You may be called upon to introduce yourself in a speech or introduce a speaker, a guest, an employee, a product, or a concept. Your job is to grab the audience’s attention so that they are ready to receive the main message. Here are some introduction speech examples to help you.
What Is A Speech Of Introduction?
In public speaking, a speech of introduction introduces someone to the audience members. It can also be a self-introduction speech wherein the speaker does the introduction.
Whether the speaker will deliver an informative speech, persuasive speech, or any type of speech, the speech of introduction aims to help establish the speaker’s background. Who are they? What do they do? What makes them credible to talk about the topic they will discuss?
How Do I Start A Speech To Introduce Someone?
If your job is to introduce someone before their speech or presentation, the first fundamental thing to remember is to keep things short and sweet. Your goal is to set the tone and entice the crowd to listen to the rest of the speech the speaker will deliver.
When writing such a speech, you must bear in mind the following:
- You must grab the audience’s attention. Though it depends on the setting and theme of the occasion, the general rule is to have an upbeat opening that will help you grab the audience’s attention. You can begin with a simple “Good morning/Good evening, ladies and gentlemen”; then state the purpose of your speech — introducing the topic, the purpose of the speech, and the guest speaker.
- You must effectively establish the speaker’s qualifications. Introduction speeches are considered commemorative speeches in the sense that they celebrate the achievements and milestones of someone. In your speech, you must concisely provide an overview of the qualifications, expertise, and relevant accomplishments of the individual you’re introducing. This is a way to establish credibility and entice the audience to listen attentively.
- You must make the speaker welcome. As someone tasked to introduce the speaker, you serve as the bridge that helps connect them with the audience. However, your goal isn’t just to prepare the audience for the speech. You must make the speaker also feel welcome with an enthusiastic tone and body language. If you have personal anecdotes or connections to share, you can do so — briefly and with the utmost authenticity.
What Is A Welcome Speech, And Can It Be Used to Introduce Someone?
A welcome speech or address is a type of speech that sets the mood for a specific event.
While it can serve as an excellent introduction to the guest speaker, it’s also an opportune time to emphasize what the event is all about and acknowledge the organization or individual behind the occasion. An excellent welcome speech can also preview what the attendees can expect — apart from the remarks by the speaker.
How Do You Introduce Yourself In Speech Examples?
In speech writing and public speaking, knowing how to introduce the speaker properly is essential. In some instances, speakers briefly introduce themselves before their speech proper. They can also incorporate it into their speech opening.
In any self-introduction speech example (check out this TED Talks compilation of intros), you will observe that there are common ingredients behind an effective self-introduction speech.
This speech must help the audience get to know you, showcase your qualification (without sounding boastful), establish connections with and create value for your listeners, and introduce your speech topics and main points. This portion aims to give your audience a reason to stick with you and hear the rest of your speech. Also, note that first impressions last, so you must ensure your intro is impactful and engaging.
See the examples below to give you an idea of how to introduce yourself while still having effective attention-getters (e.g., a rhetorical question, an anecdote, a statistic, or a bold statement).
- “Good morning/afternoon/evening. I’m X, and I’m here to talk about Y. To begin, I’d like to share a story…”
- “Have you heard about X? I’m Y, and today, I’ll share with you my thoughts about…”
- “What if overcoming your biggest fear doesn’t have to be as hard as you thought it would be? My name is X. And I’m a testament to how….”
- “Hi, I’m X, and I wanted to know: How many of you have experienced Y?”
- “Did you know that X? My name is Y, and I was asked to discuss…”
What Are Introduction Speech Examples For?
When you look for speech examples for a short introduction of speech or a self-introductory speech, you’ll find that this type of speech has a great variety.
You can use it to introduce a public speaker and a guest. In a business setting, you can also use an introduction speech to introduce an employee or present a product. Even in academe or civilian environments (e.g., you’re a high school public teacher or a personal development coach), you can count on an introduction speech to introduce a concept.
Here’s a template you can follow.
A public speaker or a guest
- Greeting
- Attention-getter
- State your role
- Introduce the speaker/guest
- Note the speaker/guest’s credibility and contributions
- State the topic
- A personal connection, story, or experience
- What can the audience expect/ how can the speaker provide value
- Transition to the speaker
An employee
- Greeting
- Attention-getter
- State your role
- Introduce the employee
- Highlight their tenure/experience, achievements, skills, and qualities
- State what the employee will be discussing
- A personal connection, story, or experience
- State the significance of the employee’s work/impact on the audience
- Transition to the employee
A product or a concept
- Greeting
- Attention-getter
- State the purpose of your speech
- Introduce the product or concept
- Share its significance
- Share its benefits
- Showcase the key features
- Do a demonstration
- Explain the potential impact
- Cite supporting facts
- Deliver a strong call to action
- Transition to the next phase or proportion of the event
No matter who or what you’re introducing in your speech, the key is to create a concise yet comprehensive one. Your speech must prepare the audience and make the speaker feel welcome. While remaining factual and genuine, you must write and deliver this piece in a way that generates interest and sets an excellent tone for the speech proper — and the rest of the event.