An introduction speech or a speech about yourself can seem like an intimidating task. It can be difficult to describe your own strengths and weaknesses, especially if you’re not accustomed to talking about yourself.

But it’s important that you know how to write a speech about yourself, as these speeches are often required for interviews and other job-related situations.

So, how do you write a speech about yourself? Read on!

How to Write a Persuasive Introduction Speech

Introduction Speech Definition

A speech about yourself or an introductory speech is typically given at job interviews, school presentations, and other professional settings.

The purpose of an introductory speech is to introduce who you are and what you have accomplished.

This is your chance to stand out from others, make a great first impression, and demonstrate your communication skills.

An introductory speech can be given verbally or written on paper.

An oral introduction is more common but many people choose to write their introductions because it gives them time to plan and think through what they want to say. In either case, an introductory speech should include information that will help listeners get to know you better.

They should learn something about your background, interests, personality traits, and/or career goals.

What Should you Write About Yourself in a Speech?

A good way to begin writing your introduction is by brainstorming all of your accomplishments, including work and volunteer experiences, hobbies, extra-curricular activities, honors and awards, community service projects, and interests.

After you make your list of everything that you want to include, decide what is most important for an introductory speech.

Most people should focus on their education first because it’s part of who they are.

don’t have to include every experience from childhood through college but choose one or two main points from each period of your life. This will keep things interesting for listeners while still showing them what makes you unique as a person and highlighting how your experience has prepared you for an occupation or activity that interests you.

If you have trouble deciding which topics to discuss, consider making a hierarchy chart with three columns: Personal Information/Interests, Work Experience/Activities, and Honors/Awards.

Then rank each item based on its importance (1 being the most important) in order to help you organize your thoughts more easily.

What Should Your Introductory Speech Sound Like?

The tone of an introduction speech can vary depending on its purpose. If it’s given at an interview or presentation where there is no audience interaction, then formal language is appropriate.

However, if it’s given during class time with other students present then casual language would be better suited for keeping everyone engaged. Either way, it’s important to write a clear and concise speech that flows well.

Start by reading over your introduction aloud so you can hear how it sounds.

It doesn’t need to rhyme like Dr. Seuss but avoid using words or phrases that sound awkward when spoken out loud.

Also, watch out for filler words like um or like since they detract from your message instead of enhancing it.

Finally, check for grammar errors before presenting so you come across as polished and professional.

How Long Should My Introduction Speech Be?

Length varies depending on how much information you want to share about yourself.

An introduction given at a job interview typically includes only your career goals and a few key experiences, while one given during class time or at a presentation will likely include more information.

However, it’s important not to go over ten minutes if giving an oral speech or three pages if writing it on paper since that can become tedious for listeners.

Be sure to cut out any unneeded content as you edit since each word should have meaning and add value toward your goal of showing everyone who you are as a person.

How Should I End My Introduction Speech?

Ending your speech is just as important as starting it since you want people to remember what you’ve said.

One effective way of writing a great conclusion is by giving an action statement that encourages them to take steps toward following their own dreams or reaching new heights.

For example, if you’re giving an introductory speech during class then end with Don’t forget that setting goals is important but so is achieving them. I hope my experience will help each of you pursue your own dream and reach greater heights than ever before! On another note, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback at the end.

This can give you insight into how others perceive your message and allow you to make changes before presenting again.

If possible, have someone else read over your introduction too since they might notice mistakes or awkward wording that you overlooked while writing it yourself.

How Can I Practice My Introductory Speech?

It can be helpful to practice giving your introduction speech aloud so that when it comes time for presenting everyone knows exactly where they should look at any given moment.

This will also give you an idea of how long it takes to read aloud and whether or not you need to cut down on content.

If possible, have someone else read over your speech too since they might notice mistakes or awkward wording that you overlooked while writing it yourself.

However, don’t memorize what you’re going to say word-for-word since that can make you seem like a robot who isn’t passionate about what he has to say. Instead, write notes on index cards and refer back as needed during class or while practicing with friends or family members willing to listen.

