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How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation [with Examples]
In this post, we are going to cover the best way, a very simple three-step process that will help you introduce yourself in a presentation. A summary of the steps is below.
- Start with your name and company (or organization or school).
- Tell your audience what problem you can solve for them.
- Share some type of proof (social proof works best) that you can solve this problem.
I will break down each step into a simple-to-follow process. But first… a little background.
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First, Identify What Your Audience Wants from Your Presentation
So, before you design your introduction, think about what your audience wants from your presentation. Why do they want to spend their valuable time listening to you? Are you going to waste their time? Or, are you going to provide them with something valuable?
For instance, I have expertise in a number of different areas. I’m a public speaking coach, a keynote speaker, a best-selling author, a search engine optimization specialist, and a popular podcaster. However, if I delivered that sentence to any audience, the most likely reaction would be, “So what?” That sentence doesn’t answer any of the above questions. The statement is also really “me-focused” not “audience-focused.”
So, when I start to design my self-introduction, I want to focus just on the area of expertise related to my topic. I’m then going to answer the questions above about that particular topic. Once you have these answers, set them aside for a second. They will be important later.
How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation in Class.
Instead, you probably want to add in a fun way to start a speech . For example, instead of introducing yourself in your class speech and starting in an awkward way, start with a startling statistic. Or start with a summary of your conclusion. Or, you could start the presentation with an inspirational quote.
Each of these presentation starters will help you lower your nervousness and decrease your awkwardness.
If you are delivering a speech in a speech competition or to an audience who doesn’t know you try this technique. Just introduce yourself by saying your name , the school you represent , and your topic . Make it easy. This way you get to your content more quickly and lower your nervousness.
Typically, after you get the first few sentences out of the way, your nervousness will drop dramatically. Since your name, school, and topic should be very easy to remember, this takes the pressure off you during the most nervous moments.
Obviously, follow the guidelines that your teacher or coach gives you. (The competition may have specific ways they want you to introduce yourself.)
How to Introduce Yourself in a Business Presentation — A Step-by-Step Guide.
In a professional setting, when new people walk into a meeting and don’t know what to expect, they will feel uncomfortable. The easiest way to ease some of that tension is to chat with your audience as they come into the room.
By the way, if you are looking for a template for an Elevator Speech , make sure to click this link.
Step #1: Start with your name and company name (or organization).
This one is easy. Just tell your audience your name and the organization that you are representing. If your organization is not a well-known brand name, you might add a short clarifying description. For instance, most people outside of the training industry have never heard of The Leader’s Institute ®. So, my step #1 might sound something like…
Hi, I’m Doug Staneart with The Leader’s Institute ®, an international leadership development company…
Still short and sweet, but a little more clear to someone who has never heard of my company.
Should you give your job title? Well… Maybe and sometimes. Add your title into the introduction only if your title adds to your credibility.
For example, if you are delivering a financial presentation and you are the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of your company, you might mention that. Your title adds to your credibility. However, if the CFO is delivering a presentation about the value of joining a trade association, the CFO title adds little credibility. So, there is very little value in adding the title.
Step #2: Tell your audience what problem you can solve for them.
For instance, if my topic is how to deliver presentations, I have to determine why the audience would care. What problem will they have that I can help them with? For my audiences, the problem that I most often help people with is how to eliminate public speaking fear. Once I have the problem, I add that to my introduction by using the words, “I help people…”
Hi, I’m Doug Staneart with The Leader’s Institute ®, an international leadership development company, and I help people eliminate public speaking fear.
However, if my topic is How to Close a Higher Percentage of Sales Presentations , I’d likely want to alter my introduction a little. I might say something like…
Hi, I’m Doug Staneart with The Leader’s Institute ®, an international leadership development company, and I help people design more persuasive sales presentations.
I have expertise in both areas. However, I focus my introduction on just the expertise that is applicable to this audience. If I gave the first introduction to the second audience, they will likely respond by thinking, well, I don’t really get nervous speaking, so I guess I can tune out of this speech .
So, create a problem statement starting with, “I help people…” Make the statement apply to what your audience really wants.
Step #3: Share some type of proof (social proof works best) that you can solve this problem.
By the way, if you just do steps #1 and #2, your introduction will be better than most that you will hear. However, if you add Step #3, you will gain more respect (and attention) from your audience. Without adding some type of proof that you can solve this problem, you are just giving your opinion that you are an expert. However, if you can prove it, you are also proving that you are an expert.
This is the tricky part. For some reason, most people who get to this part feel like they haven’t accomplished great things, so they diminish the great accomplishments that they do have.
For instance, an easy way to offer proof is with a personal story of how you have solved that problem in the past.
A Few Examples of How to Introduce Yourself Before a Presentation.
