Introducing…

 

Whether you are to speak for ten, twenty or two minutes, you want to set the mood with an introduction.

The introduction serves two purposes. First, it showcases your credentials: why should your audience be interested in what you have to say? In a more formal setting, you may be introduced by someone else who will attend to this purpose.

The second purpose for your introduction is to tease, excite and arouse your audience. The idea is to connect immediately and completely with your audience. You want their rapt attention; they want to hear more.

There are different ways you can achieve this purpose.

You can use a question. Use a closed question to physically engage your audience: “How many have experienced team communication difficulties?” Lead the answer by raising your whole arm in the air, not just your hand. Alternatively, you can use an open, rhetorical question to get your audience thinking: “Remember the last time you were not understood by your team?” Make sure to give your audience a few seconds to think about it.

You can use a quote. Make sure that the quote is vivid and its source renown. You don’t necessarily want the audience to remember the whole quote but you want it to make an impression. Consider repeating the quote, for emphasis, when you conclude.

Another way to introduce your topic is to use statistics. “Four in five project team members misunderstand what the project manager requires of them.” Make sure that the stats sufficiently impress your listeners. Use “four in five” rather than “80%”. Don’t forget to identify the source of the data. Do not spell out the web link. Give the link on a handout instead.

Questions, quotes and quips are great ways to set the mood for what you are about to share. Make sure to practice all three and you will become a speaker that requires no introduction... but uses them.