Introducing Yourself and Others
Posted by admin in Public Speaking
A speech of introduction is sometimes the first assignment in a public speaking class because it helps warm the atmosphere, creates a sense of community, and provides an opportunity to develop credibility. Whatever the precise nature of your assignment, however, you can’t avoid making first impressions—one way or another, you will be introducing yourself to your listeners. Of course there is no way to tell your entire life history or another person’s history in a short speech. You have to be selective. What you should avoid is relating a few superficial facts, such as where you went to high school or what your major may be. Such information reveals very little about a person and is usually not very interesting.
One way to introduce yourself or others is to answer this question: What is the one thing that best describes me or the person I am introducing as a unique person? You should then develop a speech around the answer that will build positive ethos for later speeches.