For instance, one of my early clients was a young accountant. When I was working with him, he came up with the following introduction, “I’m Gary Gorman with Gorman and Associates CPA’s, and I help small businesses avoid IRS audits.” It was a great, audience-focused attention-getter. (No one wants to get audited.) However, as an accountant, it wasn’t like his company was getting a lot of five-star reviews on Yelp! So, he was kind of struggling with his social proof. So, I asked him a series of questions.
Me, “How many clients do you have?”
Gary, “Over 300.”
Me, “How many small business tax returns have you processed?”
Gary, “Well, at least a couple hundred a year for 15 years.”
Me, “So, at least 3000?” He nodded. “How many of your 300 clients have been audited since you have been representing them?”
He looked at me and said, “Well, none.”
So, we just added that piece of proof to his talk of introduction.
I’m Gary Gorman with Gorman and Associates CPA’s, and I help small businesses avoid IRS audits. In fact, in my career, I’ve helped clients complete over 3000 tax returns, and not a single one has ever been audited.
Here Is How I Adjust My Introduction Based on What I Want the Audience to Do.
For my proof, I have a number of options. Just like Gary, I have had a lot of clients who have had great successes. In addition, I have published two best-selling books about public speaking. I also have hundreds of thousands of people who listen to my podcast each week. So, I can pick my evidence based on what I want my audience to do.
For instance, if I’m speaking at a convention, and I want the audience to come by my booth to purchase my books, my introduction might sound like this.
Hi, I’m Doug Staneart with The Leader’s Institute ®, an international leadership development company, and I help people eliminate public speaking fear. One of the things that I’m most know for is being the author of two best-selling books, Fearless Presentations and Mastering Presentations.
However, if I’m leading a webinar, I may want the audience to purchase a seat in one of my classes. In that case, my introduction might sound like this.
Hi, I’m Doug Staneart with The Leader’s Institute ®, an international leadership development company, and I help people eliminate public speaking fear. For instance, for the last 20 years, I’ve taught public speaking classes to over 20,000 people, and I haven’t had a single person fail to reduce their nervousness significantly in just two days.
If my goal is to get the audience to subscribe to my podcast, my intro might sound like…
Hi, I’m Doug Staneart with The Leader’s Institute ®, an international leadership development company, and I help people eliminate public speaking fear. One of the ways that I do this is with my weekly podcast called, Fearless Presentations, which has over one million downloads, so far.
Use the Form Below to Organize How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation.
The point is that you want to design your introduction in a way that makes people pause and think, “Really? That sounds pretty good.” You want to avoid introductions that make your audience think, “So what?”
If you have a speech coming up and need a good introduction, complete the form below. We will send you your answers via email!
Can You Replace Your Introduction with a PowerPoint Slide?
Is it okay to make your first slide (or second slide) in your presentation slides an introduction? Sure. A good public speaker will often add an introduction slide with a biography, portrait, and maybe even contact information. I sometimes do this myself.
However, I NEVER read the slide to my audience. I often just have it showing while I deliver the short introduction using the guide above. This is a great way to share more of your work experience without sounding like you are bragging.
For tips about how many powerpoint slides to use in a presentation , click here.
Remember that There Is a Big Difference Between Your Introduction in a Presentation and Your Presentation Starter.
When you introduce yourself in a presentation, you will often just use a single sentence to tell the audience who you are. You only use this intro if the audience doesn’t know who you are. Your presentation starter, though, is quite different. Your presentation starter should be a brief introduction with relevant details about what you will cover in your presentation.
For details, see Great Ways to Start a Presentation . In that post, we show ways to get the attention of the audience. We also give examples of how to use an interesting hook, personal stories, and how to use humor to start a presentation.
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How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation
Last Updated: October 4, 2023 Fact Checked
This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 127,679 times.
Introducing yourself in a presentation is more than just saying your name. It’s an opportunity for you to share relevant details about yourself and connect with your audience. It also sets the tone for the rest of the talk. How you introduce yourself will influence how your audience receives the message you want to get across. Make your next introduction flawless by presenting the most engaging information about yourself. Be sure to prepare the introduction in advance and start with an attention-grabbing technique to connect to the audience.
Including Relevant Information in Your Introduction
- If you have an unusual or difficult to pronounce name, you may want to add a small remark to help your audience remember it. For example, you can say “My name is Jacob Misen, like ‘risen’ but with an M.”
- Try to make eye contact with parts of audience during your presentation as well. [1] X Research source
- If you are VP of Marketing at a large company, it can actually be much more effective to say something like “I have more than a decade of experience using Facebook marketing ads to target clients in the dance industry” rather than simply stating your job title.
