Radically Improve Your "Self Introductions"

It's that time of year.  The kids are back in school, new teams are forming at work and all your volunteer clubs and committees are gearing up again for the fall season.  Inevitably, you will be asked to "introduce yourself to the group." You may be thrilled with this opportunity or filled with dread.  Even if you consider yourself a solid public speaker, these can be the worst.  Let's change that.  The autobiographical presentation is often your first impression and it will frequently set the stage for future success or failure within your group.  As a communication expert, I've had the opportunity to help others hone their public speaking skills and I've discovered a few principles for crafting a great Self Introduction.  Like an elevator pitch, you'll want to spend a little time creating a great Self Introduction.  You'll use it for years, tweaking it for each occasion.  And when you find your sweet spot, you'll be amazed at the reaction from your audience.  

If you see yourself ever giving a TED talk, an autobiographical presentation is a perfect place to begin practicing.  You are the subject-matter expert, you don't need notes or other media and you have an opportunity to WOW an audience with stories and thoughts no one else owns.  And, because many people absolutely hate introducing themselves and therefore never adequately prepare, you will shine with the right tools (see below).  The major challenge to an autobiographical presentation is the potential to sound like we are bragging, apologizing or sharing TMI ("I was abused as a child").  Fortunately, following the 4 Principles will positively engage your audience and prevent negative impressions. 

Principle 1:  Limit your talk to just 1 idea.  It seems easy, yet the story of your life is BIG and complex.  You want the audience to walk away with one central idea, not have 10 people walk away with 10 ideas ("Kellie caught fireflies like I did when I was 10", "Kellie and I attended the same college", "Kellie and I are from the same hometown", "Kellie likes golf and so do I").  Each of those are facts, components that make up Kellie's Big Life, but they aren’t the one memorable, inspiring idea you want to leave with your audience.  For an idea, think along the lines of adjectives (descriptors):  Am I a visionary?  An achiever?  Am I courageous?  Competent? Have I overcome great obstacles? Am I a leader?  A follower?  You are going to select just one overarching theme/idea to weave into the presentation, through metaphors and stories, that will help the audience connect with you and walk away thinking, "Kellie is a(n)____________ and so am I". 

**For when they say to themselves, "Kellie is a(n)_________ and so am I", they will not think you are bragging, apologizing, embarrassed or sharing too much information. Because now your audience is just like you. So, how to we do that? 

Principle 2:  Give the audience a reason to care.  In the presentation, “Kellie’s Big Life” we naturally think we are the heroine, taking the audience on a journey.  But that will always create distance from the idea and the audience.  Instead, in your autobiographical presentation, make the audience the hero of the story.  You are the mentor that guides them and helps them discover what they have in common with you (and maybe learn a little about themselves along the way).   

One of the most basic storytelling structures is the theme, “man against nature”.  In it, we have our likable protagonist who is on a journey when s/he encounters an obstacle.  S/He meets a guide/mentor who helps her/him discover the secret to overcoming the obstacle and they emerge transformed.  This is life.

In your presentation, even though it is about your personal and professional life, we all have similar experiences that help us connect with each other.  Take your audience on a journey of shared experiences and you will connect with them through shared memories and metaphors as you weave your one main idea (I am a leader, courageous, caring, achieving,etc) throughout the presentation. 

Example:  “Kellie is an achiever like I am an achiever” is my overarching theme/idea.  As I select stories from childhood to adulthood, I choose ones that emphasize how, through hard work, a good plan, help from others, I achieved my goals.  Perhaps I caught fireflies each summer and as a paid member of the Sigma Firefly Scientist Club (where we were paid .30 cents for every 100 fireflies caught), I and my friends caught enough fireflies to build a neighborhood playground.  Catching fireflies for scientists is a common memory many of us have forgotten and it brings back a sensory experience of summer, laughter, smells, chilly nights, being allowed to stay out after dark, etc. It is a story everyone can relate to because it took no inherent talent to accomplish the task; just hard work, a good plan, simple tools and a team.  Then, move on to share similar stories of achievement from college, or sports, volunteering, etc.  Use descriptive, sensory language and ask questions, “Does anyone remember that smell of the fireflies in the jar?”  to engage the audience and bring them along with you. 

Principle 3:  Build your idea, piece by piece out of concepts your audience understands.  Use your history and experiences to build on concepts that already exist in your audience's mind.  Show them where you want to go ("Kellie is an achiever, and so am I") and weave that throughout the presentation. 

Here is a link to a TED talk and the format for great presentations.  Yours should follow the same format.  https://www.ted.com/talks/nancy_duarte_the_secret_structure_of_great_talks

Begin with where the audience is (something familiar – summers and catching fireflies for example) then show them where you want to go (Achieving the company's/club's mission or vision).  Repeat this several times with a variety of examples.  When you have finished, the audience members will have confidence that "Kellie achieves her goals".  (“If I’m ever on a team with Kellie, it will be a winning team”, will be their thought)

Principle 4:  Remembering that your focus during your presentation is not on you, but on your audience, ask yourself, “Who does this presentation benefit?”  If the answer is only to complete this awkward Self Introduction, then that will be the message your audience receives.  But if you believe the idea has the potential to brighten someone’s day, create more cohesive teams, open ears and hearts to your future presentations, change someone’s perspective for the better, or inspire someone to do something differently, then you have the core ingredient to a truly inspiring talk – one that can be a gift all wrapped up in a simple, “Kellie Big Life”. 

*And if you have a deeply personal and inspiring story to tell but you are concerned that it is too personal, it is ok to switch from 1st person to 3rd  person.  “I’m going to tell you about a young girl who lost her parents when she was 19 and, having no where to go and no other family, found herself living in her car one summer.”  This is a technique you can use if you want to include highly personal or traumatic experiences but you want to maintain a distance from them.  Your audience will be riveted and wonder if you are talking about yourself, your mom, your friend.  You don’t need to exclaim at the end, “I was that girl”, but gradually bring the story to current day and the main idea, which for this type of story would be, “In spite of desperate circumstances, Kellie achieved great things, just like me.”

I would love to hear and see your Self Introductions!  Please feel free to share them with me here or at [email protected].