The introduction is the first 60 seconds of the speaker’s program, and you are delivering it. Done well, the speaker walks into applause and the room is already leaning forward. Done badly, the speaker spends the first five minutes repairing the mood. Here is how to do it well.
Use the speaker’s written intro
Every professional speaker supplies an introduction. Use it. It is written to set up the opening line, and it has been tested in a few hundred rooms. Reading a bio off LinkedIn instead is the single most common introduction mistake, and it is how a speaker ends up being introduced with a job title from 2014.
Keep it to 45–60 seconds
Three credentials the audience cares about, one human detail, and the name. That is it. If the speaker’s intro runs long, ask the speaker which lines to keep; do not edit it yourself. Long introductions read like the speaker needs convincing.
Say the name last, loudly, and stop talking
The name is the cue for applause and for the speaker to walk. If you say the name in the middle and keep talking, the room does not know when to clap and the speaker is stranded in the wings. The final sentence should be: “Please welcome [name]!” Then step back from the microphone and start clapping.
Do not tell the speaker’s jokes or stories
“You’re going to love the story about the drive-thru.” Now nobody loves the story about the drive-thru. Introduce the credentials, not the content.
Handle the microphone before you leave
Decide in advance whether the speaker takes your microphone, has their own, or picks one up from a stand. Confirm it at sound check. Handoffs that turn into a wrestling match over a handheld are the most watched 10 seconds of any banquet.
Check pronunciations
Ask the speaker at sound check. Jody is JOE-dee, for the record. The same goes for the speaker’s hometown, their organization and any award you plan to mention.
A fill-in-the-blank script
“Our next speaker [one-sentence human detail — where they grew up, an obstacle, a surprising fact]. [Credential one]. [Credential two]. [Credential three — the one your audience respects most].
[One sentence on why they are the right person for this room tonight.]
Please welcome [full name]!”
Jody’s actual introduction
For a working example, the 30- and 60-second introductions Jody supplies to every event are on the Media Kit page, with a copy button. Steal the structure for any speaker you introduce.