- You can also specifically refer your audience to the handout or powerpoint for more information. For example, if you want to let them know that you have articles in many international newspapers but you don’t want to list them all out, simply say “I’ve written for a number of internationally recognized news organizations. You can find the full list on the first page of my handout.”
- For example, you could say “when I designed a website for Richard Branson last year …” to inform your audience that you have an impressive resume, without having to list it all for them in your introduction.
- Try concluding your introduction by mentioning a client or project you were working on that directly relates to the topic of your presentation. For example: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with NXP Semiconductors for the past three years. Just last week we encountered a problem with our logistical database...” and then lead into your presentation about a new software that will solve everyone’s logistical hiccups.
Grabbing Your Audience’s Attention Before Your Introduction
- If you don’t have music that can tie to your presentation, you can use a song with the theme of beginning. For example, if you are presenting at a sales meeting, play some soft jazz as participants enter. Then, when it’s time for you to start, play the Black Eyed Peas chorus of “Let’s Get it Started” to get your audience’s attention. You can then open with an energetic “Good morning!” or “Good Afternoon” as the music ends.
- Remember to choose music that’s appropriate to the event. An academic conference may not be the best place for pop music, for example (unless you are presenting research on pop music, of course).
- For example, if you are presenting on the design of a new user-friendly coffee machine, you may start your presentation by referencing Elon Musk: “Any product that needs a manual to work is broken,” and then go on to say “My name is Laurie Higgens, and my coffee machine doesn’t come with a manual.” Speak briefly about your relevant experience and qualifications, and then dive into presenting your design.
- Avoid cliche or overused motivational quotes the audience has probably already heard many times.
- Be sure to correctly cite your quote.
- For example, you might start with “According to Time magazine, Americans filled 4.3 billion prescriptions and doled out $374 billion on medicine in 2014.” Then, introduce yourself and your qualifications in medical research and transition into a presentation about how to prevent doctors from over prescribing medication to their patients.
- Remember to cite the source of your statistics. You will look more professional and reliable, and the audience will be able to follow up on the information if they wish.
- If you are giving a presentation about a new airport security-friendly travel bag, try starting your presentation with “How many of you have ever stood in line at airport security and nearly missed your flight?”
- You can also invite your audience to close their eyes and imagine something as you lead up to your question.
- Don’t be discouraged if your audience doesn’t raise their hands when you ask a question. Sometimes these questions seem more rhetorical to an audience, or maybe they are just shy. You can often see signs that they are still engaging with the question if people are nodding or smiling after you ask it.
- Try telling stories, showing pictures on a powerpoint, or using quotations.
- Being funny not only puts your audience at ease, but it also helps them remember you after the presentation. [10] X Research source
- For example, if you are making a presentation about a pizza delivery app, ask your audience members to tell their name, their favorite pizza topping, and a situation where they’ve had a particularly amazing or awful experience with food delivery.
Preparing Before Your Presentation
- When it’s time to present, it’s probably best to just write down a few notes or key words to remind you of what you want to say so you don’t just read off your note cards.
- Think about your overall intention as a speaker. Are you trying to educate, enlighten, or entertain the audience? Figure out the effect you want to have on the listener so your presentation is impactful.
- If you don’t have a friend to watch your presentation, record yourself on video and play it back later to refine your presentation skills. It can be uncomfortable to watch yourself on video, but it will help you nail your introduction. You can even record your whole presentation. Keep recording and re-recording until you are happy with it. Then you know the audience will be happy too.
- The best resource to learn about the local culture is the locals themselves. If you have a contact where you will be speaking, ask them about customs, dress code, and how humor is usually received. If you don’t know anyone personally, try searching in industry-specific online forums. Find YouTube videos of presentations given in the area that are relevant to your industry.
What Is The Best Way To Start a Presentation?
Expert Q&A
- Don’t spend too much time introducing yourself. Your introduction should be short and to the point so you can get on to your main presentation material. Depending on the length of your presentation, your introduction should be between 20 seconds and 2 minutes long. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
You Might Also Like
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/eye_contact_tips_to_make_your_presentations_stronger
- ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/introduce-yourself-professionally
- ↑ https://www.washington.edu/doit/presentation-tips-0
- ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/ours/oral-presentation-tips-30.htm
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/09/27/15-hacks-for-making-your-presentation-more-creative-and-engaging/
- ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/oralcommunication/guides/how-to-engage-your-audience-and-keep-them-with-you
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/make-em-laugh-ten-tips-using-humor-presentations-judy-romano-mba?trk=portfolio_article-card_title
- ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/legislators-staff/legislative-staff/legislative-staff-coordinating-committee/tips-for-making-effective-powerpoint-presentations.aspx
- ↑ https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/19102/22119
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjwalker/2011/06/07/should-i-rehearse-and-for-how-long-presentation-training/
About This Article
To introduce yourself at the start of your presentation, all you need to do is state your name and tell the audience any relevant experience or skills you have. For example, say something like, “My name is Jacob Misen, and I have over a decade of experience using Facebook marketing ads in the dance industry.” If you have a broad range of relevant experience, you can bullet point a few examples on your opening slide instead of reading them out. Once you’ve introduced yourself, smoothly transition into your presentation. For instance, you can mention a client or project you’ve recently worked on that relates to the topic of your presentation. For more tips, including how to practice your presentation, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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Table of Contents
Introducing Me – Best Way to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation
Tips for giving a better presentation.
