how to start an introduction speech about someone else

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How to write an introduction speech

Introduction speech for a guest speaker

How to write a good introduction speech step by step

By: Susan Dugdale

If you've been asked to give the introduction speech for a guest speaker you're in the right place.

Everything you need to prepare it is here. Follow the steps and you'll have an introductory speech you'll be proud to deliver.

What you'll find on this page:

an overview of the purpose of an introduction speech for a guest speaker
the content you're expected to cover
an organizational pattern or template to follow
an example introduction speech
6 important tips to use to ensure your speech is a success

Graphic: a crowd of people and a label saying, "A primer on the gentle art of giving an introduction speech to a guest speaker."

The function of an introduction speech

Let's start with the purpose of the speech. When you understand what the speech is supposed to achieve you'll find it much easier to write.

Image background - audience with overlay of multiple speech bubbles eg. "I can't see from here". Title Text: One of the important roles of an introduction speech is to unite the audience.

The job of an introduction speech is to:

introduce your guest speaker,
give them a warm welcome,
and create ready-and-motivated-to-listen anticipation in the audience.

Essentially you are the warm-up act. Your task is to focus and unite the audience members, to get them ready for what is to come.

Return to Top

To prepare your introduction speech you'll need:

the guest speaker's name and, if they have one, their title. For example; Judge, Sir, The Right Honorable... Do make sure you can say their name properly and easily! If you're in doubt get the correct pronunciation from your guest speaker and practice. Also ask if they have personal pronoun preferences. Eg: they/them, she/her, he/him...
the guest speaker's biography or the credentials of the speaker Sometimes you'll be given what the guest speaker wants said about themselves. If that isn't provided select events, achievements and qualifications to support establishing him/her as an authority within the context of the occasion. And do check that your guest is happy with what you are preparing to say about them.
attention getters or a surprise to delight the audience, something that is not commonly known, and something revealing the personality or humanity of the person.

How to organize your material

Build excitement or interest by adding one piece of information after another.
Make the speaker's name and their speech title, the climax and end of your speech.

To show you how it's done I've put together an...

Introduction speech example

Let's put the speech in context to help you make sense of it.

The setting for this fictitious introduction speech is a conference for an organization called " Women in Leadership" . The audience are primarily women drawn together through an interest in leadership roles.

Image background: crowd of people. Text overlay: Women in leadership - featuring key note speaker Rose Stephenson.

At the end of the speech, the speaker will lead the clapping as Rose Stephenson, the keynote speaker being introduced, takes center stage.

Now here's the introduction speech text.

Now here's the introduction speech text

" She's been a stalwart member of "Women in Leadership" for the last ten years. Over that time she's served in every office: secretary, treasurer, chairperson, chief fundraiser, education officer... to name just a few, and in some roles several times over.

Her passionate dedication to promoting public speaking as an important component of empowerment is inspiring. We estimate that she has personally mentored at least 100 new speakers and has set an extraordinary "yes, you can" example for many more. We see her as capable, confident and fluent: never at a loss for words. But what you probably don't know is that this women once stuttered, stammered and blushed.

Yes, she was often temporarily paralyzed, struck dumb by the mere thought of standing in front of an audience to speak.

How she got from awkward tongue tied silence to becoming an eloquent front line spokesperson is the story she will share with us tonight.

Ladies, without further ado, it's with great pleasure, I give you... Rose Stephenson on "Speaking To Lead!"

Say the speech out loud! Use it as a template!

Try saying it out loud to get the flow of it.

If you like it, use it as a model for the introduction speech you need to write.

6 tips to make your introduction speech successful

1. consider tone and language use.

Is what you've prepared appropriate for the occasion, audience and your guest speaker? Have you avoided using a string of clichés?

2. Check the length of your speech

Image background - crowd of people. Text: Keep it short and sweet.

Pertinent and pithy: a short speech is what you want. One to two minutes should be enough.

Test it out loud with a timer and trim if necessary.

My example speech is 171 words long. That will take approximately 1 minute 30 seconds to say depending on the speaker's rate of speech.

For more on: the number of words per minute in a speech . (This page has estimations for the number of words per minute spoken at a slow, medium and fast rate for speeches from 1 - 10 minutes long.)

3. Resist exaggerating or "puffing up" the speaker's achievements

First impressions count. You don't want to talk about your guest in a way that may embarrass and cause the audience to question their right to be there.

4. Always check your facts

Beware the horror of getting your facts muddled and, if you wish to mention something that may be sensitive, ask permission before you announce it in front of an audience.

5. Remember you are not the main speaker, or the star of the show

Image background - crowd of people. Text: The speaker who introduces a guest or key note speaker must remember they are the support or warm up act.

You've done a good job when you cover just enough to make the coming speech eagerly anticipated.

Please do not stray into telling the audience what the guest speaker's speech will cover in detail. That's terribly unfair on the speaker!

6. Rehearse your speech

Practice out loud until you are confidently fluent and able to convey the pleasure or enthusiasm the audience needs to get them in the right frame of mind.

For more: how to rehearse a speech well

For more: how to use your voice expressively

Other related pages you may find useful:

How to give a self-introduction speech (with an example of a brief speech to introduce yourself to fellow workshop participants)
How to write a welcome speech (with an example of a short welcome speech to open an event)

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How to Memorably Introduce Another Speaker

Deborah Grayson Riegel

What to say to get your audience’s attention.

As a professional speaker and facilitator for over 20 years, I’ve been introduced more than a thousand times, by countless meeting planners, conference organizers, and team leaders. Nevertheless, most of the introductions have fallen into one of four categories:

Deborah Grayson Riegel is a professional speaker and facilitator, as well as a communication and presentation skills coach. She teaches leadership communication at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and has taught for Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School’s Women in Leadership Program, and Peking University’s International MBA Program. She is the author of Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life and the best-selling Go To Help: 31 Strategies to Offer, Ask for, and Accept Help .

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Speech Writing

Introduction Speech

Introduction Speech - A Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

11 min read

What is an Introduction Speech?

An introduction speech, or introductory address, is a brief presentation at the beginning of an event or public speaking engagement. Its primary purpose is to establish a connection with the audience and to introduce yourself or the main speaker.

This type of speech is commonly used in a variety of situations, including:

Public Speaking: When you step onto a stage to address a large crowd, you start with an introduction to establish your presence and engage the audience.
Networking Events: When meeting new people in professional or social settings, an effective introduction speech can help you make a memorable first impression.
Formal Gatherings: From weddings to conferences, introductions set the tone for the event and create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

In other words, an introduction speech is simply a way to introduce yourself to a crowd of people.

How to Write an Introduction Speech?

Before you can just go and deliver your speech, you need to prepare for it. Writing a speech helps you organize your ideas and prepare your speech effectively.

Here is how to introduce yourself in a speech.

Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is crucial. Consider their interests, backgrounds, and expectations to tailor your introduction accordingly.

For instance, the audience members could be your colleagues, new classmates, or various guests depending on the occasion. Understanding your audience will help you decide what they are expecting from you as a speaker.

Start with a Hook

Begin with a captivating opening line that grabs your audience's attention. This could be a surprising fact, a relevant quote, or a thought-provoking question about yourself or the occasion.

Introduce Yourself

Introduce yourself to the audience. State your name, occupation, or other details relevant to the occasion. You should mention the reason for your speech clearly. It will build your credibility and give the readers reasons to stay with you and read your speech.

Keep It Concise

So how long is an introduction speech?

Introduction speeches should be brief and to the point. Aim for around 1-2 minutes in most cases. Avoid overloading the introduction with excessive details.

Highlight Key Points

Mention the most important information that establishes the speaker's credibility or your own qualifications. Write down any relevant achievements, expertise, or credentials to include in your speech. Encourage the audience to connect with you using relatable anecdotes or common interests.

Rehearse and Edit

Practice your introduction speech to ensure it flows smoothly and stays within the time frame. Edit out any unnecessary information, ensuring it's concise and impactful.

Tailor for the Occasion

Adjust the tone and content of your introduction speech to match the formality and purpose of the event. What works for a business conference may not be suitable for a casual gathering.

Introduction Speech Outline

To assist you in creating a structured and effective introduction speech, here's a simple outline that you can follow:

Here is an example outline for a self-introduction speech.

Outline for Self-Introduction Speech

7 Ways to Open an Introduction Speech

You can start your introduction speech as most people do:

“Hello everyone, my name is _____. I will talk about _____. Thank you so much for having me. So first of all _______”

However, this is the fastest way to make your audience lose interest. Instead, you should start by captivating your audience’s interest. Here are 7 ways to do that:

Quote

Start with a thought-provoking quote that relates to your topic or the occasion. E.g. "Mahatma Gandhi once said, 'You must be the change you want to see in the world."

Anecdote or Story

Begin with a brief, relevant anecdote or story that draws the audience in. It could be a story about yourself or any catchy anecdote to begin the flow of your speech.

Pose a rhetorical question to engage the audience's curiosity and involvement. For example, "Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel back in time, to experience a moment in history?”

Statistic or Fact

Share a surprising statistic or interesting fact that underscores the significance of your speech. E.g. “Did you know that as of today, over 60% of the world's population has access to the internet?”

“What If” Scenario

Paint a vivid "What if" scenario that relates to your topic, sparking the audience's imagination and curiosity. For example, "What if I told you that a single decision today could change the course of your life forever?"

Ignite Imagination

Encourage the audience to envision a scenario related to your topic. For instance, "Imagine a world where clean energy powers everything around us, reducing our carbon footprint to almost zero."

Start your introduction speech with a moment of silence, allowing the audience to focus and anticipate your message. This can be especially powerful in creating a sense of suspense and intrigue.

Introduction Speech Example

To help you understand how to put these ideas into practice, here are the introduction speech examples for different scenarios.

Introduction Speech Writing Sample

Short Introduction Speech Sample

Self Introduction Speech for College Students

Introduction Speech about Yourself

Student Presentation Introduction Speech Script

Teacher Introduction Speech

New Employee Self Introduction Speech

Introduction Speech for Chief Guest

Moreover, here is a video example of a self introduction. Watch it to understand how you should deliver your speech:

Want to read examples for other kinds of speeches? Find the best speeches at our blog about speech examples !

Introduction Speech Ideas

So now that you’ve understood what an introduction speech is, you may want to write one of your own. So what should you talk about?

The following are some ideas to start an introduction speech for a presentation, meeting, or social gathering in an engaging way.

Personal Story: Share a brief personal story or an experience that has shaped you, introducing yourself on a deeper level.
Professional Background: Introduce yourself by highlighting your professional background, including your career achievements and expertise.
Hobby or Passion: Discuss a hobby or passion that you're enthusiastic about, offering insights into your interests and what drives you.
Volunteer Work: Introduce yourself by discussing your involvement in volunteer work or community service, demonstrating your commitment to making a difference.
Travel Adventures: Share anecdotes from your travel adventures, giving the audience a glimpse into your love for exploring new places and cultures.
Books or Literature: Provide an introduction related to a favorite book, author, or literary work, revealing your literary interests.
Achievements and Milestones: Highlight significant achievements and milestones in your life or career to introduce yourself with an impressive track record.
Cultural Heritage: Explore your cultural heritage and its influence on your identity, fostering a sense of cultural understanding.
Social or Environmental Cause: Discuss your dedication to a particular social or environmental cause, inviting the audience to join you in your mission.
Future Aspirations: Share your future goals and aspirations, offering a glimpse into what you hope to achieve in your personal or professional life.

You can deliver engaging speeches on all kinds of topics. Here is a list of entertaining speech topics to get inspiration.

Tips for Delivering the Best Introduction Speech

Here are some tips for you to write a perfect introduction speech in no time.

Now that you know how to write an effective introduction speech, let's focus on the delivery. The way you present your introduction is just as important as the content itself.

Here are some valuable tips to ensure you deliver a better introduction speech:

Maintain Eye Contact

Make eye contact with the audience to establish a connection. This shows confidence and engages your listeners.

Use Appropriate Body Language

Your body language should convey confidence and warmth. Stand or sit up straight, use open gestures, and avoid fidgeting.

Mind Your Pace

Speak at a moderate pace, avoiding rapid speech. A well-paced speech is easier to follow and more engaging.

Avoid Filler Words

Minimize the use of filler words such as "um," "uh," and "like." They can be distracting and detract from your message.

Be Enthusiastic

Convey enthusiasm about the topic or the speaker. Your energy can be contagious and inspire the audience's interest.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Rehearse your speech multiple times. Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself, or seek feedback from others.

Be Mindful of Time

Stay within the allocated time for your introduction. Going too long can make your speech too boring for the audience.

Engage the Audience

Encourage the audience's participation. You could do that by asking rhetorical questions, involving them in a brief activity, or sharing relatable anecdotes.

Mistakes to Avoid in an Introduction Speech

While crafting and delivering an introduction speech, it's important to be aware of common pitfalls that can diminish its effectiveness. Avoiding these mistakes will help you create a more engaging and memorable introduction.

Here are some key mistakes to steer clear of:

Rambling On

One of the most common mistakes is making the introduction too long. Keep it concise and to the point. The purpose is to set the stage, not steal the spotlight.

Lack of Preparation

Failing to prepare adequately can lead to stumbling, awkward pauses, or losing your train of thought. Rehearse your introduction to build confidence.

Using Jargon or Complex Language

Avoid using technical jargon or complex language that may confuse the audience. Your introduction should be easily understood by everyone.

Being Too Generic

A generic or uninspiring introduction can set a lackluster tone. Ensure your introduction is tailored to the event and speaker, making it more engaging.

Using Inappropriate Humor

Be cautious with humor, as it can easily backfire. Avoid inappropriate or potentially offensive jokes that could alienate the audience.

Not Tailoring to the Occasion

An introduction should be tailored to the specific event's formality and purpose. A one-size-fits-all approach may not work in all situations.

To Conclude,

An introduction speech is more than just a formality. It's an opportunity to engage, inspire, and connect with your audience in a meaningful way.

With the help of this blog, you're well-equipped to shine in various contexts. So, step onto that stage, speak confidently, and captivate your audience from the very first word.

Moreover, you’re not alone in your journey to becoming a confident introducer. If you ever need assistance in preparing your speech, let the experts help you out.

MyPerfectWords.com offers a custom essay service with experienced professionals who can craft tailored introductions, ensuring your speech makes a lasting impact.

Don't hesitate; hire our professional speech writing service to deliver top-quality speeches at your deadline!

