Stepping onto a stage during a presentation or an industry conference does not necessarily mean that you’re there to be the center of attention. As a business professional, you may often find yourself in the position of introducing the person that everyone is there to see, whether it’s your CEO or a guest speaker. To effectively do so, you must strike a careful balance between building the audience’s interest in the speaker and not giving away the notable information. Introducing a guest speaker involves careful preparation to lay the groundwork for the audience and ensure a successful speech.

Don’t read their bio.

For those attending an event in which a guest speaker is booked, a pamphlet with information about the speaker is often provided. If you read the bio as a form of introduction, you’re offering the audience everything they already know, not to mention you are probably boring them. Instead of eliciting excitement for the upcoming speech, you are most likely disenchanting the audience before the guest speaker has had a chance to step foot on stage. Share captivating information that the audience does not have at hand.

Introduce the speaker and the topic.

What should you discuss in your introduction? It certainly helps if you know the speaker personally, because you can include a personal anecdote that is relative to the subject at hand. If you don’t know the guest speaker, take the time to speak directly with the speaker or a close representative. By understanding the speaker’s personality and the topic they will be discussing, you’ll be better able to give a more exciting introduction.

Don’t offer too much detail.

Don’t give the audience the key points of the presentation. It’s the equivalent of broadcasting spoilers about a popular movie that the audience hasn’t seen. Rather than creating excitement, offering too much detail will upstage the speaker and deflate the purpose of the presentation.

Consider your audience.

It’s not just the guest speaker you should take into consideration. Understanding your audience will help you effectively focus your introduction. For example, including appropriate fun facts about the guest speaker can create interest and engagement with the one audience, while others may prefer a simple, more-reserved introduction.

Introducing a guest speaker has a specific purpose. You are responsible for not only engaging the audience but creating excitement for the upcoming presentation. You are the first person to whom the audience is exposed, and you must skillfully balance building excitement with not upstaging the speaker. Your introduction can pave the way for a more engaged audience and a successful guest presentation.

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