Due to the nature of my work, I find myself in different places. And just before I am due to speak, I am introduced by somebody. Sometimes the nature of the introductions is interesting. There are some introductions that I am waiting for them to get over with because they seem to be so long and I am sure that the audience is already bored and I wish that the person would just stop and let me start speaking. There are some that are so pithy that they don't do anything; they just go like "And I'd like you to listen to Dr. Clements," or something like that. And then there are some that are so interesting that I think, "I can't wait to hear this person," until I realize that the person is me. And suddenly I'm filled with fear, wondering whether I can match the expectations that have been set up by the person doing the introductions.
All this to say that there are various types of introductions that I've heard. And yet, there's a point where you say that there are some things that need to be said in an introduction and others that can be left out. I had the privilege of being under two presidents at two universities that I studied in – Dr. David McKenna and Dr. Maxie Dunham. They were masters at introductions. I would wait to hear their introductions because they were so good. They would finish it within 60 seconds, but in those 60 seconds, they would create such a desire to listen to the speaker. They would not only be able to get you excited about the speaker, but they would also add something personal about the speaker that piqued your interest and made you want to sit at the edge of your seat and be eager to listen to the speaker. That's what introductions ought to do.
So I thought this morning, that I would give you some pointers so that you would have an idea how introductions should be made. Possibly, some of you may feel that you have got this down. Great! But as I looked at this, I thought that there were some things that I could take away from this. We are always learners. This has inspired me and I thought I would give it to you. This is almost verbatim from an article written by Andrew Dlugan almost a year back, where he gives us some points about how to introduce a speaker. I would encourage you to go to our website and keep these important points, as introducing speakers is something that you will most likely have to do, and do it often. And it is something that needs to be done right.
1. Answer three core questions. When you are introducing a speaker, your primary goal is to prepare the audience and get them excited for what they are about to hear.
To do this, you must answer these three core questions:
· What is the topic?
· Why is this topic important for this audience?
· Why is the speaker qualified to deliver this talk?
By addressing these three questions, you've given the audience a motivation for listening (the topic is important to them), and you've reinforced the speaker's credibility.
2. Prepare and practice adequately. Don't ever think, "Oh, I don't need to prepare…I'm just introducing a speaker. People who think like that often end up stumbling, bumbling, doing off-the-cuff introductions that undermine the credibility of the speaker and themselves. Write out your introduction, if possible, check out the details with the speaker and practice it a few times so that you so that you are able to know all the various details that you have put down.
3. Memorize it, or minimize your notes. Some of the best introductions I have seen are by people who have no paper with them, or if at all they do, they carry a small 5 x 3, where just pertinent points are put down. So try and memorize the introduction. Speaking without notes lends great authority to what you are doing. If you are unable to do so, write down salient points on your 5 x 3 that will help you.
4. Be positive and enthusiastic. The audience takes cues from you. If you seem disinterested, they will be disinterested too. So make sure your choice of words, voice, gestures, and facial expressions should all convey enthusiasm.
So, how do you ensure you are enthusiastic?
5. Get to know the speaker. It is difficult to get the audience excited about the speaker if you aren't excited yourself. If you don't know the speaker, if you haven't met – Google him, find out things about them. Do enough research so that you have a vast amount of information. Talk to people who may know them. Do everything that you can to get as much information about them so that you have the ability to introduce them.
6. Eliminate pronunciation blunders. This is so key. Nobody likes to get up and speak after somebody has mispronounced his or her name. It really lowers your own credibility at that point. Speakers need to be introduced and done so in a proper way. Be very careful that you don't mispronounce a name.
7. Be accurate. Be accurate about all the information that you are giving – where they studied, what kind of work they do. Document everything correctly.
8. Don't alter the speech title. If there's a title that is already given, make sure that you know that title. It would be terrible if you offered a title by yourself and then find that the PowerPoint has something different when the speaker comes up to speak.
9. Should you attempt humor? That's a good question. In most circumstances, don't try it. Your objective is to get the audience excited about the topic and the speaker, and not to draw any attention to yourself or to the speaker that could fall flat. So, avoid humor, unless you can really do it well.
10. Don't give an outline of the speech. Don't touch content.
11. Stick to the relevant expertise of the speaker. What it is that is important to the audience that connects them with the topic that he can speak with authority. That is what you will need to communicate.
12. Don't overdo it. Long introductions, filled with biographical details are bad – they are boring and also pompous. Keep it short – 1) what's the topic, 2) why does it matter, and 3) why is the speaker credible?
13. Avoid clichés. So often you have heard, "This speaker needs no introduction." Yet, the speaker does need an introduction because that is why you are standing up there.
14. Avoid exaggerated hype. Your introduction should get the audience excited about the presentation, but don't take it too far. "This presentation will solve all your problems," is something that you don't want to use; or "This is the best presentation you'll ever hear." Lofty expectations put great pressure on speakers.
15. Build to a climax. Your vocal delivery should build toward the end of your introduction. Don't yell, but build up your volume so that you can end with 'Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming our guest speaker, ……"
16. Ensure a smooth transition. Let the speaker come. Etiquette demands that you should shake hands with the speaker as a gesture of 'handing the floor' to them. As they go toward the podium, then you get off the podium.
A question that I've often heard is: Should you write your own introduction and carry it if you are a speaker? Recently I was at a graduation service and I was doing the commencement address. Just a few minutes before I was to speak, the Chairman of the board leans across to me and says, "Dr. Clements. I am supposed to introduce you. Can you give me a few things that I can say about you?" At that point, all you are thinking about is your address. I just told him to say what he could. It ended up being a bumbling introduction. The best thing is to always carry an introduction.
Sometimes we feel bad to write our own introductions, our sense of humility comes in. but it's always best to write it. When people say "Will you send us some stuff?" write your own introduction and send it. Carry a copy of it to the place where you are speaking, so that if they have forgotten to bring it, you could hand it to them.
Adam Grant, a Wharton professor, says that there are 3 things that you ought not to do as you introduce anybody.
· Don't read the speaker's biography.
· Don't give away the speaker's content.
· Don't make the speaker sound superhuman.
I think it's good for us to take the time to make introductions something that will be noteworthy. Don't take them lightly. Don't make them like you're the person delivering the speech. But make it interesting for the audience. Remember the first 3 things I said:
· What is the topic?
· Why is this topic important for this audience?
· Why is the speaker qualified to deliver this talk?
Can I give you an introduction in closing?
I met this person when I was 13. He came into my life, changed my life completely. He's a person of admirable qualities, of enormous creative ingenuity. He's a person who can speak in every situation because he knows every situation. He knows the thoughts and every thing that I think about. He's able to guide me; he's able to lead me. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the Almighty God, who continues to lead and guide me.
May I pray with you? Almighty God, help us as we go along our way to do things well and to do things right, to be able to make good introductions so that interest is piqued in people who listen, that we do justice to the person who is being introduced and Lord, that we are able to succinctly say what needs to be said so that the audience is interested. Help us to do these things well. I pray a blessing on each one on this call, that when we are called to introduce, we would do the job well. I ask this in Jesus' precious name. Amen.
• Andrew Dlugan, "How to Introduce a Speaker," http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/how-to-introduce-a-speaker/
• Adam Grant, "How Not to Introduce a Speaker," http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-grant/how-not-to-introduce-a-sp_b_5073251.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in
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