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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How to Introduce a Guest Speaker (with Examples)

May 25, 2023

Introducing a guest speaker is an important responsibility that sets the stage for their presentation and creates an atmosphere of anticipation. A well-crafted introduction not only provides essential information about the speaker but also captivates the audience and builds excitement. In this article, we will explore the art of how to introduce a guest speaker and how to craft a brilliant script for introducing a guest speaker.

From the best way to introduce a speaker to example speeches and tips for making a memorable impact, we will equip you with the tools to deliver introductions that engage, entertain, and leave a lasting impression.

What Is the Best Way to Introduce a Speaker?

Introducing a speaker effectively requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some key elements to keep in mind for how to introduce a guest speaker successfully.

1. Research and gather information.

Before introducing the guest speaker, conduct thorough research to gather relevant information about their background, achievements, and expertise. This will help you create an introduction that is both personalized and impactful.

2. Establish credibility.

Highlight the speaker’s credentials and accomplishments to establish their credibility in the eyes of the audience. Share their relevant experience, expertise, and any notable achievements that are relevant to the topic of their presentation.

3. Create a connection.

Find a compelling way to establish a connection between both the speaker and the audience. This can be through shared interests, experiences, or values. For example, if you’re introducing a guest speaker at your university who happens to be an alumnus of your school, make sure you draw attention to that in your introduction. Creating a relatable connection helps the audience connect with the speaker right from the start.

4. Build anticipation.

Engage the audience’s curiosity by giving a glimpse of what the speaker will later cover in their presentation. Tease key points, intriguing anecdotes, or unique perspectives that the audience can look forward to during the talk. This builds anticipation and captures attention for the following presentation.

5. Keep it concise and engaging.

Aim for a concise, but also interesting, introduction. Use short, direct sentences that convey information clearly. In addition, avoid lengthy biographies or unnecessary details that may lose the audience’s interest. Finally, craft your words carefully to maintain a lively and engaging tone.

How to Use AI to Practice Introducing a Guest Speaker

When it comes time to practice your guest speaker introduction speech, Yoodli , an AI-powered communication coach, becomes your invaluable practice partner. With Yoodli’s cutting-edge technology and generative AI , you can rehearse and refine your introduction in a virtual, judgement-free environment. Its personalized feedback helps you fine-tune your tone, pacing, and overall delivery, ensuring that you make a powerful impact when introducing a guest speaker.

A screenshot demonstrating how to use Yoodli to practice how to introduce a guest speaker.

Furthermore, Yoodli automatically generates a transcription of your speech, analyzing it for keywords. This means you can get a sense of how your audience might interpret your speech’s overall message and main points. With Yoodli’s assistance, you can gain confidence, practice your high income skills (like your storytelling skills, for example) and create an introduction that captivates as well as energizes the audience.

Examples of How to Introduce a Guest Speaker

To illustrate the power of a great guest speaker introduction, let’s take a look at an example of how to introduce a guest speaker.

Example of a general introduction for a guest speaker

Good morning, all! Today, we have the privilege of being in the presence of a true visionary and leader in the field of environmental sustainability. Our guest speaker has dedicated her career to finding innovative solutions for a greener and more sustainable future. [Speaker’s name], the CEO of [organization/company name], has successfully spearheaded numerous initiatives that have had a profound impact on our environment. Under her leadership, the company has revolutionized the way we approach sustainability challenges, pushing boundaries and inspiring change. With over two decades of experience in environmental engineering, [Speaker’s name] has been at the forefront of designing groundbreaking technologies and implementing sustainable practices in industries ranging from renewable energy to waste management. Her expertise has earned her international recognition and multiple prestigious awards. But it’s not just her professional achievements that make her special. [Speaker’s name] is a passionate advocate for educating the next generation on the importance of environmental stewardship. Her engaging speaking style and ability to connect with audiences of all backgrounds make her an inspiration to many. Today, [Speaker’s name] will be sharing her insights on how we can create a more sustainable future through innovation and collaboration. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and empowered to take action. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to the exceptional [Speaker’s name]!

This example highlights the speaker’s credentials, builds a connection, creates anticipation, and sets the stage for an engaging and informative presentation.

Example of a personal anecdote for a guest speaker introduction

“Picture this: It was a sunny afternoon in the heart of our city, and I found myself walking through the bustling streets, surrounded by the sound of honking cars and the hum of conversation. Amidst the chaos, I stumbled upon a small park nestled between towering buildings — a hidden oasis of greenery and serenity.

As I entered the park, I noticed a group of children huddled around a captivating woman who stood in front of a majestic oak tree. It was none other than our esteemed guest speaker, [Speaker’s name]. She was engaging the children in a lively discussion about the wonders of nature and the importance of preserving our environment.

What struck me most was the way [Speaker’s name] effortlessly connected with these young minds, sparking their curiosity and inspiring them to take action. I watched as she shared stories of her own childhood adventures exploring forests, climbing trees, and discovering the beauty of our natural world.

In that moment, I realized the profound impact [Speaker’s name] had on these children: instilling a deep love and respect for the environment. Her passion was contagious, and it reminded me of the power we all possess to make a difference, no matter how small.

From that day forward, I became an avid follower of [Speaker’s name]’s work. Her commitment to environmental stewardship and her ability to connect with people from all walks of life is truly remarkable. Today, we have the incredible honor of welcoming her to this stage to share her insights and inspire us all to join the movement for a greener and more sustainable future.

Please finally join me in giving a warm welcome to the extraordinary [Speaker’s name]!”

What Do You Say First When Introducing a Guest Speaker?

The first few sentences of a guest speaker introduction are crucial in capturing the audience’s attention and setting the tone for the entire introduction. Here are some effective opening lines to consider adding to your script when introducing a guest speaking.

1. Engage listeners with a thought-provoking question.

Start with a thought-provoking question related to the speaker’s topic or expertise. This immediately grabs the audience’s attention and, what’s more, encourages them to actively participate in the introduction. For example: “Have you ever wondered how a single individual can make a significant impact on global environmental issues?”

2. Begin with a captivating anecdote or story.

Introduce the speaker by sharing a captivating anecdote or story that relates to their work or accomplishments. This narrative approach instantly draws the audience in and also builds an emotional connection.

3. Use a powerful quote.

Start with a powerful quote that encapsulates the essence of the speaker’s message or expertise. Quotes are attention-grabbing and can also convey a sense of authority and relevance. For example: “As Albert Einstein once said, ‘We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.'” You can find some powerful quotes from the best motivational speeches , too.

4. Make a bold statement.

Begin your script to introduce your guest speaker with a bold and impactful statement that immediately captures the audience’s attention. This statement should be concise yet intriguing, sparking curiosity as well as setting the stage for the speaker’s presentation. Attention getters are perfect for this. For example: “Today, you’re about to witness a groundbreaking approach to tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change.”

Remember, the opening lines of your script to introduce a guest speaker are the gateway to engaging the audience and setting the stage for a memorable presentation. Choose an approach that aligns with the speaker’s personality as well as the event’s atmosphere, and don’t be afraid to be creative and captivating.

The Main Takeaway

Giving an introduction for a guest speaker is an art that requires careful planning, research, and an understanding of the audience’s expectations. By following the principles discussed in this article and using examples as inspiration, you can deliver introductions that engage, entertain, and leave a lasting impression. Remember, the goal is to set the stage for the speaker’s presentation and create a sense of excitement and anticipation.

So, go ahead, embrace the power of a well-crafted introduction, and make every guest speaker’s presence an unforgettable experience for your audience.

Start practicing with Yoodli.

Getting better at speaking is getting easier. Record or upload a speech and let our AI Speech Coach analyze your speaking and give you feedback.

Make A Speech Introduction That Grabs Audience Attention

The speech introduction is the first part of a speech and the first opportunity to grab the audience’s attention. The speaker should state the topic, make it relatable to the audience, establish credibility and preview the main points. You should write or finalize your introduction at the end so that it reflects what you actually said.

Listen up, audience!

No matter whether you are giving an informative speech to enlighten an audience about a certain topic or a persuasive speech aims to convince the crowd to adopt a particular viewpoint. But whichever type of speech you’re writing or delivering, one thing is true: You must create an attention-grabbing speech introduction.

Table of Contents

What Is The Best Way To Start A Speech?

Whether in speech writing or public speaking, the role of a good intro cannot be understated. It is your best chance to captivate your audience’s attention and entice them to be with you until the rest of your speech.

It’s also your opportunity to introduce the topic and thesis statement and set up the points you’ll discuss later. So, keep in mind that you emphasize the relevance of your subject matter to the audience and contextualize it properly.

These are some of the best ways to make a compelling introduction speech.

State a quote or use a historical event reference. Analyze your target audience and look for a powerful quote from a relevant figure or a historical event that will resonate with listeners and relate it to your topic. A notable quotation can immediately establish a strong connection. On the other hand, an important event will help you illustrate your point or paint a scenario better.
Share a personal story. Sometimes, you don’t have to search far and wide to demonstrate a point. You can tap into your personal experience and share something about yourself. Generally, audience members enjoy hearing stories as they pique their interest and get a glimpse of who the speaker is. Your anecdotes will also make you more human and accessible.
Start with an “Imagine” or “What if?” scenario. Want to make your audience engaged? Let their imagination run. In many speeches over the years, some of the most successful ones used this technique. Speakers transport the audience to the future or a scenario wherein their proposed idea or belief reigns. For example, “What if we live in a world where everyone can access healthcare?”
Count on a video or any other visual aids. If you’re a public speaker keen to use technology, you may also want to commence your speech with visual aids. For instance, you can show a pre-prepared video to draw the crowd’s attention right before you speak. If you’re talking about hunger and food security, you can show footage of how such issues take a toll in many third-world countries.
Tell surprising statistics. One of the most effective ways to shock — and, ultimately, grab your audience’s attention is by telling real, hard facts. If you’re looking for a good attention-getter, you can rely on surprising statistics about your topic. For instance, if your topic is bullying, you can mention that in the US, around 3 million students are victims of bullying.
Ask the audience a question. Another way to hook your audience is by asking them a question. It can be a direct one (e.g., “Who among here are…” then ask for a show of hands). It can also be a rhetorical question (e.g., “What is the meaning of life?”). The key is interacting with the crowd to get their attention and effectively introducing your subject matter.

Liven up speech introduction with a quote

What Should You Include In the Introduction?

When you look at intro samples and templates on the web, you’ll find that effective speech introductions contain key elements. And one of the most important is your attention-grabber, which will compel your audience to listen to your speech and narrative.

You must also introduce your speech topic and indicate why it matters to your audience. You should also share something about yourself, especially your credibility, to discuss a particular subject matter.

Once you’ve laid out these foundations, state your central idea or thesis statement. Tell the audience members the point of view you want them to adopt, and give them a preview of the main points you’re discussing if you’re giving a persuasive speech. If you’re writing or delivering an informative one, you can provide them with a brief speech outline or the key points you’ll touch upon throughout the body of the speech.

What Are The Best Lines To Introduce A Speech?

One of the most common public speaking tips you’ll encounter is to have a good introduction. To help you capture the audience’s attention, here are some ideas you can use in your speech.

A famous quote (For example, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower” by Steve Jobs)
A song lyric (“Imagine there’s no countries/ It isn’t hard to do/ Nothing to kill or die for/ And no religion, too,” from “Imagine by John Lennon)
A line from a poem (“You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise,” from “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou)
A line from a movie (“Greed, for a lack of a better word, is good,” from “Wall Street”)
Reference to a historical event (“Two hundred years ago, one of the most important proclamations was made. Through the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln, the enslaved Black people were given freedom.”
Reference to a notable figure (“Stan Lee, the man behind iconic Marvel characters, was hired as an editorial assistant at a comics company after graduating high school.”).
A bold statement (“Prostitution must be legalized.”)
A serious statement (“Climate change is a pressing issue.”)
A humorous line (“Don’t underestimate me. That’s the job of my mom.”)
A shocking statistic (“If you’re consuming too much fast food and baked goods, did you know that you are 51% more likely to be depressed?”)
A direct question (“Who among here plays violent video games?”)
A rhetorical question (“Is there a more powerful feeling than love?”)
A personal story (“Back when I was a fresh college graduate, I busied myself applying to the top multi-national companies.”)
An anecdote (“Long ago, there was a man — an old but healthy man — who dared climb Mount Everest. He was 80, and he succeeded.”)
A what-if scenario (“What if there were no poor people?”)

How Do You Introduce Yourself In A Speech?

Whether you’re a first-time speaker or a veteran, how you approach introducing yourself in a speech is important in establishing your credibility. To avoid getting called boring, you might want to shy away from the usual “Hi, everyone. I’m (your name). I (your credentials), and today I will be talking about (points of the speech).”

Usually, someone else may have given your name and background. This gives you the liberty to begin your speech more interestingly.

You can start by stating any of the introduction lines listed above, then transition to why listening to you will matter to them. For example, if you’re talking about mental health and depression, you can follow up a surprising statistic with something like, “I know because I was a part of that statistic. Now, I’ve studied to become a therapist myself.”

To further create an air of authority, you must be mindful of your body language (taking a deep breath before speaking can help you shake off your nervousness and tension). Additionally, you must make eye contact and speak words clearly.

How Do You Introduce A Speaker?

Now, if you’re tasked to introduce the one who will deliver the speech, it’s your responsibility to set the right atmosphere and build excitement.

One of the first things to do is know how to pronounce the speaker’s name and ensure that what you’ll say about the speaker’s credibility is factual. Since you’re only introducing the speaker, keep things simple and concise. If you want to enrich your introduction, you can ask the speaker what they want to be highlighted (Do they have a new book? Which prestigious groups are they affiliated with?).

Like what the speaker would do, you must also make eye contact to engage the audience. Practice and have a run-through before you take the stage to guarantee a smooth delivery.

What Is An Example Of A Speech Introduction?

Speakers and speech writers know how challenging it is to grab an audience’s attention. Here’s a good example of an introductory speech that uses statistics. This is from English restaurateur Jamie Oliver who delivered a TED Talk about food:

“Sadly, in the next 18 minutes when I do our chat, four Americans that are alive will be dead from the food that they eat.

My name’s Jamie Oliver. I’m 34 years old. I’m from Essex in England, and for the last seven years, I’ve worked fairly tirelessly to save lives in my own way. I’m not a doctor; I’m a chef, I don’t have expensive equipment or medicine. I use information, education.”