Home / Business / How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation (With Tips and Free Templates)
How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation (With Tips and Free Templates)
Giving a presentation can be nerve-wracking and introducing yourself can be daunting. But without an engaging introduction, you just be hitting the dart in the darkroom.
One of the most challenging tasks of any presentation is introducing yourself. Knowing how to start a presentation is key for effective speech or discussion. By coming up with newer and innovative techniques, you can capture your audience’s interest & help them focus on what you are going to share.
If you wonder how to introduce yourself at the presentation’s start, you aren’t alone. As we start the presentation, our nervousness diminishes significantly for most of us. So initial self-intro is important.
The usual introduction, “Hello, Everyone! I’m Ashley, working as Digital marketing head at…….” It is a boring start and won’t cut the ice anymore .
So how to introduce yourself or have a killer presentation start?
Don’t fret! We have outlined what you should say before starting a presentation to help you get the next presentation right.
It’s an adage, ” You only get a single chance to make a first impression.” It’s very true. The first impression really counts, especially during a presentation. An introduction is the key building block of a memorable and convincing presentation.
Before introducing yourself in a presentation, it’s crucial to welcome your audience, so they feel valued and interested for the presentation, we have got you set of free welcome PPT templates .
So, if you are looking for a creative way to introduce yourself in a presentation that will set the scene for the rest of the meeting, we have the best tips to help you introduce yourself and create a great first impression online.
- Know Your Audience and Wants from Your Presentation: Knowing your audience is crucial as it helps to figure out what content and message they care about. You won’t be able to successfully pitch an idea to your audience unless you know what makes them tick. So, before a presentation, have answers to questions like, what do they like? Dislikes? What do they need? What proof will they need to make decisions? Once you have an idea regarding all this, you can draft a successful presentation.
- Our marketing team has achieved an increased conversion of 130% within the last quarter, making our campaign a massive success.
- Commands who made this possible are Ryan, who made sure our user experience was flawless.
- Sean, who maintained the technical functioning and Abby, our accounting head, was responsible for all copies of our major assets.
- Introducing Yourself in a Client Presentation: If you are a freelancer, interacting with clients can really be a daunting task. If you are an experienced copywriter, you can present it interestingly. For example:” I am an experienced copywriter; I have written many ad copies, sales pages, landing pages, newsletters. I have over five years of expertise in this niche. One of my landing pages has converted 50% eyeballs into leads, thus drastically skyrocketing sales.
- Hello, I am Jamie and welcome to our long-awaited session. How are you all? I am too excited. We are living here, and Alec will be joining us in a while.
- Hello everyone, I am mike; I’m so thrilled to see hundreds of you attending today’s webinar. It’s going to be a fantastic session.
- State the Purpose of the Presentation: As of now, you have built a connection with your audience. It’s now the time to summarize the aim of your speech. Of course, your audience will already be aware of your topic. You should make sure it’s clear to everyone. A simple one-line statement is enough, but it should give an overview of the presentation idea.
- Ask for Audience Participation: An attentive audience is more likely to be engaged throughout the presentation. The best way to make your audience participate is by asking them questions that require them to raise their hands or stand up to answer the question.
There’s nothing more daunting than having a big presentation the next day and feeling unprepared. Public speaking can be difficult, and not feeling ready makes it even more arduous when you like not ready. So let’s look at the essential steps to make the best presentation.
- Use of Visuals: Visuals are worth including as it makes your presentation more interesting and helps you explain your points more coherently, enabling learning easier for your audience. Moreover, it makes a long-lasting impression on the minds, making the audience remember the information longer. If you are looking for top-notch visuals for your next presentation, then do check out SlideChef’s creative templates gallery .
- Be Excited and Connect with Your Audience: Show your audience you are super-excited about the presentation by being an energetic speaker. It’s hard to be excited same time when you are nervous. Along with maintaining the tone of voice, make sure you use hand gestures and a smiling face throughout.
- Ask Questions Throughout : Attentive audience is always an engaging audience. Try asking your audience questions periodically. Thus, encouraging them to be more attentive listeners and reflect on the content of your presentation.
