Intro Card

One of the worst introductions I ever received went something like this:  “I am not sure what she is going to talk about, but here she is.” 

Whose responsibility is it for the speaker to receive a great introduction?  In the past I thought it was the person introducing until I realized I had the ability to affect the quality by providing assistance.

Using an Intro Card is a perfect way to help the person introducing you and set your presentation off on a high note.  First I will explain how to use the intro card and then I will explain how to write an intro card.

Tips for how to use the intro card:

• Create a standard intro card and save it on your computer so that you can simply update it for the next speech and send it to the coordinator in advance.  
• Make sure to print and bring a copy with you in case the coordinator does not have it when you arrive.  I always send a copy in advance to the person that invited me or the person coordinating the event.  Sometimes they even use it to promote the event on their website, etc.  
• When you get to the venue, find out who will be introducing you and make sure they have the card—trust me—at least 30% of the time they won’t.  This is where your second copy comes in handy. 
• Make sure the font is black bold 16+ so they can see it under the stage lights.  We want them to read the card exactly as it is written—not make up their own version because they cannot read ours.  

A good introduction gets the audience jazzed up to hear the speaker.  It should be clear and concise—meaning we don’t need to hear your entire life or education history.  Aim for 30 seconds or less.  Most of all, it should be relevant to THAT audience and topic-- meaning you don’t have one that you use over and over.  I know many speakers do this or use their actual bio but they do not get the gold star for being interesting or original each time.  This is an extra opportunity to sell yourself, an idea, your firm, etc.  Take advantage of it!

Now, here is how to create a strong intro card:

• Relevance is the key to a great intro.  As audience members, we want to know if it is good time to stay and listen or to head to the bathroom.  A friend recently shared with me a simple formula he learned from Toastmasters to create his introduction.  We can communicate the relevance of our talk by answering the following questions:
  • Why this speech? 
  • Why this speaker? 
  • Why now?

   These three questions do not need to be answered in any particular order they just need to be answered.  After you write your card, go back and make sure you have clearly answered these questions.

• If you have a difficult name to pronounce, make sure you spell it phonetically and when you check in with the person introducing you tell them how to say it.  When I add my name I type, Amy Hedin “HA-dEEEn”.   
• Word choice—use words that tie your talk with the audience or with the theme of the event.  For example, if you are speaking at a conference on Green how can you use this theme in your word choice?   How can you tie your intro to their brand to connect with your audience?
• Sell sell sell - but be subtle.  Actors do a great job at this when they are on talk shows.  As they are introduced, their latest movie is typically mentioned.  What is your latest project or award relevant to the audience you can highlight?
• Humility goes along way.  How many times have we heard an intro so overdone that by the time the speaker gets up there and even says one word we think he is a pompous jerk?  If you have found the cure for cancer, and that credential is well known, you don’t really have to say it.  Also, if the credential is not relevant to this talk---this audience---this moment, leave it off. 
• WIFM—short for what is in it for me.  When we go to the home store to buy lawn seed we are really going there to buy a lawn.  Focus on highlighting benefits versus facts—and for extra credit focus these benefits to the individual audience member and how they can apply your information to personally benefit. 

Now, let’s put these ideas to practice.  Here is a quick list of trigger questions to help get your ideas flowing.  Fill out the questions below and you are off to a great start with creating your own personalized intro card.  

The title of my talk: 

Who is my audience:

What benefits are they looking for:

How can I highlight current projects or awards for me and my firm:

Why me?  What aspects of my bio are relevant to this audience, this talk?

Why is my info relevant today?

I have a presentation coming up in March for the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s Under 30 Council. This group is comprised of high achieving leaders under 30.  They asked me to speak to them about ways they can make themselves indispensible in our down economy.  Here is the bio I have created for this presentation:

Amy Hedin is a slightly over 30 executive coach that specializes in working with primarily 50 something senior execs.  Her firm, HumanPoint, specializes in leadership, strategic planning, communications and presentations coaching for the top levels in organizations.  She is frequently asked to travel to speak at conferences and retreats on topics related to developing a high performance workforce.  Her work with senior executives gives her great insight into this generation and the expectations they have for younger workers.  Her unique position of being slightly over 30 working with top thinkers makes her firm and approach unique in her industry.  Today her topic is entitled, Great is the New Good.  She specifically chose this topic to give us ideas on how we can make ourselves indispensible in this down economy and outshine our competition.   Please welcome Amy Hedin “Ha-DEEN”.

Post your intros to help others get ideas…

Comments

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