In practice, introducing yourself is more than just saying your name. Introductions are a way to connect with new people through the exchange of words and sometimes physical contact as well. Introducing yourself to a stranger is a bit tricky because what you say depends entirely on the context. You can introduce yourself in different ways depending on who you're dealing with, whether it's a group of audience before you give your speech, meeting someone at a social event, or just starting a conversation with new people at a party. The most important factor is introducing yourself in an appropriate way and getting people to like and remember you.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Introducing Yourself in Social Situations
Step 1. Make eye contact
Eye contact indicates that you are fully engaged in an interaction. Eye contact is a way to connect with another person and show that he or she has your attention. If you make eye contact, it shows that you are open and fully involved.
- If you're not comfortable looking someone straight in the eye, look at the dot between the person's eyebrows, he won't notice the difference.
- If you're in a group, make occasional eye contact with all of them.
Step 2. Smile
A bright, genuine smile is important when meeting new people. Show genuine joy when meeting new people and try to share positive experiences, it will help create a genuine smile. To create a more genuine, less-than-fake smile, you need to involve the upper part of your face when you smile.
Step 3. Display appropriate body language
Body language should convey that you are confident and relaxed. Stand with your head held high and your back pulled back, being careful not to bend over. Imitate the body language of those around you. Also imitate their speed and tone of voice to create harmony.
Method 2 of 4: Introducing Yourself to Individuals
Step 1. Name each one
In a formal introduction, say "Hello, I'm [first name][last name]." If it's informal, say, "Hi, I'm [first name]." Immediately after saying your name, ask the other person's name by saying "Your name?" in a pleasant tone. Once you know her name, repeat by saying "Nice to meet you, Febri" or "Nice to meet you, Karin."
Repeating the name will help you remember the person and add a personal touch to the introduction
Step 2. Shake hands or use other culturally appropriate body language
Most cultures have some form of physical contact that accompanies greetings. In Indonesia, people usually shake hands when they meet. Make sure your handshake is brief and not too weak or strong.
- Be aware of cultural differences. For example, shaking hands firmly in China is considered rude.
- Meeting someone with a hug is also considered appropriate, especially if you're meeting a friend of a friend or sister-in-law. When compared to a handshake, hugs show more openness. Women usually prefer to hug rather than shake hands like men.
- In many cultures, kissing on the cheek when meeting is also considered appropriate. For example, in South America all women are greeted with a kiss, and in France women are greeted with a kiss on the left and right cheeks. If you're not sure which one to use, follow other people's examples or how people around you greet you.
Step 3. Ask questions
In introductions, it is important to show interest in the other person. Ask him where he's from, what his occupation is, or what you two might have in common. Ask him what activities he enjoys doing and his interests. Show that you pay attention and are interested in what he has to say.
- You can give a little background to continue the conversation and share about yourself. For example, telling your workplace or hobby of rock climbing that you enjoy would be appropriate in the introduction and might lead to more topics.
- Don't take the opportunity to just talk about yourself. You will come across as selfish or disinterested.
Step 4. Close the conversation
After meeting someone for the first time, you should end the conversation by stating again that you enjoyed the meeting. If the interaction is formal, say “Miss Sastro, it's nice to meet you. I hope we can talk again some other time.” If the nature of the conversation is informal, you can say “Nice to meet you, Hari. I hope we can meet again.”
Method 3 of 4: Introducing Yourself Before Giving a Speech
Step 1. Greet the audience and say your name
Saying your first and last name is important when giving a speech. When greeting and mentioning names, remember to speak clearly and confidently.
Say “Good morning, I am Satria Anandito” or “How are you all today? My name is Lisa Karina"
Step 2. Provide some relevant information about yourself
After saying the name, share your relevance to the speech to ensure credibility. The type of information you share depends on your audience and the subject you are talking about. If you are giving a speech about the importance of eating organic food, say that you are a scientist, chef, or environmentalist. If you are giving a speech about child development, make sure you include the information that you are a child psychologist.
Provide other relevant information. For example, you can provide a brief background on your credible experience. “My name is Erika Larasati and I am a lecturer in Environmental Science at Gadjah Mada University. After doing research in the rainforests of Borneo, I realized the importance of sharing ways to protect the environment.”
Step 3. Communicate effectively
From the start, make sure your voice is loud enough for everyone listening. Avoid muttering sounds by pronouncing the consonants as clearly as possible. You can even ask your audience if your voice is loud enough for everyone to hear. Your audience won't be able to understand or appreciate the information you provide if they can't hear you.
Step 4. Move your body
Stand with good posture and move freely when speaking. Stand straight, pull your shoulders back so you don't slouch, and free your hands and move them when needed. If you are not standing behind the podium, walk around the stage to show the audience that you are comfortable and not rigid.
Method 4 of 4: Introducing Yourself at Professional Events
Step 1. State your full name
Make sure you give your full name so the other person can remember your name. You can say, “Hi, my name is Mark Salim” or “Hello, I'm Anita Gendis”. This way, they are more likely to remember you.
Step 2. Provide a one-sentence description of your job
If you're at a social networking event, chances are you'll be talking about work with a lot of people. So, what do you say when a connection asks, “What is your job?” Would you start spending 10 minutes telling stories about your career journey? Are you going to list the contents of your list of achievements one by one? Of course not. If you're not engaging in a lengthy conversation, you should be prepared to provide a one-sentence job description that includes the following information:
- Who are you, professionally? Are you a teacher, project manager, or healthcare professional?
- Who do you work with? Do you work with children, intercultural project teams, or microfinance organizations?
- What are you doing? Do you help 2nd graders develop their writing skills, do you help intercultural teams meet goals while keeping tabs on their budgets, or do you help microfinance organizations develop a market base in developing countries?
- Now, put the sentences together. State who you are, who you work with, and what you do.
Step 3. Respect other people's space
If you carry items, don't place them on the recruiter's or presenter's desk. Respect their space and don't be a burden. You may also interfere with their material, such as tearing down posters or damaging flyers. Wait until prompted before handing out business cards, resumes, etc.
Step 4. Follow up with questions
If the first person you talk to asks about your work, don't walk away or praise yourself for a job well done. Instead, ask what the other person's job is. This is not only polite, but shows that you have a genuine interest in his or her career path and genuinely want to build a connection.
Step 5. Say goodbye like a pro
Don't just wave and say, "See you later" and walk away. Anyone you meet at social networking events may have the potential to help you in the future, so make sure you make eye contact, repeat their name, and exchange business cards or other relevant information before separating.
Tips
- Keep the focus on the people you meet, giving them the respect you want to receive.
- Avoid any food that might stick to your teeth.
- Don't look the other way or act like you're distracted, that will make you seem bored or disinterested.
- Don't talk when your mouth is full of food.
- Focus on the positive. Introductions are not the time to say negative things about yourself or others.
- Try to lighten the mood with a joke or compliment.
- If your hands tend to get sweaty, wipe them with a handkerchief before getting to know each other.
