How to Make an Introduction

Introducing someone, be it at a sports event, as a keynote speaker, or just in general conversation at a party, is a really important thing to do right.

I was watching the Masters Golf Tournament in April and became annoyed at how the MC was introducing the golfers.  It was such a simple thing to do, but he was doing it wrong.  And at all places, The Masters!

As an example, here’s what he said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, on the first tee, Bubba Watson, now driving.”  Can you catch the mistake?  Whenever you introduce someone, the very last thing you say is the person’s name.  By the time he said the golfer’s name, applause tended to drown out anything more said.  And at least in my eyes, it told me that the starter at the most famous, tradition-laden golf tournament in the world didn’t have a clue what he was doing.

Imagine if he would have said it this way: “Ladies and Gentlemen, now on the first tee, the 2012 Masters Champion, Bubba Watson!”  Doesn’t that sound a lot better?  Of course it does, and it correctly introduces the individual so that his name is emphasized as the last thing people hear.

This may seem like a trivial issue to you.  But read this next segment on How to Introduce a Speaker.  You’ll see why it’s so important.

 
How to Introduce a Speaker

Some speaker introductions have to rate as the worst presentations of all time.  You’ve heard them.  People try to tell jokes and fall on their face.  They drone on and on about the speaker or the subject and practically give the speaker’s speech.  They make a speech about themselves and forget why they’re even at the podium.  Or they embarrass themselves by mispronouncing the speaker’s name, when they should have asked for the correct pronunciation, practiced it, and phonetically spelled it out in their notes.  Bottom line: They were unprepared and ignorant of what to do.  Don’t be like that.  Take the time to get it right and to practice what you’ll say without reading it word-for-word.

There is a simple format to follow when introducing someone.  You need an opening, which includes an attention-getter for the audience and a very brief preview of what you’re going to say.  Then, there’s a short discussion section, which explains the credentials of the speaker, why the subject is important to the audience, and why the timing is right to hear the speech.  Then you have a brief conclusion, which is a very quick review followed by the formal introduction of the speaker.  This all takes less than a minute, and the last thing you say is really important: it’s the speaker’s name.  And please, don’t blow the pronunciation!

 
Here are a few Business & Life Tips to think about…..

Business Tips:

• Too many struggling companies are over-managed and underled. If they can master the distinction, they are able to focus on what can go right.
• If you have an audience, no matter what the size, you need to communicate with them often, and with intelligence.
• Instead of being tied to mundane issues that simply mark time, think outside the box to take you where you’ve never been.

Life Tips:

• What you pour into your mind in your youth, over and over again, shapes your thinking throughout your life.
• Body language sends a much stronger message than verbal communication. Guard your physical actions and reactions.
• When you try to hide something, it is eventually found out. Seek openness and transparency as a model to follow.

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