Whether you are an MC, chairing a meeting, or simply hosting some type of event where a speaker has been invited, if you can introduce a speaker properly then you will be well ahead of the field.
Except by good MC’s this is often something that is botched or just doesn’t happen.
The introduction should create a bridge between the speaker and the audience. It should sell the topic and the speaker so they are in favour with the audience from the start (of course if they go on to bore the audience to tears that is their issue not yours).
Here’s an easy formula taught many years ago by Dale Carnegie but which is just as effective today. It’s called TIS.
T – Topic
What is the topic of the speech?
I – Importance
This is where you connect the the topic and the audience by showing them why it is relevant to them.
S -Speaker
Why is this speaker qualified to speak on this topic?
The very last thing you should say is the speaker’s first and last name ie. “Would you please welcome Bill Smith”.
You can be creative and humorous within this framework if you want to but don’t say anything that devalues the topic or the speaker. Keep the introduction to about a minute, maybe 1 & 1/2 minutes. Definitely no more than 2 unless there is a really good reason such as the speaker has supplied you with something they want you to read before they start.
It’s that easy but will get your speaker off to great start.
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