What Is The Introduction For A Speech On Bully

Looking for inspiration for a good introduction where your topic is bullying? Check out this sample intro from actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Millie Bobby Brown during World Children’s Day in 2019:

“In world capitals — in buildings like this — adults talk about children’s rights. But today, young people don’t want to be talked about. They want to do the talking.

Millions of people responded to UNICEF surveys and petitions about what the Convention on the Rights of the Child meant to them. In the words of one young person: ‘Be an active voice. Don’t let things go unnoticed. So today, I want to talk about an issue that is very personal to me. Something that so often goes unnoticed — but causes real suffering. Bullying.”

What Are Some Other Examples Of Speech Introductions?

Below are some more speech introduction examples you can take inspiration from.

“Three things I learned while my plane crashed” by Ric Elias : “Imagine a big explosion as you climb through 3,000 ft. Imagine a plane full of smoke. Imagine an engine going clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack, clack. It sounds scary. Well, I had a unique seat that day. I was sitting in 1D.”
“How to find and do work you love” by Scott Dinsmore : “8 years ago, I got the worst career advice of my life.”

“How great leaders inspire action” by Simon Sinek : “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assume? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions?”

How to Introduce a Speaker in Any Setting (And Amaze Your Audience)

Hrideep barot.

Body Language & Delivery , Public Speaking , Speech Writing

Importance of a Good Introduction

If you’re reading this, kudos to you as you are one of the few people who actually take out the time and effort to craft a great speech introduction.

Many times we feel that if we ourselves aren’t the main speaker, why take out any time to work on a great introduction?

But here’s the thing, as the introductory speaker, if you want your audience to be excited for the speaker who is about to come on the stage, a strong introduction is important.

As an audience member, if I have never heard of the speaker (or even if I do know a little bit about her) I won’t be very open to their speech simply because I don’t know how credible the speaker is .

Sure the speaker could herself say those credentials when she comes on the stage. But true credibility is added when the praise comes from a third person (that being you in this case).

Take Tom Bilyeu for example. Tom is the founder and host of the company and popular Youtube channel – Impact Theory where he calls on highly acclaimed speakers, entrepreneurs, writers, athletes, etc. to interview them.

While the interviews are in themselves amazing, it’s the way Tom introduces each of his guests that blows my mind!

Take this clip for example:

The introduction shows that Tom has taken time and put a genuine effort into his research. It’s what makes his introductions so powerful.

And that’s why an introduction is important:

It makes your audience excited for who they are about to see
It makes the speaker feel genuinely acknowledged for being invited to that event

Without a good introduction, the audience will not have a strong enough reason to be open to the speaker’s ideas because they might not know the credibility of the speaker.

An introduction is also like a short speech . So it’s important you take your time out to craft and deliver one that does justice to both – the speaker as well as yourself!

Note: Want to take your communications skills to the next level? Book a complimentary consultation with one of our expert communication coaches. We’ll look under the hood of your hurdles and pick two to three growth opportunities so you can speak with impact!

Alright! Let’s jump into the tips of creating a splendid introduction. Whether it’s a seminar, conference, interview, church or just a small gathering, these tips are applicable in almost all scenarios.

research the speaker you are about to introduce

Your work starts even before the introductory speech. The person who is invited to speak would be having certain credentials.

The way those credentials are communicated with high effectiveness is your job as the introductory speaker.

This is important as it’s what will get the audience excited and give them a reason to be engaged in a speech because of the credibility of the speaker.

Research can be of two types:

You can actually meet or contact the speaker directly and ask her all the questions you would need to create a great introduction.
The internet

If you have access to the speaker, then great! If not, use sources like LinkedIn to understand the work they have done in the past, or try and see if you can connect to someone close to them and get a bite from them for the introduction as well.

Once you know what all the speaker has done in her life and why she is an expert in the subject she is going to speak on, you have set yourself up for crafting a lovely introduction.

Keep it short!

One thing to remember when giving an introduction is to not get carried away! While your introduction is as good as a short speech , we must not forget the keyword here – short !

The main spotlight is for the speaker. So keep your intro short. Below 2 and a half minutes is usually a good space to be in. Exceeding 4 minutes is a little too much so make sure to not overstep your speaking time.

I remember seeing this one introductory speaker who just went on and on with his introduction. He spoke about things that weren’t even relevant to the subject of the talk. It was just a waste of time.

When you prepare your introduction, practice it and time yourself to ensure you aren’t taking up too much of the stage time.

We’ve made a short video on how you can make your speech more concise and clear so you communicate what’s relevant without taking up too much of your audience’s time:

Save the name for the end

The last word is the cue for applause in any introduction. And it’s best to save the applause for the speaker’s name.

Here’s an example of how NOT to do it:

“Our motto is ‘Communication is key’. So I’m very pleased to welcome John Brown for our special event today. John is one of the best speakers in the country and has been invited by several prestigious universities to share his ideas…(some more credentials)…So please join me in welcoming John Brown!”

The problem with this is that it gives out the applause factor in the second sentence of the introduction itself.

Instead, you should build up the speaker with her credentials and only reveal the name at the end of the speech (see ‘Introduction Speech Template’).

Again, look at Tom Bilyeu’s introduction. He never reveals the guest’s name until the end of the introduction. That’s what makes the applause so loud!

Lead the applause

As soon as you end your introduction, don’t simply wait for the audience to clap. Lead the applause!

In all likelihood, when done correctly, your audience will applaud as soon as you end your talk. But you should still assume the lead and begin the applause and let the audience follow just in case.

Receive the speaker with a handshake

When you introduce the speaker and call them out on the stage, don’t just walk off the stage .

Receive the speaker with a handshake. Usually, the audience will still be applauding when this happens.

We do this so as to properly acknowledge to the audience that our time on stage has come to an end and we will now be handing the spotlight over to the next speaker.

This is something that the international organization Toastmasters also harps on. Every time a speaker or role bearer gets on stage, she should shake the hand of the person from whom she is taking the stage from and shake the hand of the person when she is handing the stage over.

Like with most things in life, your introductory speech will be amazing if you put in the time to practice ! We wrote an article on simple but effective ways you should practice for a speech – even if it’s just an introduction speech! Check it out to get some ideas.

While our content and the speaker’s credentials might be amazing, it is our delivery and manner of speaking that will sell the audience on those credentials.

So research, practice, time yourself, video record yourself to see how you can improve.

While the spotlight is on the main speaker for that particular day, the stage is yours for those couple of minutes. And I believe any time you go on stage you should try and communicate with maximum impact regardless of the duration of the speech.

That’s when people notice you.

Here’s a checklist of things you must have in your introductory speech when it comes to content and delivery:

Introduce yourself

While you are here to introduce the main speaker, don’t forget to introduce yourself! If you’re in a familiar setting where you’re certain everyone (or at least 90%) of the audience already knows you, you can skip this part.

Otherwise, take a few seconds to point out what your role is in putting this event together and how you are related to the speaker (if in any way).

Pronunciation

There’s nothing worse than an introductory speaker who butchers the name of the speaker he is about to call on.

Take the time out to learn how exactly should you pronounce the speaker’s name especially if it’s an unconventional name.

Learn it, repeat it, master it.

Check if your speaker has any title such as Doctor, Sir, Captain, etc. and say the title along with the speaker’s name when you introduce her. It helps add more credibility to the speaker.

Qualifications

Your speaker would have certain qualifications that make her an expert in the field she is about to speak on. It doesn’t necessarily need to be only educational in nature.

Maybe she has written a book on the subject and gains her expertise from real-life experience as opposed to an academic degree.

Mention those qualifications.

Quick tip, don’t just list out the credentials in a mundane manner. Read the speech template below and see how the speaker crafts the introduction where the qualifications and credentials of the speaker are seamlessly woven together to craft a great introduction.

Subject of the talk

In your introduction of the speaker, don’t miss out on talking a little on the subject of the talk and why it is relevant to the audience.

Creative Ways to Introduce a Speaker

Instead of just stating out the speaker’s credentials and bio, make your introduction engaging by adding a short anecdote of the speaker.

Talk about a time you met the speaker or an interesting story you read about her in a publication.

You can even reach out to a close family member or friend of the speaker and ask them for a story that defines the speaker’s personality or establishes their expertise in the subject matter.

For some more information on how you can create a compelling narrative, we made a short but information-packed video on the topic of mystery, characterisation and takeaways which we HIGHLY recommend you check out, here:

Some speakers don’t necessarily have an honorific such as ‘Dr.’ or ‘Sir’, but that doesn’t mean that you cant give them a creative title of your own!

Tom Bilyeu does this often where he will add a title to the speaker right before saying the name. Here are some examples:

Please help me welcoming…the ‘ human guinea pig ’ himself, Tim Ferris .
Please help me welcoming…the ‘ master of motivation ’ herself, Mel Robbins .
Please help me welcoming…the ‘ man who has been called the ultimate entrepreneur for the information age ’, Seth Godin.

I remember this one time, we were at a conference where the speaker was a gold medal cyclist.

The introductory speaker entered the stage on a cycle himself! As he came to the mike, he said, “Boy that was fun! But if you think I was awesome, you will be completely blown away by our next speaker!”

The introductory speaker was obviously being sarcastic about himself being an ‘awesome cyclist’. But it was different, fun, made the audience giggle and set the stage for the speaker .

If the speaker you are about to introduce is an author, for instance, you can also start off your introduction by holding up the book and then move on to talk about the speaker’s credentials.

Think about what your speaker is famous for and see if you can include that profession as a prop in your introduction.

Instead of just talking in your introduction, maybe you can show a video that highlights what the speaker does and shows off their credibility.

I was introducing an entrepreneur of a HUGE advertising agency. Instead of talking about his credentials, I thought I’d just show it to the audience by playing a video of the agency’s culture , clients and some of the extraordinary work they have done.

It was a great visual way to showcase the speaker’s credibility and set the tone for the subject of the speech.

Introduction Speech Template

Here’s a template of how Tom Bilyeu introduces one of his guests :

“Hey everyone! Welcome to Impact Theory. You are here, my friends, because you believe that the human potential is nearly limitless but you know that having potential is not the same as doing something with it. So our goal with this show and company is to introduce you to the people and ideas that’ll help you actually execute on your dream. Alright. To paraphrase Steven Pressfield, today’s guest is one of the greatest thinkers of our generation. He’s a multiple-time best selling author who’s written a seemingly impossible six books in the last five years! His mediation on stoic philosophy ‘The Obstacle is the Way’ is not only a true perennial seller, it’s been translated into more than 20 languages and has a devoted following of some of the most driven and successful people on the planet including NFL coaches, world-class athletes, entrepreneurs, TV personalities and even political leaders. By my estimation, it is one of the 10 most important books you must read if you want to develop a mindset for success. And even if this were his only book I’d sit at his feet to learn, but every book he has written delivers a similar level of impact. This guy is without question my intellectual man-crush Monday! The Systematic and practical nature of his thinking is so powerful it’s nuts, especially considering that he dropped out of college at 19 so he could apprentice with the master author, Robert Greene, and by all accounts, my friends, he learned his lessons very well as he went on from there not only to become an amazing author in his own right, but in his early 20s became the Director of Marketing for the billion-dollar public company American Apparel helping it achieve its astronomical level of success, and in the process, becoming one of the most sought-after voices in the field of media strategy. His incredible marketing tactics detailed in the book ‘Trust Me, I’m Lying’ not only became a best-seller, it helped him launch his own media-consulting company, Brass Check, which has advised companies like Google, Taser and Complex as well as world-renowned authors such as Neil Strauss, Tim Ferris and Tony Robbins. So please, help me in welcoming the best selling author of ‘Ego is the Enemy’ and most recently, ‘Perennial Seller’, the modern-day, philosopher king – Ryan Holiday.

Let’s break that introduction down:

We can clearly see that Tom has done his research by pointing out almost every accomplishment Ryan Holiday is known for. This is what gets the audience excited about the speaker and looks forward to the ideas that will be shared in the subsequent talk or interview.

Keeping it short

The introduction is in the appropriate time-span of 2-3 minutes. Considering the amount of information that had to be said, the timing is bang on!

Saving the name for the end

By saving the name for the end, Tom reserves the maximum applause when he finally reveals who the person is.

Leading the applause

Tom did not lead the applause here maybe because it’s a studio audience who are sure to clap for the guest. Additionally, the way Tom introduces the guest is good enough to stimulate applause without him having to lead it.

Receiving the speaker with a handshake

Tom goes a small step further and bro-hugs the guest to showcase his bond with him.

Without any notes and his amazing delivery, it’s obvious Tom has taken the time out to not only research but also practice and rehearse the introduction.

Notice how Tom uses voice modulation to make the audience feel how important Ryan’s accomplishments really are. A handy thing to keep in mind for any speech. You can read this article we wrote to learn all about voice modulation and tonality for effective speaking.

As I stated earlier with multiple examples, Tom adds in a nickname to the speaker here as well – ‘ the modern-day, philosopher king ’ – right before saying the name. It just adds so much weight to the introduction!

There’s a lot we can learn from this introduction whether it be a speaker you are introducing or an interview guest which is why I thought I’d break it down.

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Final Words…

I believe that a strong introduction should also be treated as a speech. It’s tempting to do a basic Google Search and little “rehearsal” right before going on stage.

But it’s only when you take the time out to research, rehearse and deliver with the intention to excite the audience about the speaker you are introducing, is when you will do justice to the introduction and set the stage for the speaker to create maximum impact!

You should also consider upskilling your public speaking at an overall level. If you’re serious about it, check out this online course called Acumen Presents: Chris Anderson on Public Speaking (hosted on Udemy). It’s helped me gain a lot of insight into delivering speeches (even if they are just introductory speeches) that people will remember. Being the founder of TED, Chris Anderson provides numerous examples of the best TED speakers to give us a very practical way of overcoming stage fear and delivering a speech that people will remember.

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How to Start a Speech: 7 Tips and Examples for a Captivating Opening

By Status.net Editorial Team on December 12, 2023 — 10 minutes to read

1. Choosing the Right Opening Line

Finding the perfect opening line for your speech is important in grabbing your audience’s attention. A strong opening line sets the stage for the points you want to make and helps you establish a connection with your listeners.

1. Start with a question

Engage your audience from the very beginning by asking them a thought-provoking question related to your topic. This approach encourages them to think, and it can create a sense of anticipation about what’s coming next.

“Have you ever wondered how much time we spend on our phones every day?”

2. Share a personal story

A relatable personal story can create an emotional connection with your audience. Make sure your story is short, relevant to your speech, and ends with a clear point.

