You will be able to introduce a speaker or colleague briefly and accurately.
The host stands up to introduce the guest speaker at a company learning session. She glances at her phone, mispronounces the speaker's surname, reads out three paragraphs of biography including two previous employers nobody has heard of, adds a story about how they met at a conference, and finally says, "So without further ado, over to you." The speaker walks up four minutes late into her own slot, having been introduced as someone else's anecdote.
Introducing someone is a small job that is easy to do badly. Done well, it takes under a minute and gives the speaker or colleague a warm start: the audience knows who they are, why they should listen, and is ready to pay attention. You will be asked to do this more often than you expect. At town halls, panel discussions, client meetings, team offsites, even when a new colleague joins a call.
The single most important part of an introduction is the person's name, said correctly and clearly.
In Singapore and across the region, names come from many languages and naming traditions. Some people use their family name first, some last. Some go by an English name at work and a different name elsewhere. Some have names you have only ever seen written, never heard. Guessing is risky, and getting it wrong in front of a room is awkward for both of you.
So check beforehand. Ask the person directly how they would like to be introduced and how to pronounce their name. "How do you say your name, and is there a name you prefer at work?" Most people appreciate being asked. If you cannot ask them, ask someone who knows them well. Write the pronunciation down in a way that makes sense to you and say it aloud a few times before the event.
When you say the name in the introduction, slow down a little and say it clearly. That one moment of care sets a respectful tone for everything after it.
After the name, give two or three relevant facts and say why this audience should listen.
Relevant is the key word. A full biography is not an introduction. Pick the facts that connect the person to this audience and this topic. If they are speaking about warehouse automation to an operations team, their eight years running distribution centres matters. Their degree and their first job probably do not.
Then make the link explicit: why should these people listen to this person, today? "She's the person who designed the training trial at Tuas, which is the one most of your sites will be adopting next year." That sentence turns a list of facts into a reason to pay attention.
Check the facts with the person beforehand, too. Job titles change, numbers get rounded wrongly, and old biographies on company websites are often out of date. A quick message, "Here's what I'm planning to say, is it accurate?", avoids an awkward correction from the stage.
The introduction is not your talk. Its job is to hand over, not to hold the floor. Under a minute is the limit, and thirty to forty-five seconds is often enough.
Common ways introductions run long: reading a whole biography, telling a personal story about the speaker, giving your own opinions on the topic, or previewing what the speaker will say. That last one is especially unhelpful, because it takes the speaker's material before they can use it.
Write the introduction out, read it aloud with a timer, and cut until it fits. Lesson 1.3, Cut what you love but they do not need, applies here in miniature.
End the introduction by handing over to the person, using their name. "Please welcome Wei Ling." "Over to you, Arjun." Saying the name again at the end does two things: it gives the audience the name one more time, and it gives the speaker a clear cue to start.
If the setting calls for it, such as a larger event or a formal session, lead the welcome. Start the applause as you finish speaking, and step aside so the speaker can take the space. In a smaller meeting, a warm "Over to you" with a look towards the person is enough.
Avoid stock phrases that add nothing, such as "without further ado" or "this person needs no introduction". They take up time and, in the second case, are rarely true.
Here is how Arjun introduced Wei Ling when she spoke at a cross-company learning session on onboarding. "Our next speaker is Wei Ling, who runs operations at a logistics company with sites in Tuas and Johor. Last year she ran a trial that got new warehouse staff working on their own about two weeks sooner, and she's here to tell us what worked and what didn't. If you're bringing new people into your team this year, this one's for you. Please welcome Wei Ling." That is under thirty seconds.
Think of a colleague, a guest speaker, or someone you might introduce at your next team meeting. The activity asks you to write a 45-second introduction for them, check the details with them, and practise it aloud.
Write a 45-second introduction for a colleague or speaker, check the details with them, and practise it aloud.
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