- Thank your audience : Effective communication goes beyond just conveying information; it’s about building connections and leaving a lasting impression. One simple yet often overlooked way to enhance your presentation is by expressing gratitude to your audience at the conclusion. I recommend using the Free Thank You templates library for amazing thank you slides.
The introduction is very important, in fact, the most important – part of the presentation as it sets the tone for the entire presentation. An introduction is primarily used to capture the audience’s attention, usually within 15 seconds of the presentation. So make those words count and get the audience’s attention.
We all easily get stumped when asked to talk about ourselves because there are a lot of things you could mention. But at the same time, you want to make your introduction to be short and simple & sound like a bragging context. So always think from the perspective of your audience. Whether the facts you want to share benefit them in any way. If yes, confidently add in your introduction slides.
About The Author
Priyanshu Bharat
Priyanshu is a copywriter who loves to tune into what makes people tick. He believes in presenting his ideas with flair and wit, which has made him an expert at standing on stage and charming the pants off of any audience he's faced with. Priyanshu lives for learning as much as he can, so if you ever need help understanding something - just ask!
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A Simple Way to Introduce Yourself
by Andrea Wojnicki
Summary .
You know the scenario. It could be in an online meeting, or perhaps you are seated around a boardroom table. The meeting leader asks everyone to briefly introduce themselves. Suddenly, your brain goes into hyperdrive. What should I say about myself?
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Home Blog Presentation Ideas About Me Slides: How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation
About Me Slides: How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation
From conference talks to client demos, it’s always essential to include an About Me slide in any presentation you are giving. Introducing yourself early into the presentation helps build a better rapport with the audience.
You can start with several fun facts about me slide to break the ice or go for a more formal professional bio to explain your background and what makes you qualified to talk about the topic at hand. At any rate, your goal is to get the audience on your side by revealing some of your personality.
How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation: 4 Approaches
It’s a good practice to include self-introduction slides at the beginning of your presentation. If you are looking to answer how to introduce yourself professionally, typically somewhere after the title, opening slide , and the main agenda. However, the presentation structure will be somewhat different depending on whether you are presenting to a new audience or a group of people familiar with (e.g., your team, clients, or business partners).
Here are four about me slide ideas you can try out, plus an About me template you can use to present yourself in a presentation.
1. Mention Your Name and Affiliations
Start with the introduction basics. State your name, company, title/position, and several quick facts about who you are and what you do. Even if you present to a familiar audience, a brief recap is always welcome.
To keep things a bit more engaging, consider adding some lesser-known facts about yourself. For example:
- Your interests
- Recent accomplishments
- Testimonial/quote from a team member
- Fun nicknames you got
The above can be nice ice breakers for less formal team presentations, project updates, or catch-ups with clients.
Here are several unique About Me examples you can try out:
For a client case study presentation :
“Hi, I’m Lynda, Chief Customer Success Specialist with Acme Corp. (Also, someone you thought was a chatbot for the first few encounters)
47 NPS | 15% Churn Rate | 40% repeat purchase rate”
For a team after-action review presentation :
Mike, Project Manager at Cool Project
(aka Maximizer)
Personal Project stats:
387 Slack messages answered
56 cups of coffee consumed
Project profit gross margin: $1.2 million
2. Work On Your Elevator Pitch
One of the best ways to introduce yourself in a presentation is to share a punchy elevator pitch. This works extra well if you are presenting to a new audience.
An elevator pitch is a concise statement (1-2 sentences) that summarizes your unique strengths, skills, and abilities and explains how these can benefit your listener.
It’s nice to have one ready for your presentations and networking in general since it helps you immediately connect with new people and communicate your value.
Writing a solid elevator pitch may require several attempts and iterations. But the sooner you start — the faster you’ll arrive at the best formula!
To get your creative juices flowing, here are several elevator pitch ideas you can incorporate in an introduction slide about yourself.
For professionals:
“Certified Salesforce Administrator, data visualization specialist, and analytics for top SaaS brands. I help businesses make more sense of their data to drive better outcomes”.
For a mentor :
“Adjunct professor of creative writing at Columbia University, published author, former lifestyle editor at Esquire, the New York Times. I can teach you how to find, shape, pitch, and publish stories for web & print.”
For a student:
“Third-year Marine Biology student at Denver State Uni. Volunteer at Lake Life Protection NGO, climate change activist, looking to expand my research about water conservation”.
3. Answer Popular Questions or Assumptions
If you are a frequent presenter , chances are you get asked a lot of the same “About Me questions” after your speeches and during the networking bits. So why not address a roaster of these in your About Me slide? Select 4-5 most common questions and list them as quick FAQs on your slide deck.