“When I was a child, my grandmother used to tell me that every kind deed we do plants a seed of goodness in the world. It was this philosophy that inspired me to start volunteering.”

3. Use a quote or a statistic

Incorporate a powerful quote or an intriguing statistic at the outset of your speech to engage your audience and provide context for your topic.

“As the great Maya Angelou once said, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'”

4. Make them laugh

Injecting a little humor into your opening line puts everyone at ease and makes your speech more memorable. Just make sure your joke is relevant and doesn’t offend your audience.

“They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but if the doctor is cute, forget the fruit!”

5. Paint a mental picture

Draw your audience in by describing a vivid scene or painting an illustration in their minds. This creates an immersive experience that makes it easier for your audience to follow your speech.

“Picture this: you’re walking down the beach, and you look out on the horizon. The sun is setting, and the sky is a breathtaking canvas of reds, oranges, and pinks.”

2. Using a Personal Story

Sharing a personal story can be a highly effective way to engage your audience from the very beginning of your speech. When you open your talk with a powerful, relatable story, it helps create an emotional connection with your listeners, making them more invested in what you have to say.

Think about an experience from your life that is relevant to the topic of your speech. Your story doesn’t have to be grand or dramatic, but it should be clear and vivid. Include enough detail to paint a picture in your audience’s minds, but keep it concise and on point.

The key to successfully using a personal story is to make it relatable. Choose a situation that your audience can empathize with or easily understand. For example, if you’re giving a speech about overcoming adversity, you could talk about a time where you faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge and overcame it.

Make sure to connect your story to the main point or theme of your speech. After sharing your experience, explain how it relates to the topic at hand, and let your audience see the relevance to their own lives. This will make your speech more impactful and show your listeners why your personal story holds meaning.

3. Making a Shocking Statement

Starting your speech with a shocking statement can instantly grab your audience’s attention. This technique works especially well when your speech topic relates to a hot-button issue or a controversial subject. Just make sure that the statement is relevant and true, as false claims may damage your credibility.

For example, “Believe it or not, 90% of startups fail during their first five years in the market.” This statement might surprise your listeners and make them more receptive to your ideas on how to avoid pitfalls and foster a successful business.

So next time you’re crafting a speech, consider opening with a powerful shocking statement. It could be just the thing to get your audience sitting up and paying full attention. (Try to keep your shocking statement relevant to your speech topic and factual to enhance your credibility.)

4. Using Humor

Humor can be an excellent way to break the ice and grab your audience’s attention. Opening your speech with a funny story or a joke can make a memorable first impression. Just be sure to keep it relevant to your topic and audience.

A good joke can set a light-hearted tone, lead into the importance of effective time management, and get your audience engaged from the start.

When using humor in your speech, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Be relatable: Choose a story or joke that your audience can easily relate to. It will be more engaging and connect your listeners to your message.
Keep it appropriate: Make sure the humor fits the occasion and audience. Stay away from controversial topics and avoid offending any particular group.
Practice your delivery: Timing and delivery are essential when telling a joke. Practice saying it out loud and adjust your pacing and tone of voice to ensure your audience gets the joke.
Go with the flow: If your joke flops or doesn’t get the reaction you were hoping for, don’t panic or apologize. Simply move on to the next part of your speech smoothly, and don’t let it shake your confidence.
Don’t overdo it: While humor can be useful in capturing your audience’s attention, remember that you’re not a stand-up comedian. Use it sparingly and focus on getting your message across clearly and effectively.

5. Incorporating a Quote

When you want to start your speech with a powerful quote, ensure that the quote is relevant to your topic. Choose a quote from a credible source, such as a famous historical figure, a well-known author, or a respected expert in your field. This will not only grab your audience’s attention but also establish your speech’s credibility.

For example, if you’re giving a speech about resilience, you might use this quote by Nelson Mandela: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

Once you’ve found the perfect quote, integrate it smoothly into your speech’s introduction. You can briefly introduce the source of the quote, providing context for why their words are significant. For example:

Nelson Mandela, an inspirational leader known for his perseverance, once said: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

When you’re incorporating a quote in your speech, practice your delivery to ensure it has the intended impact. Focus on your tone, pace, and pronunciation. By doing so, you can convey the quote’s meaning effectively and connect with your audience emotionally.

Connect the quote to your main points by briefly explaining how it relates to the subject matter of your speech. By creating a natural transition from the quote to your topic, you can maintain your audience’s interest and set the stage for a compelling speech.

In our resilience example, this could look like:

“This quote by Mandela beautifully illustrates the power of resilience. Today, I want to share with you some stories of remarkable individuals who, like Mandela, overcame obstacles and rose every time they fell. Through their experiences, we might learn how to cultivate our own resilience and make the most of life’s challenges.”

6. Starting with a Question

Opening your speech with a question can be a great way to engage your audience from the start. This strategy encourages your listeners to think and become active participants in your presentation. Your opening question should be related to your core message, sparking their curiosity, and setting the stage for the following content. Here are a few examples:

For a motivational speech : “Have you ever wondered what you would do if you couldn’t fail?”
For a business presentation : “What’s the biggest challenge your team faces daily, and how can we overcome it?”
For an educational talk : “How does the way we use technology today impact the future of our society?”

When choosing the right starting question, consider your audience. You want to ask something that is relevant to their experiences and interests. The question should be interesting enough to draw their attention and resonate with their emotions. For instance, if you’re presenting to a group of entrepreneurs, gear your question towards entrepreneurship, and so on.

To boost your question’s impact, consider using rhetorical questions. These don’t require a verbal response, but get your audience thinking about their experiences or opinions. Here’s an example:

For an environmental speech : “What kind of world do we want to leave for our children?”

After posing your question, take a moment to let it sink in, and gauge the audience’s reaction. You can also use a brief pause to give the listeners time to think about their answers before moving on with your speech.

7. Acknowledging the Occasion

When starting a speech, you can acknowledge the occasion that brought everyone together. This helps create a connection with your audience and sets the stage for the rest of your speech. Make sure to mention the event name, its purpose, and any relevant individuals or groups you would like to thank for organizing it. For example:

“Hello everyone, and welcome to the 10th annual Charity Gala Dinner. I’m truly grateful to the fundraising committee for inviting me to speak tonight.”

After addressing the event itself, include a brief personal touch to show your connection with the topic or the audience. This helps the audience relate to you and gain interest in what you have to say. Here’s an example:

“As a long-time supporter of this cause, I am honored to share my thoughts on how we can continue making a difference in our community.”

Next, give a brief overview of your speech so the audience knows what to expect. This sets the context and helps them follow your points. You could say something like:

“Tonight, I’ll be sharing my experiences volunteering at the local food bank and discussing the impact of your generous donations.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some effective opening lines for speeches.

A powerful opening line will grab your audience’s attention and set the stage for the rest of your speech. Some effective opening lines include:

Start with a bold statement: “The world needs your creativity now more than ever.”
Share a surprising fact: “Did you know that the average person spends (…) years of their life at work?”
Pose a thought-provoking question: “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”
Tell a short, engaging story: “When I was 10 years old, I discovered my passion for baking in my grandmother’s kitchen.”

Can you provide examples of engaging introductions for speeches?

Use humor: “As a kid, I believed that 7 pm bedtime was a form of torture. Now, as an adult, I find myself dreaming of 7 pm bedtime.”
Share a personal experience: “On a trip to Italy, I found myself lost in the winding streets of a small village. It was there, amidst my confusion, that I stumbled upon the best gelato I’d ever tasted.”
Use an analogy: “Starting a new business is like taking a journey into the unknown. There will be challenges to overcome, and you’ll need resilience, determination, and a strong compass.”

Which speech styles can make a powerful impact on the audience?

Different speech styles will resonate with different audiences. Some styles to consider include:

Inspirational: Motivate your audience to take action or overcome challenges.
Storytelling: Share personal experiences or anecdotes to illustrate your points and keep listeners engaged.
Educational: Provide useful information and insights to help your audience learn or grow.
Persuasive: Present a compelling argument to convince your audience to adopt a particular perspective or take specific action.

How do successful speakers establish a connection with their listeners?

Establishing a connection with your listeners is key to delivering an impactful speech. Some ways to connect with your audience include:

Show empathy: Demonstrating understanding and concern for your audience’s feelings and experiences will generate a sense of trust and connection.
Be relatable: Share personal stories or examples that allow your audience to see themselves in your experiences, thus making your speech more relatable.
Keep it genuine: Avoid overrehearsing or coming across as scripted. Instead, strive for authenticity and flexibility in your delivery.
Encourage participation: Engaging your audience through questions, activities, or conversation can help build rapport and make them feel more involved.

What are some techniques for maintaining a friendly and professional tone in speeches?

To maintain a friendly and professional tone in your speeches, consider these tips:

Balance humor and seriousness: Use humor to lighten the mood and engage your audience, but make sure to also cover the serious points in your speech.
Speak naturally: Use your everyday vocabulary and avoid jargon or overly formal language when possible.
Show respect: Acknowledge differing opinions and experiences, and treat your audience with courtesy and fairness.
Provide useful information: Offer valuable insights and solutions to your audience’s concerns, ensuring they leave your speech feeling more informed and empowered.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Leadership [Examples, Tips]
Effective Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace (Examples)
Empathy: Definition, Types, and Tips for Effective Practice
How to Improve Key Communication Skills
Examples of Empathy (and 38 Empathy Statements)
What is Self Compassion? (Exercises, Methods, Examples)

How To Write A Good Speech About Another Person

Table of contents

1 Tips On Writing A Persuasive Speech About Famous Person
2 How To Write A Speech About Someone You Know?
3 What Will Make Your Speech About A Person Excellent?

Students are often asked to write a speech about other people. You can be assigned to talk about your friend, relative, teacher, or famous person. To do it well, you should concentrate on what you can tell about this person to others and what you can write about him or her. It is necessary to understand how to write a speech about someone if you have such a task and should do it quickly. It is not very difficult, but it requires some research on the subject of your essay and analysis of information.

Be careful with what you write on paper. If those whom you describe are close to you and you surely met them personally, try not to expose their secrets or any information they don’t want to be shared with others. You should also do in-depth research to create a good study of a famous writer, actress, etc. If you already have specific facts, it doesn’t mean that they are true. That’s why all information should be checked.

Tips On Writing A Persuasive Speech About Famous Person

Here are a few tips for those who are creating such a presentation. These tips could be useful if you have to develop a short or funny speech about someone you don't know or if you don’t understand how to work with such a type of assignment.

Start when you feel like it. This is a simple tip, but a huge one. How to start a speech about someone? Just start as you are talking to something. All speeches are designed to be spoken. They are not something you will read while in your bed! As you are moving forward, add the main points and just continue. You can always edit and make the content better afterwards.

Use short words and very short sentences. In order to write an informative speech, your writing process will have to change. You need to make sure the main points are there you need to write as you talk. This means short words and also short sentences. The main point here is to make the whole paper sound easier and more appealing when you read it out loud. Now, write a speech and try using this tip. Then, complete another with long words and longer sentences. Read out loud, both. You will see the difference, and you can imagine the effect on the audience's attention. Yes, you still need to write a speech outline.

Even if you are a friend of the person you describe, if he or she inspires you, it would be recommended to do some additional research on his or her biography, find more facts, and use them. Many facts about interviewed famous people are not true, that is why you need to analyze them wisely.

Check everything you read, and be sure you use only verified information. Get facts from credible media and make references to them in your paper. If it is needed, it is recommended to use many forms of media, and you will get information from different sides.

Define the goals of your graduation or other speech. You may want just to talk about a person, concentrate on their childhood, highlight their most notable achievements, or show how clever or friendly this person is.

When you work on a speech for someone, you should always try to relate and make a personal story told. In most cases, when you work on a speech for someone, this is not an option. But if it is, make sure to include it.

Always make a catchy introduction to your speech. Try to grab the attention of your audience in the first few seconds. An informative speech will sound much better instantly. It is one of the main points we all need to know about.

Don’t be prejudiced. If you admire the subject of your paper and want to speak from the heart, you shouldn’t repeat too many good words or invent good facts. If you dislike them, you should explain what the reasons for disliking the person are.

Writing a speech about another person can be a daunting task, especially if you don't know them very well. However, with careful research and creativity, you can craft an informative and inspiring speech that will bring your subject to life. To get started, write your personal essay in a relevant way by including new information about the person you are talking about. Research their life, accomplishments, and experiences to provide context for your audience and create a meaningful connection between the subject of your speech and the listeners.

How To Write A Speech About Someone You Know?

Writing about people you already know is both a simple and difficult task, simply because you are familiar with these people and can tell many stories. It is also difficult because you should pick only a few stories that describe them correctly. Here you can find a few tips on writing a speech about someone you admire, about your friends, relatives, classmates, and other people you know and want to tell your readers about them.

Concentrate on the objectives of your essay. You can describe people from different sides, and you should define any points of view before working on the paper. People can be described as good relatives, kind and reliable friends, or professionals in their jobs.
Provide all information that isn’t available to your readers. If you connect with people well, you may not notice that others don’t know your subject as well or even didn’t know about the subject before your speech.
Even if you work on a speech for someone, you will need to try and include a personal anecdote. This does make a lot of difference and can help you. Now you can write a speech that sounds much better and more interesting.
Don’t expose any information about the subject of your speech that shouldn’t be shared. In the story of every person, there are many private moments, and you should think wisely about what moments should be described.
He is the hero. When you try to introduce someone in this form, readers will want to know all about him. As such, you can try to make him a hero of the story. If you’re writing about a close friend, he or she will be grateful in the end.

If all these things don’t help, you can order speech writing services from an academic essay writing service . They work well with such tasks and write them fast. Writers of these services are experienced in working on different types of papers.

What Will Make Your Speech About A Person Excellent?

If you wonder how to write a good speech, you should read it several times before you show it to others. This is mandatory for all types of writing, and there are no other means you can use to get the same effect. Also, be especially focused on small elements of the life of that person and definitely include appealing and interesting ones that your audience wants to know. But you are probably going to write this in the form of an essay for a professor, and he already knows those things. As such, you need to add possible things about the person and make an accent that they are controversial, but the audience still needs to know about them.

If you have to tell your speech to a big audience, you should try it in an empty room or with friends before. You can also use multimedia devices to screen your speech and watch it later and find mistakes.

Notice that there are different methods of writing a speech about famous people. That is why you should check your requirements before starting your writing and define your goals, then, you can start creating your draft.

