to produce and deliver a winning introduction – which will seldom sound like reading a CV!

If you feel this article has helped you introduce a speaker better, please tell others at will. Alternatively, please post your comments to help improve this blog.