4. Focus on Telling a Story
Strong introductions are personable. They are meant to offer a sneak-peak into your personality and the passion behind your work. That’s why for less formal presentations, you can (and should!) start with a short personal story.
Remember: reliability is important to “click” with your audience.
For instance, neuroscience research of political ads recently found that ads featuring real people performed better than those with genetic stock footage. Among viewers, emotional engagement and memory encoding (recall) increased dramatically when political ads showed relatable people.
The same holds true for commerce. In 2015, GE launched a viral “What’s the Matter With Owen?” video ad series to attract more young talent to the company. The clips featured a relatable protagonist, struggling to explain what his work at GE entails e.g. that the company isn’t building railroads, but actually does some very innovative pilots. Many engineers related to the promo and work applications to GE shoot up by 800% !
As the above examples show, a good relatable story can go a long way. So think about how you can make a PowerPoint presentation about yourself more representative of who you really are as a person.
How to Give a Presentation About Yourself: 4 Fool-Proof Tips
On other occasions, you may be asked to give a full-length “about me” presentation. Typically, this is the case during a second interview, onboarding , or if you are in attending a training program or workshop where everyone needs to present themselves and their work.
Obviously, you’ll need more than one good about me slide in this case. So here’s how to prepare a superb presentation about me.
What to Put in a Presentation About Yourself?
The audience will expect to learn a mix of personal and professional facts about you. Thus, it’s a good idea to include the following information:
- Your name, contact info, website , social media handles, digital portfolio .
- Short bio or some interesting snippets.
- Career timeline (if applicable).
- Main achievements (preferably quantifiable).
- Education, special training.
- Digital badging awards , accolades, and other types of recognition.
- Something more personal — an interest, hobby, aspiration.
The above mix of items will change a bit, depending on whether you are giving an interview presentation about yourself or introduce yourself post-hiring. For example, in some cases a dedicated bio slide may be useful, but other times focusing on main achievements and goals can be better.
That being said, let’s take a closer look at how to organize the above information in a memorable presentation.
P.S. Grab an about me slide template to make the design process easier!
1. Create a List of “Facts About Me”
The easiest way to answer the “tell me about yourself” question is by having an array of facts you can easily fetch from your brain.
When it comes to a full-length about me presentation , it’s best to have a longer list ready. To keep your brainstorming process productive, organize all your ideas in the following buckets:
- Key skills (soft and hard)
- Educational accolades, training
- Accomplishments and other “bragging rights”
- Personal tidbits (a.k.a. fun facts )
Once you have a list, it gets easier to build a series of slides around it.
2. Think Like Your Audience
Most likely you’d be asked to make a presentation about yourself by a recruiter. There’s a good reason why many ask this — they want to determine if you are a good “cultural fit” for their organization.
After all, 33% of people quit within the first 3 months of accepting a new job. Among these:
- 43% of employees quit because their day-to-day role was different than what they were told it would be during the hiring process.
- 32% cite company culture as a factor for leaving within the first three months.
About me presentations often serve as an extra “filter” helping both parties ensure that they are on the same page expectations- and work style-wise. Thus, when you prepare your slide deck, do some background company research. Then try to align the presentation with it by matching the company tone, communication style, and cultural values.
3. Include Testimonials and Recommendations
Use the voice of others to back up the claims you are making in your presentation. After all, trumping your own horn is what you are expected to do in such a presentation. But the voices of others can strengthen the claims you are personally making.
Depending on your role and industry, try to sprinkle some of the following testimonials:
- LinkedIn recommendations
- Quotes from personal or professional references
- Social media comments
- Data metrics of your performance
- Funny assessments from your colleagues/friends
The above not just strengthen your narrative, but also help the audience learn some extras about you and your background. Testimonial slides can be of help for this purpose.
4. Include a Case Study
One of the best ways to illustrate who you are is to show what you are best in. Remember, an about me presentation often needs to “soft sell” your qualifications, experience, and personality.
One of the best ways to do that is to showcase how you can feel in a specific need and solve issues the business is facing.
So if you have the timeframe, use some of the ending slides to deliver a quick case study. You can present:
- Short retrospective of a past successful project
- Before-after transformations you’ve achieved
- Spotlight of the main accomplishments within the previous role
- Main customer results obtained
- Specific solution delivered by you (or the team you’ve worked with)
Ending your presentation on such a high note will leave the audience positively impressed and wondering what results you could achieve for them.
To Conclude
It’s easy to feel stumped when you are asked to talk about yourself. Because there are so many things you could mention (but not necessarily should). At the same time, you don’t want to make your introduction sound like a bragging context. So always think from the position of your audience. Do the facts you choose to share benefit them in any way? If yes, place them confidently on your About Me slides!
