Can an introduction impact someone's career advacement?

So what if I told you that the way you introduce someone could impact that person's career trajectory?

Are female physicians afforded less respect than their male counterparts when introduced in academic settings?

A Mighty Girl recently posted about this and so I tracked down the published research that an article in The Washington Post discussed.

You can read the research findings and their possible implications,but what it boils down to is that men and women physicians are introduced differently.  Put simply, female physicians are introduced with Dr. in front of their names at a lower rate.  And while this may or may not impact credibility and career trajectories, it is worth nothing.

Play close attention to how you introduce your colleagues and be sure you are being consistent in affording honorific and professional titles.

Memorable Opening Lines

I asked my students recently to tell us about the most memorable speech they have heard in person and to explain why it was memorable.  Deryk told us about a speech he attended in high school.  He said that the speaker's opening line was, "Do you have big butts?"

Deryk went on to explain that this was the speaker's way of pointing out to the audience that we often let our but's or our excuses, get in the way of achieving our goals.

This example shows that our opening lines give us the opportunity to make a lasting impression on our audiences.  Don't throw away your opening lines by telling us your name or the topic of your presentation.  Tell us something we will never forget.  Tell us something we will remember long after the speech is over.  Make an impression like the impression that was made on Deryk.

Now THAT'S an introduction!

We've all been there:  a business event or a fundraising gala.  Seems like everyone needs to be introduced before they can take the podium.  What makes for an effective introduction?

A good rule of thumb is to offer up something to the audience that they cannot find in the program brochure.  When the speaker's bio is already in the program brochure, you don't want to spend your time rehashing that information.  And when this is taken to the extreme, it can be excruciatingly boring.  Maybe you've been in the audience when someone introduces a speaker by reading off their bio word-for-word from the program.  Don't be that guy.

Instead, if you have a personal connection to the speaker, share an anecdote that is unique to your relationship with the speaker.  If you are introducing someone with whom you do not have a personal connection or history, never fear.  You could always take the time to meet with the speaker before your introduction and, if you're lucky, you might glean a useful insight or tidbit to share with the audience.

But if you don't want to leave that to chance:  consider doing some research in advance.  I've even phoned an honoree's executive assistant in order to make contact with the honoree's spouse or close friends.  A quick phone conversation with someone's close friends or associates will yield interesting and inspiring material that will make your introduction stand apart.  The speaker himself will be touched by your effort and the audience will enjoy hearing a personal and little-known story about the speaker.

Just don't go overboard.  I was in the audience this past year when an internationally known finance guru was introduced by someone he had never met before.  The young woman doing the introduction certainly did her homework on the speaker:  her introduction was dynamic and detailed and told us how the speaker had influenced and inspired her own career.  Problem was it was too detailed.  And she went on at length about her own accomplishments to the extent that it was uncomfortable to hear her go on and on about herself when the focus should have been on the speaker himself.

An effective introduction should be brief and selfless.  Your role is to set up the speaker for taking the podium and the limelight.  Put some effort into the introduction but leave the real show for the speaker.