Your bio is not your introduction

The person who introduces guest speakers sets the stage for the presentation. They can either get the audience excited or have them dozing before you take the microphone.

At a recent seminar, the speaker gave a dynamic, information-packed presentation. But it was preceded by an introduction that was so dull I was beginning to wonder why I was attending the event.

The host offered a dry recitation of the speaker’s credentials—education, positions held, and the topic of the day. Boring!

If you do guest speaking at any level, know these two things:

1. Your corporate bio is not your speaker introduction.

2. A boring introduction is a hurdle that’s easy to avoid.

Most organizations will have already shared your traditional bio in their promotional materials, so the audience already knows your formal credentials. Your introduction should be something livelier, something that will capture the audience’s attention and provide a strong lead-in to your talk.

Don’t expect your host to come up with that alone. Write the introduction you want and provide it to the host ahead of time. Bring a paper copy with you in case the host doesn’t print it out.

All you need to say is, “Here’s my introduction.” No other explanation is necessary.

Most of the time, the host will read what you provided verbatim—and be glad to have it.

Some tips for writing a good introduction:

  • Include a greeting.
  • Tell the audience what the subject is and why it’s important to them.
  • Establish why the presenter is qualified to speak on the topic.
  • Keep it brief.
  • Be upbeat and positive.
  • Avoid clichés.
  • End with a “please help me welcome” line that will encourage applause.

You’ve worked hard to create a dazzling presentation, so give yourself the edge of a great introduction.

Jacquelyn Lynn
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