Speaker Introduction Protocols

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨 As someone who has spoken on hundreds of stages, I’ve seen how small moments, like introducing a speaker, can create a big impact. Last week, Sara Feuerstein, Acting Public Affairs Officer from the U.S. Embassy Cambodia, did a superb introduction of me. Her introduction set the tone, built credibility, and prepared the audience to listen with intention (watch the video clip). Use this simple 5-step framework: 1. Start with a Greeting & Hook Welcome the audience and capture attention. 2. Give Context Share why this speaker and topic matter for this audience. 3. Highlight Credentials (but don’t overload) Focus on the most relevant achievements. 4. Add a Personal Touch A story, fun fact, or connection makes the speaker human and relatable. 5. Build Anticipation End with energy and invite the audience to welcome the speaker. Here’s a template: “Good afternoon, everyone. Today we’ll hear from [Speaker’s Name], a [title/role] with over [X years] of experience in [field]. Their work has [impact]. Beyond their professional expertise, [personal story/quality]. Please join me in welcoming [Speaker’s Full Name], who will be speaking on [topic].” This framework ensures you honor the speaker and engage the audience.

A couple of years ago, I saw something that made my skin crawl as a public speaking coach. I was attending a public event that had an eclectic lineup of speakers...and I had paid a lot to attend. When the MC stepped on stage, they started with some banter—and then proceeded to introduce each speaker by reading directly off their phone. What's wrong with this picture? 1) Reading a script 2) Reading a script off a phone 3) Failing to learn about each speaker and personalise introductions to suit the event. MCs: Please spend time internalising the bios of the speakers you are responsible for introducing. Neglecting to do so subconsciously communicates a lack of care and interest. Here are some guidelines for introducing guests with impact: 1) Get familiar with each speaker's bio, but only extract key points of interest for the introduction. Consider the specific audience. 2) Reword your extracted points. What we write is very different to what we say. Chances are, you were given something that was written without any consideration of how it sounds being read aloud. This means you need to adjust the language to sound more conversational. 3) If possible, add a comment that connects you to the speaker. Even if you've only interacted with them once, adding a personalised comment creates a sense of spontaneity and freshness. This is also great way to bring in some humour. For example, "I met Jane during the event tech rehearsal yesterday, and one thing I was struck by, was how calm she was when the AV team couldn't figure out how to get her slides to work. We were troubleshooting for 40 minutes, and Jane was just waiting patiently, offering suggestions. We got there in the end, but I swear I have never seen someone so unfazed by faulty technology. I was having a meltdown...and it wasn't even my talk. If you ask me, this speaks to her character just as much as her four university degrees." 4) To really impress, introduce each speaker without notes. This will free you up to incorporate gestures and eye contact. Remember, you can always review your notes between each speaker. To make this easier, keep intros brief. Your audience will only remember a couple of points of interest anyway. What MCs have you enjoyed and why? --- 🎤 Enjoyed this? Want more PRACTICAL and EASY TO APPLY public speaking tips? 📌 Subscribe to our Naked Thoughts newsletter. Link in my headline. #nakedaudience #publicspeaking #presentationskills #communication #confidence #mc #event

How to Introduce a Speaker, VIP, or Special Guest: In my three decades of emceeing events, I can tell you: It's as easy as A, B, C. Authority Start by highlighting their biggest "claim to fame." Are they a New York Times bestselling author? Salesperson of the Year? A finalist on America's Got Talent? Background Mention their key accomplishments. What degrees have they earned? Where are they from? Have they lead an organization? Connection Link them to your group: Are they on your staff? Do they share your mission or values? Why are they here with your people? Here are some "Don'ts" when making introductions: 🛑 Don’t try to be funny. (Keep the spotlight on the speaker) 🛑 Don’t tell a long story about how you know this person. 🛑 Don’t read their entire bio! The A, B, C formula is compact. It works. It should fit on a 4 x 6 notecard. Use bullet points to organize the information so you can glance at the A,B, C's and look up at your audience. When your special guest comes to the stage (or joins your virtual meeting), start the round of applause and extend a warm handshake or high-five. And remember, the final thing you say in the intro is... their name!

🎤 Why You Should NEVER Introduce Yourself on Stage… & 5 Methods to Introduce People Credibly On-Stage It was an honour to host Mr. Chen Chow Yeoh , former Co-Founder of Fave, and Seelan V. Karthi MSc, CIP, CTP, 6Sigma Green Belt, a visionary in Innovation Strategy, at the recent SME Bank Malaysia Talent Convention and as I stood on stage to welcome them, I was reminded of a powerful truth about credibility and positioning: ✅ It is always better to have someone introduce you, than to introduce yourself. Why? Because in leadership, in speaking, and in sales, your perceived value is shaped by how you're positioned before you even speak. Here is what I have learned about introducing people like champions from hosting dozens of high-impact speakers, and it’s something I teach all my clients and learners in corporate leadership: 🔑 1. Set the Stage - Paint a Vision Before They Appear. When I introduced Yeoh Chen Chow, I didn't just say "he co-founded Fave." I said, "You're about to hear from a man who helped reshape how Southeast Asia pays digitally, a tech visionary who scaled an idea into a household name." 🎯 2. Give Social Proof - Build Credibility Through Association. When I introduced Seelan, I framed him as "a strategist trusted by global conglomerates, and a man who understands how to turn disruption into opportunity." You must build the speaker’s reputation in the minds of the audience before they even utter a word. 💥 3. Create Curiosity – Tease Their Unique Value. A great introduction is a trailer, not a Wikipedia bio. Make the audience lean in and want to hear what comes next. 🙌 4. Honour Their Journey – Anchor Their Humanity. Both speakers had different paths and I made sure to humanize them before intellectualizing them. Because people remember stories, not stats. 💡 So if you’re a speaker, a leader, or someone with a message... get someone to introduce you. And if you're introducing someone else, do it with class, conviction and clarity. 📣 Because how we honour others in public is a reflection of our leadership in private. To my fellow professionals , introductions aren't just admin. They’re strategy. They’re branding. And most importantly, they are respect. #thrivingtalents