Stage Fright?

How Not To Introduce A Speaker

What three word phrase should be locked into the vault when introducing a speaker? Before I reveal the answer, let’s go behind the scenes.

Whether the event is a large convention or a small gathering of like-minded colleagues waiting for their CEO to deliver the annual report, the introducer has a responsibility to shine the light on the speaker. Allow me to repeat that last phrase: “shine the light on the speaker”.

The purpose of an introduction is to set the stage for the speaker’s presentation. The audience needs these opening words to warm up to the speaker, not the introducer. No matter how funny the joke may be, or how thrilling the experience could be, it’s the speaker who needs to be connected by a strong thread to the people filling the chairs.

What NOT to do as an introducer:

1. Scratch notes on the back of your grocery bill as you drive to the event.
2. Ignore the speaker’s bio, and just wing it
3. Talk about how much you personally also understand the subject at hand
4. Not bother to stand or use the microphone as you make your opening remarks
5. Tell jokes that everyone else also received in their emails
6. Arrive late enough that you do not have a chance to connect with the presenter
7. Let your own ego preside over the meeting

So, what should you do?

A. Prepare in advance. Ask the speaker for a bio, and then edit the information into your own language - the way you speak. If there’s a difficult multi-syllable word that trips you up, find a synonym. Transcribe your notes into a final copy, and print it out in 16 point font on card stock. Make a duplicate copy.
B. Ask the speaker for their own personalized introduction. Do not change it without their permission.
C. Arrive early for the event. Be the host of the presenter. This may seem like common sense, but the more welcome the speaker feels, the better their presentation to your group.
D. Get comfortable standing behind the lectern and using a microphone. Learn to manage the stress of speaking. Hire a coach, or take in Toastmasters.
E. Choose your humour wisely.
F. Get over yourself. Keep your ego in your pocket.

Finally, let me share the words that make most professional speakers wince.

“Without”
“Further”
“Ado...”

Please, no more further ado’s. You can substitute: “We are excited to hear from... please welcome...”. Try: “And now, Ms....”.

Then turn to the speaker, and get eye contact. Smile. Shakes hands, a sign of a warm, sincere welcome which puts your presenter in the limelight once more.

Sit back, enjoy.

Next week: Part 2 “How to write an introduction.”

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Maggie Chicoine is a professional speaker and charter member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. Maggie coaches people who are terrified to speak - and creates ease and eloquence for everyone at the podium.

She is also a professional member of PWAC, ICF and IAFF. Reach her at 1 800 587 1767 or www.theideasculptor.com

Leverage HOW to WOW

How HOW Becomes WOW!

If you think that this blog is about solving problems by exploring the concept of “leverage” you’re right on! It’s about turning a “how” question that keeps you up at night, into the “WOW” that is buried somewhere within digging distance. Did the “H” words in the Idea Du Jour spark the turning point for you?

This week’s personal wake-up call came as an email, one of those pseudo chain letters which these days is called a meme. I loved it! It got me thinking, and turned a “how” into a “WOW” by challenging my traditional approach to goal setting.

Ready? Here's the instructions...time required about 3 minutes.

1. Take the book closest to you, and turn to page 123.
2. Count down 4 sentences.
3. Copy the next 5 sentences and post.
4. Add a comment about any insights/inspirations you may have had as a result. Just click on the comments button below to send.

Here’s an example, from “The Seven Strategies of Master Negotiators”, by Dr. Brad McRae, a colleague from Halifax.

“Equally important (to Buzz) is the need to balance toughness with being pragmatic as the following excerpt from his book Labour of Love points out.”

“Some of my critics like to call me “the labour boss who rattles boardrooms” – as if my only intention is to be stubborn and force a strike on management. That’s absurd. I’m better known in labour-management circles as a person who knows how to reach a settlement by reading the situation and moving demands around on the table until the deal begins to look too sweet for the employers to pass up. Our goal is to always get a deal our members can be happy with.”

Comment: The How = How do you balance toughness with pragmaticism? How does he read the situation? How does he move demands around on the table? How does the deal begin to look too sweet? How do we know what makes our members happy?

The WOW for goal setting: it’s the thinking and the conversations about the various dimensions of the How. If X is what you want, then what’s the continuum of “now, near and far” that gets you there?

Post YOUR page 123 here by clicking comment below. You can also subscribe and receive the updates every Tuesday....email on top right!

Sneek peaks! You'll have to check in here (add to favourites) for the Ideas Du Jour list - new 7 word idea leverage every single day!

See you next Leverage Tuesday, for the letter I!

- Maggie

Thanks for dropping by!
maggiechicoine@gmail.com