How to Practice Part 2: Introducing Yourself
I finish every workshop and coaching session with a reminder that nothing improves a presentation more than practice. For musicians practicing usually includes repeating exercises that improve technique, carefully learning new repertoire and refining material they’re already performing. But what exactly does that mean for a speaker? This four-part series lays out how speakers can use their prep time best.
I’m shocked at how many times I see people read their own names off a sheet of paper. If there is one thing you should be able to do without notes, it’s clearly, confidently introduce yourself.
In music school, students prepare for auditions by walking to the center of the room, greeting listeners and announcing what they will be performing - over and over again. It’s invaluable to have this solid starting point. It’s the springboard to whatever they’re about to perform. Speakers can give themselves a big advantage by preparing in the same way.
Here’s what you must master saying from memory:
A greeting (“Hello!” “Good morning!” etc)
Your name
Your affiliation (job/organization/whatever is relevant)
The title and one sentence summary of your presentation (“Today I’m going to talk about …”)
That’s it. You can handle it!
Here are a few of the advantages:
Your greeting, at its most simple level, is an indication to the room that your talk is starting. At a broader level, it’s an acknowledgment of the people who have elected to spend their time with you. It’s your first chance to make a connection with the room.
You’re giving your audience an opportunity to hear your name – and hear it pronounced correctly. Say it slowly and loudly enough that you audience can hear it. Practice doing this out loud. I am not kidding about this. You’re short-changing yourself enormously if you present a great idea but people don’t know who you are.
Affiliation, title and summary of your talk: This is the information you are most likely to use outside of your presentation, in conversation at the conference, at networking events, in life. Be ready to give people this concise snapshot of who you are and what you’re about.
Mastering your self-introduction may seem like a really *basic* basic, but there tend to be a lot of distractions in the first few moments of speaking to a room. (Is the mic working? Is the lighting or room configuration radically different from what you had anticipated? Did the person who introduced you say your name correctly?) Do yourself the favor of having an unshakeable start.
Contact me about scheduling a group workshop or one-on-one coaching session today.