When writing a speech of this kind, always try to put yourself in your audience's shoes. What do they want to hear? Why they are even reading this? What do they want to know specifically? if you answer these questions in a proper manner, you will have excellent content and your reader or readers will be impressed. You can even use a speech writing service because it can help you with any type of task and hire the best quick writers experienced in this field.

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How to Write a Speech about Someone

December 27, 2023

Conducting interviews with the person and their colleagues

Conducting interviews with the person and their colleagues is an essential step when writing a speech about someone. These interviews provide valuable firsthand insights and personal anecdotes that can bring the speech to life. Start by scheduling a one-on-one interview with the person you are writing about, allowing them to share their thoughts, experiences, and achievements. Additionally, reach out to their colleagues, friends, and family members who can offer a different perspective and additional information. Prepare thoughtful and open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses. Take thorough notes during the interviews and pay attention to key moments, emotions, and noteworthy stories. These interviews will not only provide you with valuable content for the speech but will also help you capture the essence and personality of the person you are writing about.

Researching online and offline sources

Researching online and offline sources is crucial when writing a speech about someone. It allows you to gather a comprehensive understanding of the person’s background, accomplishments, and impact. Begin by exploring reputable online sources such as news articles, biographies, interviews, and profiles. These sources can provide a wealth of information, including professional achievements, personal milestones, and notable events. Additionally, delve into offline sources such as books, magazines, journals, and archives that may offer unique insights and lesser-known details. Pay attention to relevant speeches or presentations the person has given in the past, as this can provide valuable inspiration and guidance for your own speech. By conducting thorough research, you can ensure that your speech is well-informed, accurate, and compelling, showcasing the person’s achievements and capturing their essence effectively.

Outlining the speech and organizing the information

Outlining the speech and organizing the information is a critical step when writing a speech about someone. It helps ensure that your speech is coherent, well-structured, and easy to follow for your audience. Here are some steps to help you outline and organize the information effectively:

Identify the main themes and key points: Start by identifying the overarching themes and main points you want to convey in your speech. These could be the person’s achievements, personal qualities, or significant milestones.
Create a logical flow: Arrange the main points in a logical order that makes sense to your audience. Consider using a chronological order, a problem-solution approach, or a thematic structure to organize your speech.
Use sub-points or supporting details: Break down each main point into sub-points or supporting details that provide more depth and context. These can include specific examples, stories, statistics, or quotes that support your main points.
Prioritize information: Determine the most important information you want to include in your speech and ensure it receives the appropriate focus. Trim down any excess or less relevant details to keep your speech concise and impactful.
Consider transitions: Plan smooth transitions between different sections of your speech to maintain a cohesive flow. Transitions help your audience follow along easily and understand the logical progression of your ideas.
Review and revise: Once you have outlined your speech, review and revise it for clarity, coherence, and effectiveness. Ensure that each point aligns with your overall purpose and message.

By following these steps, you can create a well-organized speech that effectively communicates your message and honors the person you are speaking about.

Identifying the Theme and Purpose of the Speech

When writing a speech about someone, it is essential to establish a clear theme and purpose to ensure a coherent and impactful delivery. The theme of the speech should revolve around the key attributes, accomplishments, or impact of the person you are speaking about. It might focus on their leadership qualities, innovative contributions, or personal journey.

The purpose of the speech could vary depending on the context. It could aim to celebrate their achievements, inspire and motivate the audience, or pay tribute to their legacy. Understanding the theme and purpose helps structure the speech, allowing you to gather relevant anecdotes, quotes, or examples that support your message.

To identify the theme and purpose, consider the overall message you want to convey and the desired impact on the audience. Research the person extensively to gather sufficient material, and then structure your speech around a central theme that aligns with the purpose. Remember, clarity in theme and purpose creates a memorable and meaningful speech about someone.

Using Rhetorical Devices to Enhance the Message

In order to write a compelling speech about someone, incorporating rhetorical devices can elevate the impact of your message. Rhetorical devices are techniques and language patterns that engage and persuade the audience, making your speech more memorable and persuasive.

One commonly used device is the use of repetition, where key words or phrases are repeated for emphasis and to reinforce the message. This helps to create a rhythmic flow and enhance the overall impact.

Another powerful device is the use of metaphors and analogies, as they provide vivid imagery and facilitate a deeper understanding of the person you are speaking about. They can help paint a picture in the minds of the audience, making your speech more relatable and engaging.

Furthermore, employing rhetorical questions can evoke curiosity and prompt the audience to reflect on the subject, while alliteration and parallelism add a poetic touch and enhance the overall delivery.

By integrating these and other rhetorical devices strategically throughout your speech, you can captivate the audience, amplify your message, and bring your speech about someone to life.

Choosing the Right Language and Tone

When writing a speech about someone, selecting the right language and tone is crucial in effectively conveying your message and connecting with the audience. The language used should be clear, concise, and appropriate for the occasion and the audience’s level of understanding.

Consider the tone you want to set – whether it is formal, informal, celebratory, or reflective – and tailor your language accordingly. Utilize words and phrases that resonate with the subject’s personality, achievements, or values, ensuring they are accurately represented.

Additionally, be mindful of the emotional impact you want to create. By using descriptive and evocative language, you can engage the audience’s senses and create a deeper connection to the person you are speaking about.

It’s also important to strike a balance between facts and emotions. While presenting relevant information, infuse the speech with anecdotes, stories, and personal experiences that highlight the human side of the individual, fostering empathy and relatability.

Ultimately, choosing the right language and tone plays a crucial role in crafting a speech that not only informs but also inspires, capturing the essence of the person you are speaking about and leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

Creating a Compelling Opening and Closing

The opening and closing of a speech are critical moments that have the power to capture the audience’s attention and leave a lasting impression. To make these moments compelling and impactful, consider the following strategies:

Start with a bold statement or a thought-provoking question that immediately grabs the audience’s attention.
Use an engaging anecdote or story that relates to the person you are speaking about. This can create an emotional connection and draw the audience into the speech.
Incorporate a powerful quote or a relevant statistic that highlights the significance or impact of the individual.
Invoke the audience’s curiosity by presenting a surprising or intriguing fact related to the person.
Include a personal reflection or experience that showcases your own connection to the individual. This can help establish credibility and demonstrate the personal significance of the speech.

In the closing, aim to leave a lasting impression by:

Summarizing the key points of the speech in a concise and compelling manner.
Reiterating the significance and impact of the person’s achievements or influence.
Ending with a strong call to action, inspiring the audience to act or reflect upon the person’s legacy.
Utilizing a memorable metaphor or analogy that reinforces the central theme or message of the speech.
Expressing gratitude or offering a heartfelt tribute to the person, leaving the audience with a sense of admiration and appreciation.

By utilizing these strategies, you can create a captivating opening and closing that effectively frame the speech and resonate with the audience.

Tips for Making a Lasting Impression

When crafting a speech about someone, it’s crucial to ensure that your words leave a lasting impression on the audience. Here are some tips to help you achieve that:

Research extensively: Take the time to thoroughly research and gather as much information as possible about the person you are speaking about. This will enable you to create a comprehensive and impactful speech.
Establish a connection: Find a personal connection between yourself and the individual, whether it’s through shared experiences, values, or goals. This will make your speech more relatable and genuine.
Tell memorable stories: Incorporate anecdotes and stories that illustrate the person’s character, achievements, or impact. Narrative elements create emotional engagement and enhance the audience’s understanding of the subject.
Use vivid language: Employ strong and descriptive language that paints a vivid picture in the minds of the listeners. This will make your speech more engaging and memorable.
Engage the senses: Appeal to the audience’s senses by using sensory language, such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. This will create a more immersive experience and make your speech stand out.
Utilize visual aids: Include compelling visual aids, such as images or videos, to supplement your speech. Visuals have a powerful impact and can enhance the audience’s understanding and emotional connection.
Practice delivery: Rehearse your speech to ensure smooth and confident delivery. Practice your pacing, body language, and intonation to effectively convey your message and captivate the audience.

By following these tips, you can write a speech that leaves a lasting impression, resonates with your audience, and does justice to the person you are speaking about.

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How to Write a Speech for Someone Else

Last Updated: July 14, 2020 References

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. This article has been viewed 84,339 times.

Writing a speech for someone else can be a stimulating task to take on. It can also be challenging to write a speech for another person with a different voice than your own. As a ghostwriter, you write secretly, with little-to-no acknowledgment of your work. Whether you ghostwrite for a professional career or choose to help a friend with a wedding toast, learning how to write a speech for someone else can be a satisfying experience. To write a speech for someone else, learn about ghostwriting, prepare to write the speech, and finally, write the speech.

Getting Ready to Write

Step 1 Get to know the person for whom you are writing.

Note words and phrases that are repeated as they speak.

Step 4 Determine how much work you will be responsible for.

Make sure the speaker is aware of how much work they are responsible for.

Big ideas and main points provide the basic structure of the speech. Understand exactly what the speaker wants to communicate so you can make these points clear.

Writing the Speech

For example, if it is a commencement speech, ask the speaker about their experience in school and getting out into the “real” world for the first time.
Make sure the stories connect well with the subject and main point of the speech.

Get the audience's attention quickly. This can be done by stating a surprising fact or starting out with a humorous or interesting story.
Keep the speech organized. Use transitions and guiding words like "first," "second," and "finally."
Use rhetorical devices, like examples, alliteration, imagery, and questions. Balance facts with examples.
Reflect the person's speaking style. Never fall into your voice during the writing process. Mimic their language, phrasing, and emphasis.

Step 5 Maintain a strong focus on the big ideas.

Limit the amount of information you include. The audience will only remember so much information.

Step 7 Ask the speaker to approve the speech.

Understanding the Challenges of Ghostwriting

You can learn more about ghostwriting by looking up books on ghostwriting in your local library, researching articles about ghostwriting online, and by looking for famous examples of ghostwriting.
A few examples of famously ghostwritten speeches are John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech, Reagan's “Boys of Pointe du Hoc” speech, and drafts of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech “I Have a Dream.”

Step 2 Decide what is and is not ethical for you.

Knowing where you stand on the ethics of speech writing will make it easier to accept or decline requests for your writing services. [12] X Research source
Ghostwriting in the academic arena is often viewed as plagiarism. Others feel that it is okay under certain circumstances, like when politicians, business leaders, or celebrities must present multiple speeches a day, on top of their other responsibilities.

Step 3 Form a partnership with the client.

Writing a speech for someone you find difficult to get along with is most likely not a good idea. You can write a speech for a person that has different ideas than you, as long as you find it possible to keep your ideas to yourself.

The ghostwriter must learn to adopt a range of voices outside of their own.

Sample Speeches

Expert Q&A

Take notes when you are observing the way the person speaks and acts. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Work with the other person throughout the writing process. It will be easier to rewrite sections that need to be changed rather than the entire, completed speech being rejected. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Make sure not to plagiarize from parts of other speeches. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Feelings can get hurt and disagreements can arise during the writing process. Neither party should take the challenging of ideas or decisions personally. Remember, you are writing a speech for someone else to take credit for. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

↑ http://andrewcrofts.com/what-is-ghostwriting/
↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
↑ https://priceonomics.com/the-ghostwriting-business/
↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/#726922c869ca
↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2014/03/13/is-ghostwriting-ethical/#d3a60c633a0d

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How to Write a Speech About Someone Else: Creative Ways

When asked to write a speech about someone else, a student reasonably starts posing questions for themselves. Among multiple things they might wish to discover, there will be the following questions:

How to write a worthy introduction for a speech?
Which approach will suit for crafting an address about someone you (don’t) know?
And, probably, the most important one: how to write a good speech ?

In contrast to speech about oneself , an assignment may touch different people. A professor might ask you to craft a presentation of your family member, favorite tutor, classmate, celebrity, or a person you could call your idol, for example. To craft a worthy presentation, it would be cool if you focus on things you know about that personality for sure and then turn on your creativity.

Here is a thing to understand first: writing a speech about someone is not too challenging. However, you should take care of your timing: check if you have enough time to conduct thorough research touching the subject of that assignment and to analyze the data gathered in that way before starting to write.

Treat facts and descriptions you are going to use in a speech about a person carefully. In case you describe someone you know in person, and you two know each other closely enough, there is a tip to keep up with at all costs: never reveal a person’s secrets or private details they wouldn’t be happy to tell anyone else on their own. That’s more than just a good tone which you should maintain anyway. It’s about mutual trust, and your friendship is at stake here, too.

On the other hand, if a speech by one person you are asked to craft is about someone known to the public (like J. R. R. Tolkien, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michelle Obama, or Cristiano Ronaldo, for example), you should focus on some other point. It is research.

When writing an introductory speech about someone else or any other presentation about people, trustworthiness, and relevance of information are always critical. Your current knowledge (either about a celebrity or a friend) at any random moment is not a guarantee that the fact is real. So, make sure you checked everything thrice before including it in your address’s content.

Writing a Speech About Someone Well-Known: Creative Hints

How to start a speech about someone else? Or, what’s more important, how to write about someone well? Your creativity is the key here, and in fact, you are not limited in the possible tools. For example, creative ways to introduce someone in a speech may include:

Reflecting on your first memories or special occasions with them
Praising their qualities that impress you the most
Paying respects to their achievements
Telling the audience about the influence that person had on you or other people, etc.

No speech on people should be limited to one of these four tips. Feel free to go in for heavy brainstorming and generate great ideas on talk introductions. Coming up with creative, non-typical ideas about how to introduce someone in a speech or to describe their achievements is not only a cool exercise for your mind but also a perfect way to make the presentation much more interesting to listen to.

Universal Tips on Admiration Speech or Any Presentation about a Person

It would be nice to come up with a list of structured recommendations to develop the topic. These are universal to create a nice introducing a person speech that can be either funny or serious, long or short. The list of recommendations below includes both the “pre-production” and “production” stage. Here are the tips:

A thorough research session is obligatory in case you craft a presentation about a human you are not familiar with. Gather all the facts you can find. That’ll let you discover their personality and biography, which are crucial to know if you want to find nice things to say about someone in a speech about them.
In case the subject of your description is someone you think you know well (a friend or an idol), it’s not an option to start writing about them instantly. Most probably, you are not aware of some interesting facts of their biography. So, some extra research might cut it here quite well. You may also want to check examples of speeches about someone known available online.
Double-check every source of info you find. Again, it is crucial to include only confirmed facts. In case your subject is a celebrity, use all the media in your reach: read articles, check news podcasts, YouTube videos by trusted and official channels, see Facebook and Instagram profiles, etc.
Know the focus goals of a presentation. Do you need only to mention a person’s achievements? Talk about their childhood? Show their personality? Or simply introduce them shortly before their own, longer lecture (see introducing a classmate speech examples)?
Make sure your intro here contains a hook , just like that in any essay you write . You don’t have any other chance to get the listeners involved in your words.
Prejudice doesn’t suit here. In case you like a person, don’t try to make them look better than they really are by adding unnecessary details or thinking up fake facts. If you don’t like them for some reason, that reason should be explained.

