Do first impressions count? The art of a powerful introduction [Speak on the Shoulders of Giants]
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SURE-FIRE WAY #4: THE INTRO
People need to know who is speaking. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to provide a complete verbal summary of your personal work and educational history at the beginning of your presentation.
Start by discussing your grades in grammar school and move up from there, ending with the last regulatory exam you’ve taken. Tell your audience about your exam score and how long it took you to finish it. Remember that “more is more”.
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Did you think there was something off about this week’s public speaking tip?
Hold on! Keep reading.
One of our firm’s education arms, the Institute of Strategy and Valuation, published an article titled, “10 Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Your Presentations: A Light-Hearted Look at Public Speaking.”
Addressing the fear that goes with presenting in front of people, the article presents a humorous look into public speaking—including this week’s sure-fire tip.
We are well aware of the stress everyone goes through when they need to represent their brand or company in front of an audience.
If we could avoid being put in that position, we would.
But… that shouldn’t be the mentality!
According to the article, “If we want to be leaders or achieve anything meaningful in our lives, we will often need to speak to groups, large and small, to be successful.”
Public speaking is an important, learnable skill… we just need to practice.
Yes, it’s easier said than done so we’re here to help and share with you some useful tips!
Looking at this topic from a humorous perspective (instead of the usual serious and fearful way), we know that sure-fire way #4 is actually stating the opposite of what you should actually be doing.
THE INTRO.
Having a brief but impactful INTRO is a valuable aspect of presenting.
As the classic saying goes, first impressions count. This is also very important during speeches and presentations.
Leaving a good first impression will help you quickly capture the audience’s attention and having a brief but detailed intro is a great starting point.
Similar to presenting too much content, long introductions will only make your audience lose interest in the process.
Instead of going for a “more is more” approach as stated, choosing to go “less is more” is much better.
Establishing credentials is key. This will help your audience have an idea of who you are and what makes you qualified to talk about your topic.
Instead of doing it yourself, it’s best to have someone else give an introduction about you and your background before you start. You want to make your audience feel that you’re approachable and relatable, eliminating any awkwardness you may feel in having to talk about all that you’ve done.
While it’s important that your credentials are stated, make sure that the person doing your intro only mentions the most relevant details.
Avoid drowning out the audience. A proper balance that lets them know who you are and what you do is enough.
One of our previous tips, the POWER OPENER, is something that can be set up very well after an excellent introduction.
You can add a powerful or striking statement at the start of your speech to capture the audience’s attention instantly. This gives you great momentum that would help pace the rest of your speech.
Start strong and be memorable. This always helps set a good tone for your whole speech or presentation.
So… don’t forget! Always leave a great first impression!
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Wednesdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person
…a boardroom with five people
…or a huge venue with hundreds of people
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Wednesday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you’ve found this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Wednesday’s Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!
Cheers,
Kyle Yu
Head of Marketing
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
Powered by Valens Research
www.valens-research.com
