ALL’S WELL THAT BEGINS WELL: The markers of a good introduction

Perhaps the first great challenge for any event is being able to begin at the scheduled time. In my experience as a facilitator, I have observed that the second challenge is getting the ‘introduction’ right. How do you begin your sessions; social and formal alike, birthdays, parties, conferences, meetings, workshops, trainings?

More than the agenda of the day, introductions for any gathering play a crucial role in enabling a participatory environment and cultivating cooperation toward a common goal.

Here are a few markers of an effective introduction:

a)      It indicates an official beginning.

A great introduction makes a participant feel as though they just boarded a plane, fastened their seatbelts and it’s time for lift-off. Any gathering is a journey through time that we take together. Getting everyone’s attention is a good place to start.

b)      It orients the participants sufficiently.

If you’re the host then it simply follows that everyone else is new to the environment. Be it online or in person, people need to know who is around them, the ‘lay of the land’, how long the engagement is, and why it is important among other things. A prepared audience is a potentially active one.

c)       Communicates expectations.

By being part of a gathering, all participants enter into a social agreement for a common purpose. It could be celebrating, strategizing, or team building. Giving clear expectations to participants tells them how they can engage with you and the agenda more effectively.

d)      It sets the appropriate energy for the engagement.

Take this moment to inject the energy you want in the room. From a serious vibe to curious, attentive, reflective, charged up, calm, or excited, an introduction undoubtedly sets the pace.

100% of the time, getting the introductory bit of any engagement guarantees a smooth experience. As such, take time with your beginnings giving them extra attention and finesse. The rest becomes good history, I promise you.  

What else would you add to this list?

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