 

Preparing to Write Your Introductory Speech

Preparing to write a speech about yourself can be daunting, especially if you’re not used to public speaking. But with a little practice and preparation, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

The first step is to get comfortable with sharing your story: Think of people who know you well—family members, friends, mentors—and ask them what they think makes you unique or interesting. If they don’t know (or seem stumped), try asking them what they like most about you or what they admire most about your personality or work ethic.

You might also want to think back on your childhood: What was your favorite subject in school? Did you ever play any sports? Were there any memorable moments that shaped your life? Do you have a funny anecdote from growing up that shows off one of your best qualities?

Create an outline: After you’ve brainstormed your ideas, it’s time to organize them into a solid structure.

Use bullet points to break down each main idea, making sure that each point leads seamlessly into another without too much overlap or repetition. It may sound obvious, but make sure every point relates directly back to why you were asked to speak in the first place—i.e., why should anyone care?

Make sure each sentence ends with a transition phrase or word so that listeners know where one thought ends and another begins. For example, To summarize my experience as an entrepreneur… is more effective than just starting your next sentence after I started my first business when I was sixteen years old.

Next, create a rough draft: Now that you have a basic outline of your speech prepared, it’s time to start writing!

Remember, you’ll need to edit your speech once you finish writing it, but at least having something on paper will give you a good sense of how long your speech needs to be.

Outline for introductory speech

A good outline for a speech about yourself will keep you focused on what you want your audience to know.

It can also help you organize your thoughts and give you an idea of how long your speech should be.

Keep in mind that, generally speaking, longer speeches tend to be better received by audiences than shorter ones—but it’s also important not to ramble or stray off topic too much.

You may need multiple outlines if you have several points or topics that are equally important.

Speech Outline Example

Here is a sample outline for an introductory speech:

1) Introduction (and greeting) – 30 seconds to 1 minute

2) Thesis statement – 1 minute to 2 minutes (depending on the length of the introduction)

3) Body (or main body) – 3 minutes to 5 minutes per point/topic

4) Conclusion – 30 seconds to 1 minute (be sure not to rehash information already covered!)

The outline above provides examples of how much time you might spend on each part of a speech.

Of course, these times are just guidelines; use them as suggestions and adjust them according to your own preferences.

Remember that there is no right or wrong way to write an outline—it all depends on what works best for you!

For example, some people prefer writing out full sentences while others like bullet points. Some people like writing everything down before they begin their presentation while others prefer improvising as they go along.

There isn’t one right way to do things, so don’t stress if you prefer outlining differently from what we recommend here! Just remember that whatever method you choose, it should work for you and make sense with your style.

Also, note that most speakers find it helpful to practice their presentations multiple times before delivering them in front of an audience. This allows them to iron out any kinks or issues with timing and ensure that they deliver a polished performance when presenting live.

How to analyze the audience for an Introduction Speech

It sounds obvious, but many people fail to understand their audience. How much will they know about your topic before you begin talking? Are they experts in your field or completely unfamiliar with it? Do they know everything there is to know about the subject you’re discussing or have strong feelings one way or another?

All of these things affect how you approach your introduction speech and how successful it will be at persuading them.

Basically, you want to do a comprehensive audience analysis, understanding the audience you are trying to persuade, knowing what they think of your topic, and then deciding on the specific goal you want to accomplish during your introduction.

This process can help you craft the most effective persuasive introduction speech possible.

Here are a few tips to help you analyze your audience and come up with a goal.

Determine the type of audience 

Determining your audience is the first step in writing a persuasive introduction speech.

You need to know who you are talking to and what they want so you can tailor your argument to meet their needs.

Once you know who they are, what they want, and how they think, then you will be able to craft an introduction that will appeal to them. There are several types of audiences you might come across.

One type is a sophisticated or informed audience–these people have studied your topic and may even disagree with it but still understand the complexities of it well enough to engage with you in debate.

