SpeakNaked but Cover Your Ass...

Cover your ass by always writing your own introduction.

Whenever you are going to be introduced as a speaker always write your own introduction.

Never leave the audience's first impression of you and your carefully crafted presentation to chance by being introduced by someone who may just go up there and wing it.

Writing your own introduction will:

1. Set the tone and perspective to support your presentation.
2. Increase your credibility
3. Rev up the audience's interest in you and your topic.
4. Have an introduction of appropriate length
5. Make sure your presentation's punch line or surprise isn't given away.
6. Make the introducers job so much easier, they will love you it.

I have loads of horror stories of introductions gone bad.

  The International Shipping conference where the MC spent the first 20 minutes of an hour long presentation introducing the 5 panel speakers. costing the sponsor $200,000 in presentation time and draining  all of the audience's attention.
   The introduction that finished with "and when he's done we all get an IPod". Thus killing the speakers whole presentation and surprise gift.
   The introduction of a speaker on death penalty law that mentioned that the speaker "was a dancer and high school cheerleader".  True 25 years ago but irrelevant and costing the speaker her credibility
         And all of the introduction's with mispronounced names, wrong topics and mangled titles.

You do not want to start your presentation having to dig yourself out of a hole 

created by a bad introduction.

  The way to help prevent this is to always write your own, specifically tailored for your audience
letting them know 4 things:

1  What the topic is
2. What is in it for them
3.,Why they should listen to you
4. What do they have to do and for how long

Here is a simple template to create a 60 second introduction

Good Morning my name is (name of the introducer)
I am the (introducer's title or position)
Wouldn't it be great if we could all...(What's in it for them)
For the next hour we are going to learn about (Your Topic)
Our speaker (Your Name)
Who is a... (Tell what you do so they can hire you)
Who has... (List a few of your relevant credentials).
Will share with us his/her expertise on (Your Topic)
and his/her presentation (Name of your presentation)
Welcome (Your Name)

Change this anyway you want make longer/shorter, more serious/funny, to serve your presentation, your style and your audience.

Other introduction Tips:

The shorter the presentation the shorter the introduction

Print out your introductions in the biggest font that will fit on one page.

Type out each phrase on a separate line so the speaker knows what to emphasize and when to pause

Personally hand it to the person going to introduce you.

Then make sure they pre-read it and answer any questions. (like how to pronounce your name)

Glenn Dulko Founder of SpeakNaked Speaker Training

The right introduction will:

Set you up for success
Set the Tone of your presentation
Build your credibility
Bridge obstacles and objections
Make the audience your friend
Get you remembered
Get you hired again and again

all even before you step on stage.....



Stand up, Step out, Speak Naked
 and always write your own introduction, to cover your ass.

For more ideas on how to improve your speaking and presentation email me now at Glenn@SpeakNaked.com
I Help You Love Public Speaking