1. Personal Self Introduction PowerPoint Template
Use This Template
2. Self Introduction PowerPoint Template
3. Meet the Team PowerPoint Template Slides
4. Introduce Company Profile PowerPoint Template
5. Modern 1-Page Resume Template for PowerPoint
6. Modern Resume Presentation Template
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- Interactive Presentation
How to Introduce Yourself For a Presentation | 6 Strategies for a Powerful Opening
Leah Nguyen • 08 April, 2024 • 9 min read
First impressions are everything in public speaking. Whether you’re presenting to a room of 5 people or 500, those first few moments set the stage for how your entire message will be received.
You only get one chance at a proper introduction, so it’s crucial to nail it.
We’ll cover the best tips on how to introduce yourself for a presentation . By the end, you’ll walk onto that stage with your head held high, ready to kick off an attention-grabbing presentation like a pro.
Table of Contents
#1. start the topic with an engaging hook, #2. set context around your topic, #3. keep it brief, #4. do the unexpected, #5. preview next steps, #6. perform mock talks, bottom line, frequently asked questions, tips for audience engagement.
- Stage Fright
- What Are The Facial Expressions?
Start in seconds.
Get free templates for your next interactive presentation. Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!
How to Introduce Yourself for a Presentation (+Examples)
Learn how to say “hi” in a way that leaves a lasting impact and your audience wanting more. The introduction spotlight is yours—now go grab it!
Pose an open-ended challenge related to your experience. "If you had to navigate X complex issue, how might you approach it? As someone who's dealt with this firsthand…"
Tease an accomplishment or detail about your background. "What many don't know about me is that I once…"
Relate a brief story from your career that shows your expertise. "There was a time early in my career when I…"
Pose a hypothetical and then relate from experience. "What would you do if faced with an upset customer like I was several years ago when…"
Refer to success metrics or positive feedback that proves your authority. "When I last delivered a presentation on this, 98% of attendees said they…"
Mention where you've been published or invited to speak. "…which is why organisations like [names] have asked me to share my insights on this topic."
Pose an open question and commit to answering it. "That leads me to something many of you may be wondering - how did I get so involved in this issue? Let me tell you my story…"
Sparking intrigue around your qualifications rather than just stating them will naturally draw the audience in through fun, engaging anecdotes .
For students:
- "As someone studying [subject] here at [school], I became fascinated with…"
- "For my final project in [class], I dove deeper into researching…"
- "Over the past year working on my undergraduate thesis about [topic], I discovered…"
- "When I took [professor's] class last semester, one issue we discussed really stood out to me…"
For professionals:
- "In my [number] years leading teams at [company], one challenge we continue to face is…"
- "During my tenure as [title] of [organisation], I've seen firsthand how [issue] impacts our work."
- "While consulting with [types of clients] on [topic], one common problem I've observed is…"
- "As the former [role] of [business/department], implementing strategies to address [issue] was a priority for us."
- "From my experience in both [roles] and [field], the key to success lies in understanding…"
- "In advising [client-type] on matters of [area of expertise], a frequent hurdle is navigating…"
Start by stating a problem or question that your presentation will address. "You've all likely experienced the frustration of...and that's what I'm here to discuss - how we can overcome..."
Share your key takeaway as a concise call to action. "When you leave here today, I want you to remember this one thing... because it will change the way you..."
Refer to a current event or industry trend to show relevance. "In light of [what's happening], understanding [topic] has never been more critical for success in..."
Relate your message to what matters most to them. "As [type of people they are], I know your top priority is... So I'll explain exactly how this can help you achieve..."
Tease an intriguing perspective. "While most people look at [issue] this way, I believe the opportunity lies in seeing it from this viewpoint..."
Connect their experience to future insights. "What you've faced so far will make so much more sense after exploring..."
The goal is to grab attention by painting a picture of what value they'll gain to ensure the context won't be missed.
When it comes to pre-show introductions, less is truly more. You've only got 30 seconds to make a blast of an impression before the real fun begins.
That may not sound like much time, but it's all you need to pique curiosity and get your story started off with a bang. Don't waste a single moment with filler - every word is an opportunity to enchant your audience.
Instead of droning on and on, consider surprising them with an intriguing quote or bold challenge related to who you are. Give just enough flavour to leave them craving seconds without spoiling the full meal to come.
Quality over quantity is the magic recipe here. Pack maximum impact into a minimum timeframe without missing a single delicious detail. Your introduction may only last 30 seconds, but it can spark a reaction to last all presentation long.
Forget a traditional "hi everyone...", hook the audience in right away by adding interactive elements to the presentation.
68% of people say that it’s easier to remember the information when the presentation is interactive.
