Introduction Speech - How to write one step by step

You've been asked to give the introduction speech for a guest speaker. Naturally you want it be good.
So what are the key points to understand BEFORE you start to prepare?

The principal purpose 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, ready 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...
  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. Your focus will be on selecting relevant events, achievements and qualifications to support establishing him/her as an authority within the context of the occasion you're planning. In other words, choose tidbits you know will appeal to the audience.
• Within the mix of background information you select about your speaker try and include a surprise, something that is not commonly known, and something that reveals 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 and the speaker the climax and end of your speech.

Tips to make your introduction speech successful

• Consider tone and language use. Is what you've prepared appropriate for the occasion, audience and your guest speaker? Have you avoided cliche?
• Check the length of your speech. Pertinent and pithy - short and sweet is what you want. One to two minutes should be enough.
• Do not exaggerate or 'puff' the speaker's achievements in a way that may embarrass them or cause the audience to question their right to be there.
• Always check your facts and if you wish to mention something that may be sensitive ask permission before you announce it in front of an audience.
• 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.
• 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.

Now let's put it altogether in this 'How to introduce a guest speaker example'.

The setting for this introduction speech example is a conference for an organzation called 'Women in Leadership'.The audience are primarily members and female but some men are there too. At the end of the speech, the speaker will lead the clapping.

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.

How she got from numb to front line spokesperson is the story she will share with us tonight. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you ... Annabel MacDonald!

Other pages you may find useful

• How to write a welcome speech (with example)
• How to rehearse your speech
• How to use vocal variety to deliver your speech effectively

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