At times, your most important role as a speaker will be introducing another speaker. For example a wedding Master of Ceremonies (MC) spends most of the evening preparing the audience to hear from other presenters.

When you are the person responsible for doing introductions, there are several things you can do to ensure the speaker feels comfortable speaking in front of their audience.

Preparation

Speak to the person prior to their presentation. Have them send you a written introduction so you have time to practice it. Ensure it covers the critical elements of an introduction (sets the mood, includes their credentials, identifies the topic to be discussed). Ensure you know how to properly pronounce their name and spell it out phonetically if necessary.

If they don’t write their own introduction, ask for their resume or biography and select only significant accomplishments or relevant facts. Try to reveal qualities that will help the audience relate to the speaker and prepare them for the presentation.

Stick to the point

You primary role is to highlight the speaker. Remember, you are not the star. Keep the introduction simple and to the point. Even if you are impressed with the speaker and they have a long list of accomplishments, don’t go overboard.

This is also not the place to ad-lib. This can confuse the listeners and even undermine the presenters objectives, particularly if they have written their own introduction. Ensure the materials included in the introduction are completely relevant to the audience or presentation.

Logistics

Stay in place to shake the persons hand to welcome them to the stage. Your job is to help them feel comfortable, so if it hasn’t already been done, ensure prior to the presentation their microphone is working and the sound is at a comfortable level.

Courtesy

Don’t embarrass the speaker by sharing college party stories or other revealing facts that don’t pertain to the presentation. There is a time and a place for everything and this is not the time. Your job is to set the tone for the audience and help the speaker feel comfortable prior to their presentation. Trying to get a laugh or showing you are personal friends with the speaker usually bores the audience unless it’s completely relevant to their topic.

A speaker’s introduction is one of the most critical aspects of their presentation. As the introducer, take the time to prepare the audience and ensure the speaker is warmly welcomed by their listeners. This demonstrates you are an experienced MC who takes their role seriously.

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Michelle Devlin, B.Comm is a professional speaker, facilitator and coach who works with corporations and individuals looking to improve their public speaking and communication skills. For tips and information about working with Michelle visit www.seriouslyspeaking.ca or call 780.918.6972.

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