How to Start a Speech About a Person You Know and Craft It Well

Starting a speech about a person known to you may seem to be easy first. Like, you know your subject, so there is more than enough information at your disposal. Crafting that paper must be a piece of cake.

And then it comes to writing. And the task becomes difficult. It is impossible to fit all the facts and stories you know about a person in a short address. So, you need to choose. Here are key recommendations:

Don’t forget the goals of a presentation. Is it a descriptive speech ? An introductory one? Should you describe your family member or a friend as a person, or is it better to concentrate on their professional qualities and skills? Everything matters, as there are different ways to describe the same person.
Come up with the info unknown to the audience. Your mutual connection with the subject of your presentation may mean there is something valuable about them worth mentioning and known to you while the others remain unaware of that fact.
This point is worth noting once again: make sure you don’t reveal anything that the subject of your address would like to keep private. Choose moments to describe with wisdom and care.

Introductory Speech about Someone Else: How to Make it Perfect?

English with Kim

Introducing Yourself to New People and Making Small Talk

There are lots of possible situations where you’ll meet new people: at a party, in the student lounge, at a conference, on the train, while traveling, just to name a few.

What do you usually say when you meet someone new ?

How do you introduce yourself ?

Do you find it difficult to continue the conversation with them after exchanging names?

Even though the language we use to make small talk with new people may appear to be very simple, it is often difficult to use without practice.

(In addition, some questions which are normal in your native language are actually considered rude in the United States!)

Let me guide you. In this article, I’m going to give you some tips on how to find out information you’re interested in from someone new.

Introducing Yourself to New People

If I’m honest, introducing yourself can be the most challenging part of a conversation. Even native speakers feel a little shy when approaching someone new.

That’s why you usually practice the easiest way to introduce yourself in beginning English classes:

Hi! I’m _____________. What’s your name?

However, there are many other ways to introduce yourself. These expressions sound a little more natural.

Make sure you pay attention to your intonation so that you sound friendly.

Hi there! My name’s _________. What’s yours?
I don’t think we’ve met. I’m ___________.
I don’t believe we’ve met before. My name is __________.
Have we met? I’m ____________.
I think I’ve seen you around, but we haven’t officially met. I’m _________.

Introducing People to Each Other

At any social event, you are probably going to introduce other people to each other and talk with more than one person at a time , which makes conversation much more interesting.

Here are some good ways to introduce two people who haven’t met:

I’d like you to meet ____________.
This is ______________.
I’d like to introduce you to _______________.
Have you met ____________? (This phrase was made famous by Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother !)

Small Talk Topics

When meeting someone new, we usually stick to very basic conversation topics until we get to know the person better.

While you may want to learn a lot about an interesting person, you need to be careful not to ask too many personal questions the first time you meet .

Americans are well-known for almost always asking these three questions:

What do you do for work?
Where did you go to school? (This question means, what college or university did you attend?)
What brings you to __(this event/this party)__?

In general, people will ask you about work or school as soon as they meet you.

They may ask “What brings you here?” to find out more about you without being too direct.

This question encourages you to talk more about yourself and give reasons for attending the event.

Similarly, if you live in a city like Boston with a lot of neighborhoods and nearby cities, another neutral topic is asking for more details about where you live.

Do you live in __(this city/this neighborhood)__?
What brings you to __(this city/this area)__?
Where do you live?
Where are you living?
What kind of place do you live in? (Is it an apartment, a house, a dormitory, etc.?)
What’s your place like?
How do you like living here/there?

If you are just visiting or are not from the United States, people will usually ask you more questions about your background and for your opinion about their city.

Where are you from originally?
Where are you from in __(your country)__?
What are you doing in __(this city)__?
How do you like living here?
What do you think about __(this city)__?
Do you like it here?

Asking about Romantic Partners and Family

Let’s be honest: if you are single and talking to someone attractive, you probably want to know whether they have a boyfriend/girlfriend or romantic partner, are married, or have kids.

However, it’s best not to be too direct when asking questions about the other person’s relationships. You can ask in a more indirect way :

Are you here with anyone?
Did you come here with anyone?
Did you move to __(this city)__ on your own?
Do you live alone or have roommates?

If you have been talking to this new person for a while, you can ask more direct questions :

Is there anyone special in your life?
Do you have any kids?

Americans also really like their pets, so it’s common to ask, “Do you have any pets?”

Conversation Topics

After learning basic information about the person you have just met, you can continue the conversation by asking him/her more general questions.

This also enables you to find something in common! Here are some basic questions to start with:

What do you like to do?
What do you like to do outside of work/school?
What kinds of things interest you?
What kinds of things do you do in your free time?
Do you like/watch/follow any sports/TV series?

Deciding to Continue or End the Conversation

As you can see, making small talk with someone you’ve just met is easy if you remember to stick to neutral, general conversation topics .

After you’ve talked for a while, you may want to continue the conversation and can ask for more details about their work, studies, or interests. ( Get some suggestions here .)

If you don’t want to continue talking, you should end the conversation politely :

It was nice meeting you. See you later!
There is someone I want to say “hi” to over there. Nice talking with you!
I’m going to get a drink/some water. Nice to meet you!

After reading this article, I hope you feel more confident and comfortable introducing yourself to and making small talk with new people.

You may be interested in how to make small talk with acquaintances and friends you run into unexpectedly.

Or perhaps you’d like to find out how to make small talk in the workplace .

Now it’s your turn! Please leave a comment below introducing yourself and asking me one of the questions we discussed above! I’ll respond and we’ll get the conversation going.

Remember, the language is simple, but you must practice !

In order to improve your conversation skills, you must find opportunities to interact, so go to a party or event, introduce yourself to someone new at your school, or talk to someone at a bus stop.

The more you practice, the easier it becomes!

61 thoughts on “Introducing Yourself to New People and Making Small Talk”

It’s is basic of conversation. Thanks

You’re right – small talk is a good foundation skill to have!

Thank you so much it’s really helpful.

Happy to hear this helped you!

Hi Kim I am trying to do my homwork and the Subject is to write a letter to our year 5 teacher and I am in year 4 in Junior school and I am doing just great so thanks

Glad it was helpful for you!

This has been very helpful. Thank you.

Thanks alot this is very helpful

I have gained new ground with this on my conversion level

There’s this guy that i really like, and i dont know how to start a conversation with him. I’m in 10th grade and he is in 11th grade. I dont want to scare him when i talk to him, but i dont know how to introduce myself please help me

Hi Roman! Social interactions in high school can be quite challenging, but I always encourage people to be friendly and start simply with “hello.” Finding a shared interest is always an easy way to start a conversation, as is mentioning that you’ve seen the person before. Try a phrase like, “I’m not sure we’ve met. I’m Roman” and see where the conversation goes!

My problem is like that ma i can’t introduceing my self among people i need you assistance what i will say at the first moment when i introduceing myself

The simplest way to introduce yourself is to say “Hi, I’m ____.” You can find other ways to introduce yourself at the beginning of the article. What you say next depends on the context. If you’re at a conference, meeting, or networking event, you might share some details about your work. If it’s a social event, you may want to ask a question like, “What brings you here?”

Wow I really love this introduction…thanks very much it’s really helpful..

I’m happy to hear it helps you. You have to get started somewhere!

Hi! I’m not sure how to introduce myself with this new girl in my high school English class. She’s new and I want to get to be friends with her. I already kinda introduced myself but i’m still not sure what to say when I see her around. Can you help me?

Hi Emma! I suggest a quick question like, “What have you been up to recently?” I also like asking “What are you currently watching/loving/listening to?” Hope that helps! Keep it simple and be friendly. 🙂

I wanna learn speaking English fluently😔

Try practicing with some of these exercises: https://englishwithkim.com/exercises-access-vocabulary/

Very good Thank you

You’re welcome! 🙂

nice to meet u kim

Nice to meet you too!

thank you kim.

You’re most welcome!

this is very good , thank you .

Glad it helped you!

Hi! I read very carefully your article. And I found it very interesting. But I have a big problem. I come from Benin, a west africa french speaking country; and it’s difficult for me to get started in english. When I open my mouth, I usualy forget every thing in english. Do you have any recepe for me?

My best advice is to try the writing and speaking exercises in this article and video: https://englishwithkim.com/exercises-access-vocabulary/ The more regularly you use your vocabulary, the easier it will be to speak when you have the opportunity. I also recommend you check out this video for ideas on how to find focus to improve your English more quickly: https://englishwithkim.com/find-focus-improve-english-quickly/

Hi! I really appreciate your article it’s very interesting and more clearly. But the problem is we don’ t speak currently english and I have difficult to communicate correctly. I need your help and advice also.

Yes, these tips are for people who have the opportunity to speak English with others. I encourage you to try some of these exercises to start using English more: https://englishwithkim.com/exercises-access-vocabulary/

Hi Kim, I really enjoy your article, it helps us to get familiar with someone. I have learned some things from your article which would help me in future conversations. Thanks for this help.

That’s awesome! I hope you have great conversations and feel more comfortable when you meet someone new.

Hello kim really love your article, but please i just want to ask a question please, for instance you said hello to someone and the person asked you. who are you or do we know each other what is should i reply with? please i get it more difficult when it gets to that stage please

Your response depends on the situation. Where are you introducing yourself to someone? Should they know who you are? If they’re not sure they remember you, but you’ve definitely met before, share a detail that helps jog their memory. “Yes, I’m _____. We met a few months/years ago at [event/gathering].” If you can share a few more details of that last interaction, that will help them remember. If you haven’t met before, what you say depends on the nature of the event and why you’re approaching them.

Thanks alot it’s really Helps

I’m happy to hear this helped you!

i’m a student. if i study in computer science engineering in Wuhan university of techonology then how to say it to my friends family. please help me . my sentence is not perfect. i want to be more accurate. thank u .

You’re very close: “I study computer science (or computer engineering, or computer science and engineering, depending on the actual name of the field of study at your university) at Wuhan University of Technology.”

Hello sure the best of the best

I love your article Kim. I wish to introduce myself to a new foreign friend whom I was connected with by my boss to share me some work related skills. How can I introduce myself to him? Thank you.

Simple is usually best in these cases: I was given your contact information by [name] so that we could connect to discuss [work-related topic]. At that point, you can introduce yourself and provide any details that give context, like what you’re working on, your role at work, or the topic you’re interested in discussing.

Thanks a lot, it’s Really Helps

That’s awesome to hear – glad it helped!

Hi Kim, thank you very much for the article. this is very useful for me. I get bored teaching “self Introduction” in very usual ways. but suddenly I came across your article..well, …I am happy…

You’re most welcome! I’m glad you found this helpful and that it gave you different ways to talk about introductions.

Hi ma’am! I really like and helpful for me. Thank you very much.

You’re most welcome – I’m glad you found this helpful!

Hi kim, thanks for the great article…. It’ll be great if you can give your thoughts while casual business meetups, like say I know a guy who is very senior to me in terms of position in some different company and we decide to meet to plan some business together, so you actually have to pitch yourself up but can’t straightway start with that, nor you can show the recognitions and achievements. In such scenarios how to start knowing the next person knows your profile but formally meeting for the first time. How to carry such conversations ?? Thanks.

Glad this helped you! What you’re describing here is often called an elevator pitch. The idea is to be prepared to get someone else interested in what you have to offer in a very short period of time (such as the length of an elevator ride). There are a lot of resources out there on how to structure an elevator pitch, so I encourage you to search for that particular term. For casual business meetups, you may want to look for conversation starters for networking events. I have some tips on small talk at work here , but it’s geared more towards interacting with coworkers, although you can always adapt the questions to your particular situation.

Please can I get an example on how to introduce myself professionally? ..(I trade and I would like to introduce myself as a trader )

When introducing yourself professionally, I encourage you to be more specific about what you actually do, who you work with, and how you help. For example, I’m not really sure what a trader does, so you’d want to share details about what exactly you trade, who you trade with, and what you do through your work. The more details you can share, the more interested people will be in hearing more. If someone tells you they’re an engineer, you don’t know the specific field of engineering, what the work entails, or who they work for/with. It may be helpful to research the term “elevator pitch” to get more specific examples of how people introduce themselves professionally.

Thank you so much, your article is really helpful to me, I will love to improve my English and my vocabulary. Hope you can help me?

I encourage you to browse the other resources on this website!

Introductory Speech

It would be considered rude if the speaker of the seminar was not introduced properly to the audience. How else would the crowd know on who this gentleman or lady really is and what his or her background is on that particular subject. By giving an introductory speech of the guest speaker tonight, you are allowing the audience know who he or she is as a person and what he or she has accomplished or achieved in his or her life. You may also see speech examples in pdf

Commencement Speech Examples (PDF)
Dedication Speech Examples (PDF)

These kinds of speeches are like PRs, they only tell the good parts about you and never the negative or bad parts about you. As the person assigned to give the introductory speech about the person, your only job is to provide basic background information about that person, the speaker will take care of the rest. But giving an introductory speech would be useless if you are afraid of public speaking. It is important that you learn to conquer your fears and rise above the challenge at hand. You may also check out introduction speech examples to provide you with a better idea on how to write these kinds of speeches.

The job of an introduction speech is to:

introduce your guest speaker
create a welcoming, attentive ready-and-motivated-to-listen anticipation in the audience

Just like the appetizer, your job is to entice the crowd and keep them happy before feasting on the main course. Try your best to wow the audience in order for them to get hyped when the main speaker arrives. Although you have your speech laid out for you, try to add some humor and wit and maybe some jokes as an impromptu as a way to break the ice. You may also like presentation speech examples & samples

To prepare your introduction speech you’ll need:

1. the guest speaker’s name.

