How do you introduce yourself? When you
feel insecure, do you prop up your courage with your introduction? Do you
include titles or accomplishments or "facts" when you don't need to?
If so, your introduction is all about
you, not your audience.
Instead:
See
less as more.
Brief introductions are always best.
Provide the bare minimum the other person needs to know, not in an attempt to
maintain distance, but because during a conversation more about you can be
revealed in a natural, unforced, and therefore much more memorable way.
Stay
in context.
If you meet another parent at a school
meeting, for example, just say, "Hi, I'm Mark. My daughter is in third
grade." Keep your introduction in context with the setting. If there is no
real … just say, "Hi, I'm Mark."
Embrace
understatement.
Unless you're in a business setting,
your job title is irrelevant. Even if you are in fact the CEO of
WeKickSeriousButt Enterprises, just say you work there. To err is human. To err
humble is divine.
Focus
on the other person.
The other person is the only person
that matters. Ask questions. Actually listen to the answers. The best
connections never come from speaking; the best connections always come from
listening.
.... Acceptance and camaraderie are
earned by effort, not granted by title.
When you introduce yourself, embrace
the moment and the setting for what it says about you in that moment, not in
comparison to your titles or accomplishments.
Just be whoever you are, skills and
struggles and triumphs and failures and all. You are your true audience, even
when you introduce yourself.
Always be yourself--especially to
yourself.
As a freight broker, consultant and trainer. I introduce myself to lots of people
every day. I find other people’s
stories to be fascinating. And I
find that people like to tell their story. When you listen, you start a relationship that could very well
turn into business, but if not you’ve at least enjoyed a new story and maybe
gained a new friend.
Moving forward,
Jeff Roach
www.pajamalearning.biz
