Your Audiences Do Not Want to Hear Your Bio

It’s tough to swallow, but it’s a dose of truth serum. Reading your bio adds no value to your presentation. Here’s what to do instead …

Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash

It’s a standard to which we’ve become accustomed — a moderator reads the speaker’s bio in an effort to get the audience hyped and in an attempt to lend credibility to the person who’s about to take to the stage.

But …

It’s a waste. (Truth serum is comin’ at you!)

First, no one really listens to the bio.

Second, reading a bio people can find online is not a good use of anyone’s time.

*Third, having your bio read to the audience does not establish your credibility.

Fourth, no one really listens to the bio.

The HUGE Mistake Presenters Make in Their Opening Words

Think about it. When was the last time you attended a presentation and it started just as I’ve suggested — a well-meaning moderator gets out a sheet of paper or a device and commences to reading glowing words about someone who’s lurking in the shadows, waiting to take to the microphone? What did you do?

Jot down notes?

Listen intently?

Mentally check out?

Right.

My recommendation is to ask the moderator not to read your bio or an introduction at all, justifying the request with your insistence that you want to have as much time as possible to deliver your all-important message. Or you may opt to do as I’ve done and that’s just be straight-up-honest: Tell the moderator “No one listens anyway.” I’ve said that, and time and time again, I’ve had moderators whole-heartedly agree with me.

I’m not sure when I finally arrived at this decision to cut out having my bio read. It’s not because it’s not impressive. It is! But I can remember standing to the side, waiting for my turn to present, listening to the reading, thinking …

“That sounds like I’m gloating! That’s pretty tacky!”