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Introduction speech 

How to write one step by step

By: Susan Dugdale | First published: 07-01-2010 | Last modified: 10-05-2018

If you've been asked to give the introduction speech for a guest speaker follow the tips below, step by step, and read the example. When you're through preparing your own you'll have a speech you'll be proud to deliver.

Let's start with the purpose of the speech.

Image background - audience with overlay of multiple speech bubbles eg.

The job of an introduction speech is to:

  • introduce your guest speaker
  • create a welcoming, attentive ready-and-motivated-to-listen anticipation in the audience

Essentially you are the warm-up act. Your task is to focus and unite the audience, to prepare them for what is to come.

If you've done your job well your guest speaker begins without having to establish their credibility or reason for being there.

To prepare your introduction speech you'll need:

  • the guest speaker's name and, if they have one, their title. For example; Judge, Sir, The Right Honorable ...
    Do make sure you can say their name properly and easily! If you're in doubt get the correct pronunciation from your guest speaker and practice.
  • the guest speaker's biography
    Sometimes you'll be given what the guest speaker wants said about themselves. If that isn't provided select events, achievements and qualifications to support establishing him/her as an authority within the context of the occasion. And do check that your guest is happy with what you are preparing to say about them.
  • a surprise to delight the audience, something that is not commonly known, and something revealing the personality or humanity of the person.

How to organize your material

  1. Build excitement or interest by piling one piece of information after another.
  2. Make the name of the speech (presentation) and the speaker, the climax and end of your speech.

To show you how it's done I've put together an ...  

... Introduction speech example

Let's put this speech in context to help you make sense of it

The setting for this fictitious introduction speech is a conference for an organization called "Women in Leadership". The audience are primarily women drawn together through an interest in leadership roles. 

Image background: crowd of people. Text overlay: Women in leadership - featuring key note speaker Rose Stephenson.

At the end of the speech, the speaker will lead the clapping as Rose Stephenson, the person being introduced,  takes center stage.

Now here's the speech text

"She's been a stalwart member of "Women in Leadership" for the last ten years. Over that time she's served in every office: secretary, treasurer, chairperson, chief fundraiser, education officer to name a few and in some roles several times over.

Her passionate dedication to promoting public speaking as an important component of empowerment is inspiring. We estimate that she has personally mentored at least 100 new speakers and has set an extraordinary "yes, you can" example for many more.

We see her as capable, confident and fluent - never at a loss for words. But what you probably don't know is that this women once stuttered,
stammered and blushed.

Yes, she was temporarily paralyzed, struck dumb by the mere thought of standing in front of an audience to speak.

How she got from awkward tongue tied silence to an eloquent front line spokesperson is the story she will share with us tonight.

Ladies, I give you ... Rose Stephenson on speaking to lead."

Say the speech out loud! Use it as a template!

Try saying it out loud to get the flow of it.

If you like it, use it as a model for the introduction speech you need to write.

 6 tips to make your introduction speech successful

1. Consider tone and language use

Is what you've prepared appropriate for the occasion, audience and your guest speaker? Have you avoided cliche?

2. Check the length of your speech

Image background - crowd of people. Text: Keep it short and sweet.

Pertinent and pithy - short and sweet is what you want. One to two minutes should be enough.

Test it out loud with a timer and trim if necessary.

3. Resist exaggerating or "puffing up" the speaker's achievements

You don't want to talk about your guest in a way that may embarrass them or cause the audience to question their right to be there.

4. Always check your facts 

Beware the horror of getting your facts muddled and, if you wish to mention something that may be sensitive, ask permission before you announce it in front of an audience.

5. Remember you are not the star of the show!

Image background - crowd of people. Text: The speaker who introduces a guest or key note speaker must remember they are the support or warm up act.

Cover only enough in your introduction to make the coming speech eagerly anticipated. 

Do not stray into telling the audience what the guest speaker's speech will cover in detail. That's unfair!

6. Rehearse

Practice out loud until you are confidently fluent and able to convey the pleasure or enthusiasm the audience needs to get them in the right frame of mind.

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