Why it Matters
Whether you're talking to someone you just met at a conference or at a meeting at work, being able to introduce yourself is one of the most important professional skills you can develop. Many people (myself included) sell themselves short in their introduction. The cliche that "first impressions are everything" is a cliche for a reason. Would you buy a book or movie that has an ugly cover or a boring title? Some things a good introduction can do for you:
- spark interest and further conversation with others
- establish your credibility and expertise
- get you introductions to other people with similar interests
- make the difference between getting a job and not
You only have a couple seconds to establish your credibility and draw someone's interest (and you can usually tell very quickly when you lose someone’s interest -- and it's very disheartening!) I have looked all over for advice on delivering a good introduction. Most of the advice I found wasn't particularly useful, so I started observing the traits of successful people who do a superstar job introducing themselves. Below are my findings.
1. The Usual Suspects
- Show confidence in your body language
- Look them in the eyes
- Have a good handshake (when appropriate)
- Smile
2. Tailor Your Introduction to Who You're Talking To
It seems like a lot of people don't think about this. Introduce yourself based on who you're talking to. If you're talking to a non-technical person, don't tell them you are a javascript programmer. Put it in terms the other person (or the general audience) will understand. Most people will glaze over if I say I know HTML and CSS coding, but will very easily understand if I say I build websites. If you're presenting to an audience (e.g. at a conference), find out who you’re talking to (i.e. what types of people are in the audience) before you make you’re introduction so you can tailor it accordingly.
3. Your Job Title isn't particularly Useful
Unless your job title very clearly summarizes what you do, it isn't very helpful to the average person. Each industry uses job titles and jargon that doesn't convey much to people outside of the field. Feel free to mention your job title, but it is much more helpful to mention some of the most common tasks that you do in your role. People have a tendency to remember what you specialize in and how you might be helpful to them.
So, what should you actually say?
A good introduction should be 3 to 4 lines. Line 1 (Who you are) My name is _________. Line 2 (Establish your credibility) I've been doing (or interested in) your area of expertise for ___ amount of time. Line 3 I'm here because _____________. Line 4 (optional fun fact) You can mention something such as:
- What kind of job you had before your current one and for how many years
- What you studied in college
- A cool project you've worked on
- Where you’re from
- A positive, lighthearted comment / observation can work well
Additional Notes
- Keep it brief: Speak broadly and only go into specifics if asked.
- Business cards are still in style. Stock fresh business cards and write down your personal contact info on the back as you give it to them (if it’s a work business card). It will make the other person feel special.
- Remember that an introduction is just the start of the conversation. Be sure to listen to others and hear their introductions too.
- If you hear an introduction that you like, pay attention to what you like about it and incorporate the technique into your own introductions
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