4 Principles for Introducing Guest Speakers

Stepping onto a stage during a presentation or conference does not necessarily mean you’re the center of attention. You may often find yourself 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.

Don’t read their bio. Information about the speaker is often available on a conference website or LinkedIn. If you read the bio as a form of introduction, you’re offering the audience everything they already know, not to mention boring them instead of eliciting excitement. Share captivating information that the audience does not have at hand.

Be personable. 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 them or a close representative to establish rapport.

No spoilers! Entice the audience to want to listen by using a grabber to generate interest in that your guest will be sharing. There’s no need give the audience the key points of someone else’s presentation. It’s the equivalent of spoiler alerts for a popular movie or show. Too much detail can 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 to effectively focus your introduction. For example, including appropriate fun facts about the guest speaker can create interest and engagement, while others may prefer a simple, more-reserved introduction.

You are responsible for not only engaging the audience but creating excitement for the upcoming presentation. Your introduction can pave the way for a more engaged audience and a successful guest speaker.