The introduction to your speech is not your opening.

The introduction begins before you do.

Usually your speech is introduced by an M.C.

You will have planned your speech - its opening and its introduction - to work best for you and for that speech. You need to put the same amount of planning, and exercise the same amount of control over the way you and your speech are introduced by the M.C. It can have a huge effect on the way the audience sees you before you begin. So rather than having to make up for a poor introduction, ensure you get a good one – one that works for you.

There are five basic ingredients your introduction needs to have.

Credibility Briefly list why you have credibility on your topic, why the audience would believe you or even listen, why you have the authority to speak. Make the list very brief and very relevant.

It might include:

• Your education, work experience, past clients.

• Any books you have written or contributed to. Where you have been quoted

• Previous speaking engagements

• Life experience relevant to the subject and/or the audience Remember two points here. This list must be brief. Edit it to only include those points that will impress this audience and relate to their interests or their reasons for being at this event. Otherwise it will just be a meaningless list that will begin to sound like a boring list or a boast.

Engage this audience While the information you give needs to establish you as an authority on the subject, it should not elevate you above your audience to the extent that they cannot relate to you. Provide information that shows you are just like them in some ways, and that you have faced the struggles or problems or challenges they face. Letting them know that you will share how you overcame those struggles/problems/challenges will be a strong lead into your presentation. In the end you need to reassure the audience that the subject of your presentation is relevant to them. Include, too, something about you that is memorable. It could be something humorous or unusual. It need not be related to the subject of your presentation, but it should be something the audience can relate to. It’s a kind of hook that they can remember and associate with you and your presentation.

Make an impression You can use the sorts of devices you would use in any speech to make an impact with the introduction. Choose an opening that gets attention and engagement. Include facts that might be unexpected or quirky of humorous. Finish, too, with something that has impact as well as leading into the presentation opening.

Details Start with your name and speech title and end with your name and speech title with a segue into the opening of the presentation

Must be short Edit the introduction so that it works as a spoken presentation. Use language that will be familiar to your audience. Edit it so that it takes less then 60 seconds to present. It should not be longer than around 100 words. This is not a resume. It is not a biography. If necessary a resume and/or biography can be printed in the invitation, handouts and/or program. Make sure it is printed so that it is easily legible for the person who is introducing you.

To further make your introduction work as successfully as possible, prepare the person who will introduce you. If you can choose this person, then so much the better. Choose the person who has the greatest respect/seniority/experience within the group, and you will improve your own credibility through their endorsement. Allow time to explain the introduction and how it will work, and time for the MC to prepare it. Hopefully you will have been able to send a copy beforehand. Make sure you have another copy with you in case the first is lost or forgotten. Make sure the font is large enough that the person can read it and so that the introduction fits on one page. Include direction, if necessary, for example where to pause, how to pronounce difficult words and any stage directions that may be necessary, e.g. shake speakers hand and exit right. If you can explain it all to the presenter, then do. You can take the opportunity, too, to point out the importance or relevance of what you have written.

Have a Plan B The piece of paper gets lost and there is no introduction. The MC decides to create his own introduction including a biography, resume and numerous stories. There is no MC. Any number of things can go wrong so that your carefully crafted introduction is not presented as you expected. So make sure you have a “Plan B”. Ensure you have ways of incorporating the 5 elements we listed earlier into your presentation. Stories are a very effective way of establishing credibility and of bringing yourself back to a level with the audience. And humour will build engagement. It really is important to be prepared for your speech introduction. It sets the scene for you and for your presentation. It builds your credibility and engages your audience. It sets the scene for your presentation and it can be a powerful lead in to your material. Prepare!!