When you get the full name of the guest speaker, try to make sure that it is correct cause there are times that the spelling might be wrong. After getting their name, ask for the correct pronunciation of the name. Who would like to hear their mispronounced name, right? You may also check out motivational speech examples & samples

2. The guest speaker’s biography

Aside from knowing just the guest speaker’s name, you got to introduce who he really is as a person and why he or she is the right person to talk about this certain topic. State his or her credentials and what he or she has achieved. Let the audience know who they are listening to and why he or she matter. You may also see informative speech examples & samples

3. A surprise

As mentioned before, it is best to keep things in a very light manner. Nothing too serious should even be said when it is just an introductory speech. Add some jokes, laugh a bit, add humor and wit. Whatever you think that will manage to get the audience’s attention, go for it. You may also like speech examples in doc

How to organize your material

Build excitement or interest by piling one piece of information after another.
Make the name of the speech and the speaker, the climax and end of your speech.

Let’s pretend, for the sake of showing you how it’s done, that we’ve already gathered up all the material we need to introduce a guest speaker. You may also check out appreciation speech examples & samples

Introduction Speech Example

1. let’s put this speech in context to help you make sense of it.

The setting for this introduction speech is a conference for an organization called “ Women in Leadership” . The audience are primarily women drawn together through an interest in leadership roles. At the end of the speech, the speaker will lead the clapping as the guest takes center stage. You may also see award speech examples

2. Now here’s the speech text

She’s been a stalwart member of “Women in Leadership” for the last fifteen years. Over that time she’s served in every office: secretary, treasurer, chairperson, chief fundraiser, education officer, chief executive officer to name a few and in some roles several times over. You may also like welcome speech examples & samples

Her passionate dedication and commitment to promoting public speaking as an important component of empowerment is simply amazing and inspiring. We estimate that she has personally mentored at least 200 new speakers and has set an extraordinary “yes, you can” philosophy for many more. You may also check out valedictorian speech examples & samples

We see her as capable, confident and fluent – never at a loss for words. But what you probably don’t know is that this woman was once weak, shy, stuttered, broken and damaged.

How she got from awkward tongue tied silence to an eloquent front line spokesperson is the story she will share with us tonight. Ladies, I give you … Katherine Watson!” You may also see persuasive speech examples & samples

3. Say the speech out loud! Use it as a template!

Try saying it out loud to get the flow of it. If you like it, use it as a model for the introduction speech you need to write.

Tips to make your introduction speech successful

1. consider tone and language use.

How are you going to build up audience interest if you do not seem motivated and interested to talk about him or her in the first place? While drafting your speech, try to consider the use of language. Is it going to be the same as every introductory speech or are you going to try and spice it up a bit? Remember that in this case, the audience matters as well. Learn on who you are talking to and how you make use of language to gauge your audience is up to you. You may also like speech outline examples & samples

2. Check the length of your speech

Pertinent and pithy – short and sweet is what you want. One to two minutes should be enough. Try it out loud with a timer. Remember that you are simply the appetizer and not the main course. This is not your time, but the time for the guest speaker. You may also check out orientation speech examples & samples

3. Resist exaggerating or “puffing up” the speaker’s achievements

Try not to exaggerate the guest speaker’s achievements. Try no to sugarcoat the truth just to make him or her look good. It should simply be enough so that the audience can get a quick background of the speaker.

4. Always check your facts

Avoid stating on anything that the speaker is not. It will end very badly for you if you do so. If there are some sensitive issues that you know about the speaker, make sure that you ask him or her permission first before stating it out loud for the whole world to hear. You may also see inspirational speech examples

5. Remember you are the support act!

Cover only enough in your introduction to make the coming speech eagerly anticipated. Do not stray into telling the audience what the guest speaker’s speech will cover in detail.

6. Rehearse

Practice makes perfect. Try practicing in front of a mirror or in front of your family and friends so that they can judge you as to see how you are doing. Sometimes, just winging it is not enough. You have to work on it to develop the confidence you need to improve on your delivery and tone more. You can also see self-introductory speech examples to analyze on how this whole different speech is being framed and written.

Usain Bolt Introductory Speech Example

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Today, it is both my honor and privilege to be able to introduce you to a role model of the athletic world, a man of distinction – Usain Bolt.

Born on August 21, 1986 in Jamaica, he has distinguished himself as a world class sprinter and he currently holds the Olympic and World Records for the 100 meters in 9.69 seconds and the 200 meters in 19. 30 seconds . Wow. Amazing. I wish I could run that fast. You may also like student council speech examples

What makes his achievements all the more remarkable is the fact that they were all set at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He eventually became the first man to win all three events in one of the categories in the Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984 and the first man in history to set world records in all three events at a single Olympics. His name and his achievements in sprinting have earned him the media nickname “Lightning Bolt”. You may also check out commencement speech examples

I am sure that you all know a great deal about his public sprinting life, but there is more to him than just running.

What you don’t know about the “Lightning Bolt” is that he enjoys dancing and is often characterized as a laid-back and relaxed character . Did you know that before sprinting, his first interested sport was cricket? He said and I quote: “that if he was not a sprinter, he would be a fast bowler instead.” But then, he wouldn’t be known as the “Lightning Bolt”, but something else. You may also see special occasion speech examples & samples

Please give a warm welcome to none other than Usain “Lightning” Bolt to share with you some words of wisdom on not giving up.

Even if you are simply the person assigned to give the introductory speech, you are still required to give it your all and be the best at what you do so that it will leave a good impression to the audience that you have respect for the work that you do and that you take it seriously. You may also like examples of writing a short speech

Introductory Speech Generator

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Professional

Create an Introductory Speech for a new community project.

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Speech Introductions: The one question you should never answer first (Who Am I?)

by Alan | Sep 14, 2016 | Communication skills , Delivery , Don't! , public speaking

Your audience already knows who you are, or
They don’t care.

Use Rule #1 It's Not About You in Speech Introductions

By you, but worked in through credible and appropriate stories and experiences.
By someone else introducing you – BRIEFLY. My all-time favorite line about introductions came from a speaker after an almost 5-minute introduction by an admiring host: “ I could listen to an introduction like that all day… ” (pause for a tittering of awkward laughter). “ And for a moment, I thought I was going to have to! ” — HUGE laughter, and the stage was set for content that mattered to the audience.

Speech Introductions -- What NOT to Say Video: Hi! My name is....

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The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System

A times investigation found climate change may now be a concern for every homeowner in the country..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Today, my colleague, Christopher Flavelle, on a “Times” investigation into one of the least known and most consequential effects of climate change — insurance — and why it may now be a concern for every homeowner in the country.

It’s Wednesday, May 15.

So, Chris, you and I talked a while ago about how climate change was really wreaking havoc in the insurance market in Florida. You’ve just done an investigation that takes a look into the insurance markets more broadly and more deeply. Tell us about it.

Yeah, so I cover climate change, in particular the way climate shocks affect different parts of American life. And insurance has become a really big part of that coverage. And Florida is a great example. As hurricanes have gotten worse and more frequent, insurers are paying out more and more money to rebuild people’s homes. And that’s driving up insurance costs and ultimately driving up the cost of owning a home in Florida.

So we’re already seeing that climate impact on the housing market in Florida. My colleagues and I started to think, well, could it be that that kind of disruption is also happening in other states, not just in the obvious coastal states but maybe even through the middle of the US? So we set out to find out just how much it is happening, how much that Florida turmoil has, in fact, become really a contagion that is spreading across the country.

So how did you go about reporting this? I mean, where did you start?

All we knew at the start of this was that there was reason to think this might be a problem. If you just look at how the federal government tracks disasters around the country, there’s been a big increase almost every year in the number and severity of all kinds of disasters around the country. So we thought, OK, it’s worth trying to find out, what does that mean for insurers?

The problem is getting data on the insurance industry is actually really hard. There’s no federal regulation. There’s no government agency you can go to that holds this data. If you talk to the insurers directly, they tend to be a little reluctant to share information about what they’re going through. So we weren’t sure where to go until, finally, we realized the best people to ask are the people whose job it is to gauge the financial health of insurance companies.

Those are rating agencies. In particular, there’s one rating company called AM Best, whose whole purpose is to tell investors how healthy an insurance company is.

Whoa. So this is way down in the nuts and bolts of the US insurance industry.

Right. This is a part of the broader economy that most people would never experience. But we asked them to do something special for us. We said, hey, can you help us find the one number that would tell us reporters just how healthy or unhealthy this insurance market is state by state over time? And it turns out, there is just such a number. It’s called a combined ratio.

OK, plain English?

Plain English, it is the ratio of revenue to costs, how much money these guys take in for homeowner’s insurance and how much they pay out in costs and losses. You want your revenue to be higher than your costs. If not, you’re in trouble.

So what did you find out?

Well, we got that number for every state, going back more than a decade. And what it showed us was our suspicions were right. This market turmoil that we were seeing in Florida and California has indeed been spreading across the country. And in fact, it turns out that in 18 states, last year, the homeowner’s insurance market lost money. And that’s a big jump from 5 or 10 years ago and spells real trouble for insurance and for homeowners and for almost every part of the economy.

So the contagion was real.

Right. This is our first window showing us just how far that contagion had spread. And one of the really striking things about this data was it showed the contagion had spread to places that I wouldn’t have thought of as especially prone to climate shocks — for example, a lot of the Midwest, a lot of the Southeast. In fact, if you think of a map of the country, there was no state between Pennsylvania and the Dakotas that didn’t lose money on homeowner’s insurance last year.

So just huge parts of the middle of the US have become unprofitable for homeowner’s insurance. This market is starting to buckle under the cost of climate change.

And this is all happening really fast. When we did the Florida episode two years ago, it was a completely new phenomenon and really only in Florida. And now it’s everywhere.

Yeah. And that’s exactly what’s so striking here. The rate at which this is becoming, again, a contagion and spreading across the country is just demolishing the expectations of anyone I’ve spoken to. No one thought that this problem would affect so much of the US so quickly.

So in these states, these new places that the contagion has spread to, what exactly is happening that’s causing the insurance companies to fold up shop?

Yeah. Something really particular is happening in a lot of these states. And it’s worth noting how it’s surprised everyone. And what that is, is formally unimportant weather events, like hailstorms or windstorms, those didn’t used to be the kind of thing that would scare insurance companies. Obviously, a big problem if it destroys your home or damages your home. But for insurers, it wasn’t going to wipe them out financially.

Right. It wasn’t just a complete and utter wipeout that the company would then have to pony up a lot of money for.

Exactly. And insurers call them secondary perils, sort of a belittling term, something other than a big deal, like a hurricane.

These minor league weather events.

Right. But those are becoming so frequent and so much more intense that they can cause existential threats for insurance companies. And insurers are now fleeing states not because of hurricanes but because those former things that were small are now big. Hailstorms, wildfires in some places, previous annoyances are becoming real threats to insurers.

Chris, what’s the big picture on what insurers are actually facing? What’s happening out there numbers-wise?

This is a huge threat. In terms of the number of states where this industry is losing money, it’s more than doubled from 10 years ago to basically a third of the country. The amount they’re losing is enormous. In some states, insurers are paying out $1.25 or even $1.50 for every dollar they bring in, in revenue, which is totally unsustainable.

And the result is insurers are making changes. They are pulling back from these markets. They’re hiking premiums. And often, they’re just dropping customers. And that’s where this becomes real, not just for people who surf balance sheets and trade in the stock market. This is becoming real for homeowners around the country, who all of a sudden increasingly can’t get insurance.

So, Chris, what’s the actual implication? I mean, what happens when people in a state can’t get insurance for their homes?

Getting insurance for a home is crucial if you want to sell or buy a home. Most people can’t buy a home without a mortgage. And banks won’t issue a mortgage without home insurance. So if you’ve got a home that insurance company doesn’t want to cover, you got a real problem. You need to find insurance, or that home becomes very close to unsellable.

And as you get fewer buyers, the price goes down. So this doesn’t just hurt people who are paying for these insurance premiums. It hurts people who want to sell their homes. It even could hurt, at some point, whole local economies. If home values fall, governments take in less tax revenue. That means less money for schools and police. It also means people who get hit by disasters and have to rebuild their homes all of a sudden can’t, because their insurance isn’t available anymore. It’s hard to overstate just how big a deal this is.

And is that actually happening, Chris? I mean, are housing markets being dragged down because of this problem with the insurance markets right now?

Anecdotally, we’ve got reports that in places like Florida and Louisiana and maybe in parts of California, the difficulty of getting insurance, the crazy high cost of insurance is starting to depress demand because not everyone can afford to pay these really high costs, even if they have insurance. But what we wanted to focus on with this story was also, OK, we know where this goes eventually. But where is it beginning? What are the places that are just starting to feel these shocks from the insurance market?

And so I called around and asked insurance agents, who are the front lines of this. They’re the ones who are struggling to find insurance for homeowners. And I said, hey, is there one place that I should go if I want to understand what it looks like to homeowners when all of a sudden insurance becomes really expensive or you can’t even find it? And those insurance agents told me, if you want to see what this looks like in real life, go to a little town called Marshalltown in the middle of Iowa.

We’ll be right back.

So, Chris, you went to Marshalltown, Iowa. What did you find?

Even before I got to Marshalltown, I had some idea I was in the right spot. When I landed in Des Moines and went to rent a car, the nice woman at the desk who rented me a car, she said, what are you doing here? I said, I’m here to write a story about people in Iowa who can’t get insurance because of storms. She said, oh, yeah, I know all about that. That’s a big problem here.

Even the rental car lady.

Even the rental car lady knew something was going on. And so I got into my rental car and drove about an hour northeast of Des Moines, through some rolling hills, to this lovely little town of Marshalltown. Marshalltown is a really cute, little Midwestern town with old homes and a beautiful courthouse in the town square. And when I drove through, I couldn’t help noticing all the roofs looked new.

What does that tell you?

Turns out Marshalltown, despite being a pastoral image of Midwestern easy living, was hit by two really bad disasters in recent years — first, a devastating tornado in 2018 and then, in 2020, what’s called a derecho, a straight-line wind event that’s also just enormously damaging. And the result was lots of homes in this small town got severely damaged in a short period of time. And so when you drive down, you see all these new roofs that give you the sense that something’s going on.

So climate had come to Marshalltown?

Exactly. A place that had previously seemed maybe safe from climate change, if there is such a thing, all of a sudden was not. So I found an insurance agent in Marshalltown —

We talked to other agents but haven’t talked to many homeowners.

— named Bobby Shomo. And he invited me to his office early one morning and said, come meet some people. And so I parked on a quiet street outside of his office, across the street from the courthouse, which also had a new roof, and went into his conference room and met a procession of clients who all had versions of the same horror story.

