Introduction of the Speaker

00:00 Leave nothing up to chance.

00:02 Don't just let somebody introduce you any way they want.

00:06 Don't hope they just pull your bio from your website.

00:09 Every single speech you give, you need to come up with a unique introduction.

00:13 For that speech, you need to tell people the information about you that is most relevant to the topic you're discussing, and it's going to whet their appetite further to really listen to you.

00:27 It needs to be tailored to that audience for that speech and that topic.

00:33 What I would recommend you do is write out word for word exactly what you want to say, leave nothing to chance, and make sure this can be read in a normal tone of voice in less than 60 seconds.

00:47 This is not the time to have people read your full, lengthy bio and every single award you ever want in middle school.

00:55 This is the time to give them just the details.

00:57 They need to know why they're sitting in a room about to listen to you talk on this subject. Now, occasionally you'll be introduced by someone who fancies him or herself as a great public speaker.

01:09 They're not going to want to read your introduction word for word.

01:12 What I would do in that case is give them bullet points.

01:16 Big, bold text.

01:18 Well, in either case, the full text of your introduction or just the bullet point outline, give it in big, bold text so the person introducing you doesn't have to play with glasses and get it close and give them your handful of bullet points that you really want them to include.

01:35 That way, if they do weave in some other anecdotes or flesh it out, the part you care about most is there.

01:44 You want your audience primed, ready to hear from you before you open your mouth. A good introduction can do it.