How to introduce and thank a guest speaker

 
 
Introducing a guest speaker
  1. Know the speaker's name and how to pronounce it.
  2. Know the speaker's title or position. Do not turn and ask the speaker "Is it Associate or Assistant Professor?"
  3. Be brief. Aim for between 45 seconds and two minutes. Five minutes is too long.
  4. Smile and be enthusiastic in tone, gesture and choice of words.
  5. Know enough about the subject to sound knowledgeable. Do not turn to the speaker and ask if the topic is epidemiology, epistemology or episiotomy.
  6. Announce the speech title as given to you by the speaker. If you have any questions about it, ask the speaker before the introduction. Many speakers select specific titles for a reason or for a pun. If the speaker is not using a title, make sure that your description matches the speaker’s.
  7. Introductions are no place to use slides, overheads or presentation software.
  8. Anecdotes are good but should pertain to the subject and be in harmony with the mood of the presentation. Avoid using canned jokes.
  9. If the credentials of the speaker are so outstanding that they must be shared with the audience or if there are publications the audience will want to know about, insert them in the program or prepare a separate commemorative handout.
  10. Never use the old cliché that the speaker needs no introduction. If the introduction ties the speaker to the audience and the topic then each introduction is unique, plus there is always something new about every speaker. There may be audience members who don’t know the guest.
  11. You are the catalyst, not the performer. Do not try to upstage the speaker with your knowledge of the subject. Do not dwell on your relationship with the speaker, even though he or she is your boss, relative or significant other.
 
Thanking a guest speaker
  1. Be brief.  Do not repeat the speech.
  2. Again, you are the catalyst, not the performer. Do not try to upstage the speaker with your knowledge of the subject.
  3. If there is a presentation do not say this is a ‘small token of our appreciation’.
Rather ‘We would like you to accept this gift in appreciation of your time spent with us this evening.’
  1. Ask the audience to thank the speaker with acclamation.