It was more — well more of double.

A huge reduction in coverage with a huge price increase.

Some people had faced big premium hikes.

I’m just a little, small business owner. So every little bit I do feel.

They had so much trouble with their insurance company.

I was with IMT Insurance forever. And then when I moved in 2020, Bobby said they won’t insure a pool.

Some people had gotten dropped.

Where we used to see carriers canceling someone for frequency of three or four or five claims, it’s one or two now.

Some people couldn’t get the coverage they needed. But it was versions of the same tale, which is all of a sudden, having homeowner’s insurance in Marshalltown was really difficult. But I wanted to see if it was bigger than just Marshalltown. So the next day, I got back in my car and drove east to Cedar Rapids, where I met another person having a version of the same problem, a guy named Dave Langston.

Tell me about Dave.

Dave lives in a handsome, modest, little townhouse on a quiet cul-de-sac on a hill at the edge of Cedar Rapids. He’s the president of his homeowners association. There’s 17 homes on this little street. And this is just as far as you could get from a danger zone. It looks as safe as could be. But in January, they got a letter from the company that insures him and his neighbors, saying his policy was being canceled, even though it wasn’t as though they’d just been hit by some giant storm.

So then what was the reason they gave?

They didn’t give a reason. And I think people might not realize, insurers don’t have to give a reason. Insurance policies are year to year. And if your insurance company decides that you’re too much of a risk or your neighborhood is too much of a risk or your state is too much of a risk, they can just leave. They can send you a letter saying, forget it. We’re canceling your insurance. There’s almost no protection people have.

And in this case, the reason was that this insurance company was losing too much money in Iowa and didn’t want to keep on writing homeowner’s insurance in the state. That was the situation that Dave shared with tens of thousands of people across the state that were all getting similar letters.

What made Dave’s situation a little more challenging was that he couldn’t get new insurance. He tried for months through agent after agent after agent. And every company told him the same thing. We won’t cover you. Even though these homes are perfectly safe in a safe part of the state, nobody would say yes. And it took them until basically two days before their insurance policy was going to run out until they finally found new coverage that was far more expensive and far more bare-bones than what they’d had.

But at least it was something.

It was something. But the problem was it wasn’t that good. Under this new policy, if Dave’s street got hit by another big windstorm, the damage from that storm and fixing that damage would wipe out all the savings set aside by these homeowners. The deductible would be crushingly high — $120,000 — to replace those roofs if the worst happened because the insurance money just wouldn’t cover anywhere close to the cost of rebuilding.

He said to me, we didn’t do anything wrong. This is just what insurance looks like today. And today, it’s us in Cedar Rapids. Everyone, though, is going to face a situation like this eventually. And Dave is right. I talked to insurance agents around the country. And they confirmed for me that this kind of a shift towards a new type of insurance, insurance that’s more expensive and doesn’t cover as much and makes it harder to rebuild after a big disaster, it’s becoming more and more common around the country.

So, Chris, if Dave and the people you spoke to in Iowa were really evidence that your hunch was right, that the problem is spreading and rapidly, what are the possible fixes here?

The fix that people seem most hopeful about is this idea that, what if you could reduce the risk and cause there to be less damage in the first place? So what some states are doing is they’re trying to encourage homeowners to spend more money on hardening their home or adding a new roof or, if it’s a wildfire zone, cut back the vegetation, things that can reduce your risk of having really serious losses. And to help pay for that, they’re telling insurers, you’ve got to offer a discount to people who do that.

And everyone who works in this field says, in theory, that’s the right approach. The problem is, number one, hardening a home costs a fantastic amount of money. So doing this at scale is hugely expensive. Number two, it takes a long time to actually get enough homes hardened in this way that you can make a real dent for insurance companies. We’re talking about years or probably decades before that has a real effect, if it ever works.

OK. So that sounds not particularly realistic, given the urgency and the timeline we’re on here. So what else are people looking at?

Option number two is the government gets involved. And instead of most Americans buying home insurance from a private company, they start buying it from government programs that are designed to make sure that people, even in risky places, can still buy insurance. That would be just a gargantuan undertaking. The idea of the government providing homeowner’s insurance because private companies can’t or won’t would lead to one of the biggest government programs that exists, if we could even do it.

So huge change, like the federal government actually trying to write these markets by itself by providing homeowner’s insurance. But is that really feasible?

Well, in some areas, we’re actually already doing it. The government already provides flood insurance because for decades, most private insurers have not wanted to cover flood. It’s too risky. It’s too expensive. But that change, with governments taking over that role, creates a new problem of its own because the government providing flood insurance that you otherwise couldn’t get means people have been building and building in flood-prone areas because they know they can get that guaranteed flood insurance.

Interesting. So that’s a huge new downside. The government would be incentivizing people to move to places that they shouldn’t be.

That’s right. But there’s even one more problem with that approach of using the government to try to solve this problem, which is these costs keep growing. The number of billion-dollar disasters the US experiences every year keeps going up. And at some point, even if the government pays the cost through some sort of subsidized insurance, what happens when that cost is so great that we can no longer afford to pay it? That’s the really hard question that no official can answer.

So that’s pretty doomsday, Chris. Are we looking at the end of insurance?

I think it’s fair to say that we’re looking at the end of insurance as we know it, the end of insurance that means most Americans can rest assured that if they get hit by a disaster, their insurance company will provide enough money they can rebuild. That idea might be going away. And what it shows is maybe the threat of climate change isn’t quite what we thought.

Maybe instead of climate change wrecking communities in the form of a big storm or a wildfire or a flood, maybe even before those things happen, climate change can wreck communities by something as seemingly mundane and even boring as insurance. Maybe the harbinger of doom is not a giant storm but an anodyne letter from your insurance company, saying, we’re sorry to inform you we can no longer cover your home.

Maybe the future of climate change is best seen not by poring over weather data from NOAA but by poring over spreadsheets from rating firms, showing the profitability from insurance companies, and how bit by bit, that money that they’re losing around the country tells its own story. And the story is these shocks are actually already here.

Chris, as always, terrifying to talk to you.

Always a pleasure, Sabrina.

Here’s what else you should know today. On Tuesday, the United Nations has reclassified the number of women and children killed in Gaza, saying that it does not have enough identifying information to know exactly how many of the total dead are women and children. The UN now estimates that about 5,000 women and about 8,000 children have been killed, figures that are about half of what it was previously citing. The UN says the numbers dropped because it is using a more conservative estimate while waiting for information on about 10,000 other dead Gazans who have not yet been identified.

And Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, gave a press conference outside the court in Lower Manhattan, where Michael Cohen, the former fixer for Donald Trump, was testifying for a second day, answering questions from Trump’s lawyers. Trump is bound by a gag order. So Johnson joined other stand-ins for the former president to discredit the proceedings. Johnson, one of the most important Republicans in the country, attacked Cohen but also the trial itself, calling it a sham and political theater.

Today’s episode was produced by Nina Feldman, Shannon Lin, and Jessica Cheung. It was edited by MJ Davis Lin, with help from Michael Benoist, contains original music by Dan Powell, Marion Lozano, and Rowan Niemisto, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

May 21, 2024 • 24:14 The Crypto Comeback
May 20, 2024 • 31:51 Was the 401(k) a Mistake?
May 19, 2024 • 33:23 The Sunday Read: ‘Why Did This Guy Put a Song About Me on Spotify?’
May 17, 2024 • 51:10 The Campus Protesters Explain Themselves
May 16, 2024 • 30:47 The Make-or-Break Testimony of Michael Cohen
May 15, 2024 • 27:03 The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System
May 14, 2024 • 35:20 Voters Want Change. In Our Poll, They See It in Trump.
May 13, 2024 • 27:46 How Biden Adopted Trump’s Trade War With China
May 10, 2024 • 27:42 Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand
May 9, 2024 • 34:42 One Strongman, One Billion Voters, and the Future of India
May 8, 2024 • 28:28 A Plan to Remake the Middle East
May 7, 2024 • 27:43 How Changing Ocean Temperatures Could Upend Life on Earth

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Christopher Flavelle

Produced by Nina Feldman , Shannon M. Lin and Jessica Cheung

Edited by MJ Davis Lin

With Michael Benoist

Original music by Dan Powell , Marion Lozano and Rowan Niemisto

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

Across the United States, more frequent extreme weather is starting to cause the home insurance market to buckle, even for those who have paid their premiums dutifully year after year.

Christopher Flavelle, a climate reporter, discusses a Times investigation into one of the most consequential effects of the changes.

On today’s episode

Christopher Flavelle , a climate change reporter for The New York Times.

A man in glasses, dressed in black, leans against the porch in his home on a bright day.

Background reading

As American insurers bleed cash from climate shocks , homeowners lose.

See how the home insurance crunch affects the market in each state .

Here are four takeaways from The Times’s investigation.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Christopher Flavelle contributed reporting.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Christopher Flavelle is a Times reporter who writes about how the United States is trying to adapt to the effects of climate change. More about Christopher Flavelle

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Introduction Speech Examples
Introduction Speech Examples
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FREE 36+ Introduction Speech Samples in PDF
FREE 36+ Introduction Speech Samples in PDF
FREE 35+ Speech Examples in PDF

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Introduction Speech: a 'how to', with an example speech
At the end of the speech, the speaker will lead the clapping as Rose Stephenson, the keynote speaker being introduced, takes center stage. Now here's the introduction speech text. Now here's the introduction speech text "She's been a stalwart member of "Women in Leadership" for the last ten years. Over that time she's served in every office ...
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See the examples below to give you an idea of how to introduce yourself while still having effective attention-getters (e.g., a rhetorical question, an anecdote, a statistic, or a bold statement). "Good morning/afternoon/evening. I'm X, and I'm here to talk about Y. To begin, I'd like to share a story…".
How to Write an Introduction Speech: 7 Easy Steps & Examples
Rehearse and Edit. Practice your introduction speech to ensure it flows smoothly and stays within the time frame. Edit out any unnecessary information, ensuring it's concise and impactful. Tailor for the Occasion. Adjust the tone and content of your introduction speech to match the formality and purpose of the event.
How to Introduce a Guest Speaker (with Examples)
Here are some key elements to keep in mind for how to introduce a guest speaker successfully. 1. Research and gather information. Before introducing the guest speaker, conduct thorough research to gather relevant information about their background, achievements, and expertise. This will help you create an introduction that is both personalized ...
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How to Introduce a Speaker in Any Setting (And Amaze Your Audience)
While your introduction is as good as a short speech, we must not forget the keyword here - short! The main spotlight is for the speaker. So keep your intro short. Below 2 and a half minutes is usually a good space to be in. Exceeding 4 minutes is a little too much so make sure to not overstep your speaking time.
How to Start a Speech: 7 Tips and Examples for a Captivating Opening
4. Make them laugh. Injecting a little humor into your opening line puts everyone at ease and makes your speech more memorable. Just make sure your joke is relevant and doesn't offend your audience. Example: "They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but if the doctor is cute, forget the fruit!". 5.
Introduce a guest speaker speech sample
Tips for introducing a guest speaker. 1. Don't talk too long. Keep your introduction to between 45 seconds to 3 minutes. 2. Bios are a great place to get information. Almost all speakers will have a bio online or the event planner may have a copy of their bio. You can also search their name online for other interesting tidbits about them, but ...
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5 Awkward Mistakes When Introducing Someone Else. ... If you're interested in a speech, check out our goodie below! How to End a Speech: My Favorite Closers. ... After the proper salutation, start with a brief self-introduction. Your recipient may not be familiar with you, so a concise and clear introduction sets the context for your email ...
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Begin your introduction speech with an attention-grabbing statement that shocks the audience into focusing on what you have to say. Sometimes called the pace and lead approach, you issue a startling statement and then lead your audience to how such a statement can be resolved. "When I was 15 I was in an auto accident that left me unable to ...
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For example, if it is a commencement speech, ask the speaker about their experience in school and getting out into the "real" world for the first time. Make sure the stories connect well with the subject and main point of the speech. 3. Research the facts. For some speeches, you will need to learn more about the topic.
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Introduction speech for a guest speaker

What you'll find on this page:

The function of an introduction speech

The job of an introduction speech is to:

To prepare your introduction speech you'll need:

How to organize your material

Introduction speech example

Now here's the introduction speech text

Say the speech out loud! Use it as a template!

6 tips to make your introduction speech successful

2. Check the length of your speech

3. Resist exaggerating or "puffing up" the speaker's achievements

4. Always check your facts

5. Remember you are not the main speaker, or the star of the show

6. Rehearse your speech

Other related pages you may find useful:

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Introduction Speech - A Step-by-Step Guide & Examples

What is an Introduction Speech?

How to Write an Introduction Speech?

Introduction Speech Outline

7 Ways to Open an Introduction Speech

Introduction Speech Example

Introduction Speech Ideas

Tips for Delivering the Best Introduction Speech

Mistakes to Avoid in an Introduction Speech

Keep reading

How to Introduce a Guest Speaker (with Examples)

What Is the Best Way to Introduce a Speaker?

1. Research and gather information.

2. Establish credibility.

3. Create a connection.

4. Build anticipation.

5. Keep it concise and engaging.

How to Use AI to Practice Introducing a Guest Speaker

Examples of How to Introduce a Guest Speaker

Example of a general introduction for a guest speaker

Example of a personal anecdote for a guest speaker introduction

What Do You Say First When Introducing a Guest Speaker?

1. Engage listeners with a thought-provoking question.

2. Begin with a captivating anecdote or story.

3. Use a powerful quote.

4. Make a bold statement.

The Main Takeaway

Start practicing with Yoodli.

Make A Speech Introduction That Grabs Audience Attention

What Is The Best Way To Start A Speech?

What Should You Include In the Introduction?

What Are The Best Lines To Introduce A Speech?

How Do You Introduce Yourself In A Speech?

How Do You Introduce A Speaker?

What Is An Example Of A Speech Introduction?

What Is The Introduction For A Speech On Bully

What Are Some Other Examples Of Speech Introductions?

Recent Posts

How to Introduce a Speaker in Any Setting (And Amaze Your Audience)

Importance of a Good Introduction

Keep it short!

Save the name for the end

Lead the applause

Receive the speaker with a handshake

Introduce yourself

Pronunciation

Qualifications

Subject of the talk

Creative Ways to Introduce a Speaker

Introduction Speech Template

Keeping it short

Saving the name for the end

Leading the applause

Receiving the speaker with a handshake

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Final Words…

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