Another type is called a naive or uninformed audience–these people have little understanding of the topic but are willing to listen because they trust you (a teacher, for example) or because they don’t know anything about it.

The next type is a polarized or opinionated audience–these people are passionate and strong believers in one side of the issue; they’re either strongly against or strongly for your position.

Finally, there’s an indifferent or apathetic audience– these people aren’t interested at all; nothing you say will make any difference to them. Once you’ve identified which type of audience you’ll be speaking to, you’ll be better equipped to draft a convincing introduction speech.

What do you want your audience to do after reading your introduction speech?

As part of the audience analysis, you also need to decide what you want your audience to do as a result of hearing your introduction.

Depending on who they are and what they believe, this could range from making sure everyone understands the complexity of your topic, generating more interest in learning more about it, providing constructive feedback for improving upon it, coming up with new ideas for future work on the subject, or finally going out and doing something as a result of hearing you speak. Again, different audiences call for different goals.

For instance, if you’re addressing an apathetic audience, you probably won’t get very far if your goal is getting them to start acting.

On the other hand, if you’re addressing a naïve or uninformed audience, you would likely want to establish credibility and tell them where they should go for more information.

If you’re addressing a polarized or opinionated audience, it would likely be pointless to provide evidence that doesn’t match up with what they already believe in.

In cases like those, your introduction should offer reasons why the opposite view isn’t valid–defeating their beliefs rather than giving them reasons not to act based on false beliefs.

Why should they listen to you?

An effective audience analysis is not complete without asking yourself why should they listen to me.

You need to answer this question before moving on to crafting the rest of your introduction speech.

No matter who you’re speaking to or what their attitude towards your topic is, you always want them listening–not just passively, but actively engaged in discussion with you and ready to take some sort of action afterward.

The key here is showing that you are someone worth listening to–someone credible and trustworthy.

This is done through your previous credentials, the strength of your arguments, or the level of expertise you possess. It’s important to identify the reason(s) you have an expert opinion on this particular subject.

This way, when you state your opinion later in the introduction speech, they’ll see that you’re coming from a place of authority.

Remember too to consider not only what your audience wants to hear about but also what they don’t want to hear about. Not every piece of information needs to be revealed upfront.

Sometimes it can be best to wait until later in the speech, once you’ve already established your credibility and trustworthiness with your audience.

Delivering a Speech About Yourself

No one ever teaches us how to deliver a speech about ourselves.

Sure, maybe you know what order you’re going to list your accomplishments in, or maybe you have some bullet points on why you’re right for that job, but what are some easy tips and tricks for staying calm when talking about yourself?

It can be stressful thinking about how to answer those questions, so we thought we’d put together the best tips for delivering an awesome speech—about yourself!

• Know what kind of speech you need to give

Do you need to introduce yourself at a formal event or business conference? Or will you just need to briefly introduce yourself during an interview? Regardless of which type of introduction speech is appropriate, there are some basic steps that apply across all types of introductions.

•  Know your audience

Before you begin writing an introduction speech, it’s important to consider who will be listening to your speech. Will they already know about you? If so, how much do they know? Knowing who will be listening and what their expectations are can help you tailor your speech accordingly. It can also help you decide on an appropriate length for your introduction—will you need to give a brief introduction at an interview or speak for several minutes during a conference presentation?

• Consider how much time you have

How long should your introduction speech be? This is another factor that depends on context. If you’re giving an interview, keep it short—30 seconds or less is generally enough time for an interviewer to get a sense of who you are and why he or she should hire you. However, if you’re presenting to a large crowd at a business conference, you might want to prepare a longer speech—10-15 minutes would be typical for such an event.

• Keep it conversational

Regardless of how much time you have, try not to read from your introduction script word-for-word; instead, try speaking naturally as if you were talking with someone one-on-one. The goal here isn’t to read a formal speech, but rather to share some basic information about yourself in a way that feels natural and comfortable.

