How to introduce yourself to an audience as a professional speaker
The other day I asked one of the speakers of Speaker Indonesia to send me his ‘introduction’ for an event planner. What I received was a CV from the speaker. This is NOT what event planners, your customers or your audience is looking for.
And there are many speakers who ‘sell’themselves by starting their presentation with an endless PowerPoint show listing all their achievements (almost like a CV). Last month I heard kind MC introduce the speaker for a full 10 minutes (he read what sounded like a CV). The speaker had then the audacity to show the whole introduction again in a slide show during her program. She spoke a total of 90 minutes; 20 of them were spent on showing off her greatness.
Memorable speakers, the ones that are recommended and celebrated will use thought provoking and entertaining stories to grab the interest of the audience, especially to open their presentation. You have a very small window of about 30 seconds to make an impression. Use it well; reciting your CV isn’t it!
If you want and need to make sure the audience understands that you really are the expert they are expecting or you need to impress on them that you are a great and know people and have been places, there are more interesting ways to do it. You could start one story with: ‘When I was invited by ……. Or when I spoke at the ………….. This will be much more effective to make your point.
So, if a speaker is not supposed to use his CV as introduction for an event planer or for the audience, what is it they are looking for? They want your ‘brochure’ or ‘leaflet’. They want you to ‘sell’ them on your expertise, your benefits or solutions. They want to know why you are considered and expert in your industry and what you can do for them.
For an introduction to an audience, you need to mention the following topics:
· Why this speaker
· Why today
· Why this topic
· Why this audience
This whole mini speech should not take more than 1 – 2 minutes and any MC should be able to read it easily and convincingly.
For example: It is a pleasure to introduce to YOU, the absolute authority on “The Mating Habits of The Komodo Dragon”. He has received numerous awards from Zoos all over the world for his unique approach to keeping the species increasing in numbers when kept in small spaces. Everybody in the field will call him to solve snags to Komodo Dragons mating. Since today we are celebrating the survival of endangered species it is a perfect time to have him with us, to give you valuable insights on how to keep your Komodo Dragon happy, healthy and ready to mate. Please help me welcome: ..…….
As a professional speaker you need to prepare and control every aspect of your whole program. The way you are introduced to an audience is extremely important because it sets the tone for what’s to come. Do not let an amateur or professional MC decide how to introduce you.
Before your big event, make sure that the event planner has received a copy of your introduction. Before you go on stage, make sure one more time that the MC has your written introduction, is willing to follow the script and knows what to highlight. Be careful though, your persuasion skills will help you here, you cannot force the MC to do it your way, make it interesting for him! Good Luck!
Happy to serve
Monika Sugiarto
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar