I’ve gone over the keys to a solid introduction. This is all about what a great introduction actually looks, sounds, and smells like.
Look sharp and smell decent
I will start with the (hopefully) obvious. You need to smell decent if you want to have any chance whatsoever of making a good impression. There is no way that anyone will listen to you if they can’t get past smelling you; and there’s no way that you can feel confident if you are worried about your hygiene.
Likewise, use your wardrobe, accessories, makeup, and grooming as a way to communicate visually about who you are. Develop a style. Preferably, develop a style that is easy to maintain. Wear clothes that are comfortable that you won’t fidget with the entire time you are holding a conversation.
Channel your inner circus performer
I love the book “How to Talk to Anyone” by Leil Lowndes– while the chatty tone can get a bit grating, the advice is practical and easy to implement. Also, whenever I’ve experimented with it, it’s been effective.
One tip Lowndes offers is to stand straight, and she recommends doing it circus performer style. She writes that every time you go through a door, you pretend that there is a harness with a bit that you will hang from. Throw your shoulders back, pretend to clench the bit with your teeth, and stand up straight. Instant good posture, which helps you feel more confident.
Slow down, and repeat yourself
I went to a wonderful networking class with Alyce Blum, a coach and consultant and networking extraordinaire. She started off the class by asking everyone to slow down when they introduce themselves. There were nine people in the class. Everyone still rushed through their introductions. As the person listening, I found that I wasn’t retaining much.
Compare that with my friend Wayne, who served as a Peace Corps volunteer with me. People learned Wayne’s name quickly, because he would always speak slowly. “I’m Wayne,” he would say slowly and pause. “Wayne from Maine.”
It was brilliant. The rhyme helped people remember. It also helped that he repeated his name twice. And above all, he said it slowly and paused so that the person he was introducing himself to could fully get it and make a mental note.
I don’t have a rhyme for my name, but what I am working on is slowly and clearly saying my first name, and then repeating it with my last name. My name is Kim, Kim Brokling.
You can take this up another level by putting the emphasis on your name in the correct place, as per Laura Sicola.
If you focus on making sure your basic hygiene is in place, become comfortable with your own sense of style, channel your inner circus performer with straight posture, and slow down and properly emphasize your name, you will make a better impression when you introduce yourself and you will make your introduction a more pleasant experience for whoever you are introducing yourself to.
Nice to meet you.