• Start with something positive

When writing your self-introduction speech, start off by sharing something positive about yourself—it can be anything from an accomplishment (like graduating college) to an interest (like playing golf). This gives listeners some background information and helps them understand where you’re coming from before moving on to more negative aspects of your personality or character traits.

• Be honest

Next, talk about a few of your weaknesses or shortcomings. For example, maybe you aren’t great at public speaking or networking events—but don’t worry! Instead of trying to pretend like these things don’t exist, use them as an opportunity to show that you recognize your weaknesses and are working hard to improve upon them.

• End on a strong note

Finally, end your speech by emphasizing one or two of your strengths. Maybe you’re good at managing people or think outside of the box when solving problems—whatever strengths stand out to you, make sure to emphasize them towards the end of your introduction speech. 8.

• Practice often

One final tip for preparing an effective introduction speech is to practice often! There’s no substitute for practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself while practicing—you may even want to ask a friend or family member to listen and provide feedback. By practicing frequently, you can ensure that your introduction speech sounds smooth and confident when you deliver it live.

 

What Should I Wear During My Introductory Speech?

Dress professionally according to industry standards if you’re introducing yourself at a job interview.

Men typically wear dark suits and ties along with polished dress shoes, while women wear professional dresses or pantsuits with blouses and heels.

Other situations may call for more casual attire but avoid wearing anything too distracting that could take away from your message instead of adding value to it.

For example, if presenting in front of classmates then choose clothing that fits well but doesn’t show off skin or distract others by being overly revealing.

What Kind of Environment Is Best for Giving an Introduction Speech?

Practice in different environments so that when it comes time to present you know how best to adjust your volume and tone depending on the audience of your speech and where you are.

You want people to hear every single word without straining their ears, so speak loudly enough without going overboard. When speaking with students, keep things lighthearted since they’ll likely be distracted if things become too serious or boring.

On another note, consider using props such as pictures or objects related to your topic whenever possible since these can help keep people engaged throughout each step of your process.

What Equipment Do I Need for Giving an Introduction Speech?

You can’t talk very easily without vocal cords, but there are ways you can speak effectively even if your voice isn’t perfect.

Practice aloud so that you learn how loud and clear your voice needs to be for maximum effect.

This will also help you speak with confidence which is important no matter what type of speech you give or how comfortable speaking is for you personally.

On another note, try not to drink excessive caffeine or alcohol before giving an introduction since either can lead to hoarseness or breathiness which makes it difficult for people around you to hear everything clearly.

You don’t want them focusing on things like that instead of what matters most—your message!

What Should I Do If I Have Trouble Speaking?

If you’re nervous about public speaking then write out notes beforehand and practice reading aloud to yourself until it feels natural enough to present in front of others.

It may feel strange at first, but doing so helps get rid of any jitters while helping you find your rhythm when presenting.

When possible, have someone else read over your speech too since they might notice mistakes or awkward wording that you overlooked while writing it yourself.

However, don’t memorize what you’re going to say word-for-word since that can make you seem like a robot who isn’t passionate about what he has to say.

Your introduction speech is supposed to be exciting and engaging—not boring! Instead, write notes on index cards and refer back as needed during class or while practicing with friends or family members willing to listen.

What Should I Do After Giving an Introductory Speech?

After giving your introductory speech, take time afterward to reflect on how things went so that you know how best to improve upon them for future speeches.

Did people understand everything? Did they respond positively? Were there certain moments where people were more engaged than others? What could you do differently next time around? What worked well overall?

There are many questions you should consider asking yourself after each performance along with ways you can improve for next time around. This will help you become even better at public speaking over time and will be especially helpful when preparing for important presentations like job interviews or graduation speeches.

You may want to ask for feedback from the audience as well, which is a great way to see what kind of reaction you got from the crowd.

If there was one particular moment that elicited a great response from the audience then you should keep this in mind as it may be worth repeating again in the future.

Even if something didn’t work out as planned, don’t get discouraged; just analyze why it happened and try something different next time. Public speaking is all about trial and error and making mistakes is just part of the process.