Please help me welcome! The importance of a speech introduction
Imagine someone at home who has sudden chest pains and discomfort. They wait for a few minutes and then ask a friend or loved one to drive them to the emergency room. The “patient” enters the ER waiting room, signs in, waits to be called to the triage nurse and then continues to wait until they are called to the ER proper.
Now imagine a different scenario. The person with discomfort calls 911 and within two minutes from hanging up the phone, the firemen pull up in a “Hummer” carrying medical bags into the house and begin talking to the patient. They take information, calm the patient and soon the actual paramedics show up in an ambulance ready to take charge. In route to the ER, do they stop for traffic signals? Barely, if at all. With lights and sirens they proceed at great haste to the hospital.
At the ER, there is no waiting. In fact, there is a VIP entrance for the patient who is rushed in with great fanfare and given attention and treatment which the folks out front are still waiting. If you were having chest pains, which scenario would you prefer? The latter I suppose.
Now what does that have to do with introductions for speakers? The first person who came into the ER on their own is like someone coming to the lectern without an introduction. No one has any expectations from them and it will take some effort for their speech to be recognized and valued.
The second person who called 911 comes to the ER with “all the king’s men” and is treated as a valuable patient whose importance has been established. The right introduction can make a big difference in how your speech is received.
To be an effective speaker, you need to use all of the tools available. One of the most important tools is your own introduction, which the Toastmaster of the Day will use to introduce you.
An introduction is a mini speech:
· It has an opening to grab the audience's attention,
· A body, which may explain:
· Why this subject?
· Why this speaker, giving this subject?
· Why this audience?
· Why at this time?
· An introduction has a conclusion, which is the lead-in to actually presenting your speech.
Your introduction can:
1. Validate your expertise in a subject,
2. Give the audience relevant background information,
3. Bring on anticipation. This is especially important to the audience since they may not have heard a preceding talk which this speech continues.
4. "Reset" the audience's mood after the last speech.
Sometimes when I have too much material in my speech, I let the Toastmaster of the Day give part of my opening in the introduction. That’s a little sneaky but it works.
Generally, try to be as brief as you can. You want to set up your speech without giving it away. Don't overdo it!
Type out the introduction in a large font. That way the Toastmaster of the Day will be able to read it easily. Remember the success of the introduction is in their hands. If the wording is critical to your speech, ask the person introducing you to read the introduction verbatim and not ad lib. Contact them ahead of time to explain the importance of this.
Read your introduction out loud and make sure the words flow as well from your mouth as they do in your mind.
The closing of a speech is the most important part. It is a call to arms, the challenge to the audience or the wrapping up of an inspirational talk. It is the end of a journey with the speaker.
The body of a speech is the journey with the speaker.
The opening is the explanation of the audience’s upcoming journey with the speaker.
The introduction is the briefing before the journey begins. The introduction prepares us for the journey.
When you are preparing your speeches, make sure you include an introduction for the master of ceremonies in order to have them prepare the audience for your talk.
A well prepared introduction will set up the audience to receive the opening of your speech. Use all of the tools available to you when giving a speech, including a well planned introduction.
Imagine someone at home who has sudden chest pains and discomfort. They wait for a few minutes and then ask a friend or loved one to drive them to the emergency room. The “patient” enters the ER waiting room, signs in, waits to be called to the triage nurse and then continues to wait until they are called to the ER proper.
Now imagine a different scenario. The person with discomfort calls 911 and within two minutes from hanging up the phone, the firemen pull up in a “Hummer” carrying medical bags into the house and begin talking to the patient. They take information, calm the patient and soon the actual paramedics show up in an ambulance ready to take charge. In route to the ER, do they stop for traffic signals? Barely, if at all. With lights and sirens they proceed at great haste to the hospital.
At the ER, there is no waiting. In fact, there is a VIP entrance for the patient who is rushed in with great fanfare and given attention and treatment which the folks out front are still waiting. If you were having chest pains, which scenario would you prefer? The latter I suppose.
Now what does that have to do with introductions for speakers? The first person who came into the ER on their own is like someone coming to the lectern without an introduction. No one has any expectations from them and it will take some effort for their speech to be recognized and valued.
The second person who called 911 comes to the ER with “all the king’s men” and is treated as a valuable patient whose importance has been established. The right introduction can make a big difference in how your speech is received.
To be an effective speaker, you need to use all of the tools available. One of the most important tools is your own introduction, which the Toastmaster of the Day will use to introduce you.
An introduction is a mini speech:
· It has an opening to grab the audience's attention,
· A body, which may explain:
· Why this subject?
· Why this speaker, giving this subject?
· Why this audience?
· Why at this time?
· An introduction has a conclusion, which is the lead-in to actually presenting your speech.
Your introduction can:
1. Validate your expertise in a subject,
2. Give the audience relevant background information,
3. Bring on anticipation. This is especially important to the audience since they may not have heard a preceding talk which this speech continues.
4. "Reset" the audience's mood after the last speech.
Sometimes when I have too much material in my speech, I let the Toastmaster of the Day give part of my opening in the introduction. That’s a little sneaky but it works.
Generally, try to be as brief as you can. You want to set up your speech without giving it away. Don't overdo it!
Type out the introduction in a large font. That way the Toastmaster of the Day will be able to read it easily. Remember the success of the introduction is in their hands. If the wording is critical to your speech, ask the person introducing you to read the introduction verbatim and not ad lib. Contact them ahead of time to explain the importance of this.
Read your introduction out loud and make sure the words flow as well from your mouth as they do in your mind.
The closing of a speech is the most important part. It is a call to arms, the challenge to the audience or the wrapping up of an inspirational talk. It is the end of a journey with the speaker.
The body of a speech is the journey with the speaker.
The opening is the explanation of the audience’s upcoming journey with the speaker.
The introduction is the briefing before the journey begins. The introduction prepares us for the journey.
When you are preparing your speeches, make sure you include an introduction for the master of ceremonies in order to have them prepare the audience for your talk.
A well prepared introduction will set up the audience to receive the opening of your speech. Use all of the tools available to you when giving a speech, including a well planned introduction.
[Example of a speech introduction]
Introduction for Phil Brady’s speech
Our next speaker has been a Toastmaster for 17 years and enjoys speaking as much as he enjoys listening to other speakers.
Phil will be speaking from the Communication & Leadership Manual, speech project #2, Be in Earnest.
He will be presenting a talk on the importance of speakers bringing an introduction for the Toastmaster of the Day to introduce them and their speech.
The talk will examine:
· What is an introduction?
· How an introduction can make your speech more effective and
· Present various examples of introductions he has used in the past.
The time is 5 to 7 minutes.
The title of his talk is; Please help me welcome….
Please help me welcome Phil Brady.
Introduction for Phil Brady’s speech
Our next speaker has been a Toastmaster for 17 years and enjoys speaking as much as he enjoys listening to other speakers.
Phil will be speaking from the Communication & Leadership Manual, speech project #2, Be in Earnest.
He will be presenting a talk on the importance of speakers bringing an introduction for the Toastmaster of the Day to introduce them and their speech.
The talk will examine:
· What is an introduction?
· How an introduction can make your speech more effective and
· Present various examples of introductions he has used in the past.
The time is 5 to 7 minutes.
The title of his talk is; Please help me welcome….
Please help me welcome Phil Brady.