You can start with an icebreaker poll asking everyone how they are feeling, or let them play a quiz to learn about yourself and the topic they're going to hear naturally.
Here's how interactive presentation software like AhaSlides can bring your introduction to a notch:
- AhaSlides has a plethora of slide types for your polling , quiz , Q&A , word cloud or open-ended question demands. Whether you're introducing yourself virtually or in person, the AhaSlides features are your best sidekicks to attract every eye to you!
- The results are shown live on the presenter's screen, grabbing the audience's focus with eye-catching designs.
- You can integrate AhaSlides with your common presentation software such as PowerPoint or interactive Google Slides with AhaSlides .
There are a few ways to show why your topic matters, such as:
Pose a burning question and promise the answer: "We've all asked ourselves at some point - how do you achieve X? Well, by the end of our time together I'll reveal the three essential steps."
Tease valuable takeaways: "When you leave here, I want you walking away with Y and Z tools in your back pocket. Get ready to level up your skills."
Frame it as a journey: "We'll discover a lot of things as we travel from A to B to C. By the end, your perspective will be transformed."
Introduce yourself in style with AhaSlides
Wow your audience with an interactive presentation about yourself. Let them know you better through quizzes, polling and Q&A!
Spark urgency: "We've only got an hour, so we have to move fast. I'll hustle us through sections 1 and 2 then you'll put what you learn into action with task 3."
Preview activities: "After the framework, be ready to roll up your sleeves during our hands-on exercise. Collaboration time starts…"
Promise a payoff: "When I first learned how to do X, it seemed impossible. But by the finish line, you'll say to yourself 'How did I live without this?'"
Keep them wondering: "Each stop delivers more clues until the big reveal awaits you at the end. Who's ready for the solution?"
Let the audience see your flow as an exciting progression beyond an ordinary outline. But don't promise air, bring something tangible to the table.
Presentation perfection requires plenty of playtime before showtime. Run through your intro like you're on stage - no half-speed rehearsing allowed!
Record yourself to get real-time feedback. Watching playback is the only way to spot any awkward pauses or filler phrasing begging for the chopping block.
Read your script to a mirror to eyeball presence and charisma. Does your body language bring it home? Amp up appeals through all your senses for total captivation.
Rehearse off-book until your intro floats to the surface of your mind like breathwork. internalise it so you shine without flashcards as a crutch.
Perform mock talks for family, friends or furry judges. No stage is too small when you're perfecting your part to sparkle.
💡 Know more: How to introduce yourself like a Pro
And there you have it - the secrets to Rocking. Your. Intro. No matter the size of your audience, these tips will have all eyes and ears hooked in a snap.
But remember, practice isn't just for perfection - it's for confidence. Own those 30 seconds like the superstar you are. Believe in yourself and your value, because they'll believe right back.
How do you introduce yourself before a presentation?
Start with the basic information like your name, title/position, and organisation before introducing the topic and outline.
What do you say to introduce yourself in a presentation?
A balanced example introduction may be: "Good morning, my name is [Your Name] and I work as a [Your Role]. Today I'll be talking about [Topic] and by the end, I hope to give you [Objective 1], [Objective 2] and [Objective 3] to help with [Topic Context]. We'll start with [Section 1], then [Section 2] before wrapping up with [Conclusion]. Thank you for being here, let's get started!"
How to introduce yourself in a class presentation as a student?
Key things to cover in a class presentation are name, major, topic, objectives, structure and a call for audience participation/questions.
Leah Nguyen
Words that convert, stories that stick. I turn complex ideas into engaging narratives - helping audiences learn, remember, and take action.
Tips to Engage with Polls & Trivia
COMMENTS
In this post, we are going to cover the best way, a very simple three-step process that will help you introduce yourself in a presentation. A summary of the steps is below. Start with your name and company (or organization or school). Tell your audience what problem you can solve for them.
Introducing yourself in a presentation is more than just saying your name. It's an opportunity for you to share relevant details about yourself and connect with your audience. It also sets the tone for the rest of the talk.
So how to introduce yourself or have a killer presentation start? Don’t fret! We have outlined what you should say before starting a presentation to help you get the next presentation right.
Here is a practical framework you can leverage to introduce yourself with confidence in any context, online or in-person: Present, past, and future.
Learn how to introduce yourself in a presentation by using About Me or About Us slides. 4 different approaches, examples & slide templates.
How to Introduce Yourself for a Presentation (+Examples) #1. Start the topic with an engaging hook. #2. Set context around your topic. #3. Keep it brief. #4. Do the unexpected. #5. Preview next steps. #6. Perform mock talks. Bottom Line. Frequently Asked Questions. Tips for Audience Engagement. Stage Fright. What Are The Facial Expressions?