Business Introductions Made Easy

• October 1, 2018

Many details come together to create an impression. Of great importance is the first time an individual meets another person face-to-face. In business settings, we often find ourselves in situations of having to make an introduction. Not only will you present yourself to others, but very often you may be the one introducing two people to each other. Here are a few tips to help you through both scenarios.

MAKING AN INTRODUCTION

Whom you introduce first matters

Decide who the senior most person is between the two you are introducing. Ask yourself who is the VIP in this situation. Turn to the higher rank person first to start the introduction. You say the senior most person’s name first. However, please know that a client/customer always outranks anyone in your organization, yes, even the CEO.

Here are some examples:

• How to introduce a new employee to the CEO of the company. Turn to the CEO first and say, “Jane Smith (CEO), I would like to introduce you to Tom Johnson (employee), a new employee. Tom Johnson, this is Jane Smith, the CEO of XX.”
• How to introduce a CEO to a client. Turn to the client first and say “Adam Jones (client), I would like to introduce you to Sarah Thomas, the CEO of ABC Company. Sarah Thomas, this is Adam Jones, a client of ABC Company.”
• How to handle age rank. If you know the age of each person, you introduce the younger person to the older person.
• How to handle gender. Gender doesn’t matter. You always consider rank.

Add an Interest Point

It is nice to be able to give the two people you are introducing a common interest point that may help them continue their conversation. “Jane Smith, I would like to introduce you to Sally Hanson, the president of XYZ Company. Sally Hanson, Jane Smith is a sales consultant for ABC Company. You both have an interest in XX (hobby, sports team, attended the same university).”

SELF-INTRODUCTION

With a genuine smile and looking into their eyes, say, “Hello, my name is Sheila Anderson (say your name slowly – more on this in a bit!). I am a personal brand strategist with Image Power Play.” Shake hands after the introduction is made to ensure you focus on listening to the introduction.

INSTANCES WHEN YOU CANNOT RECALL A NAME

We have all been there when you see someone you met, and you cannot recall their name. Do not be embarrassed. It’s a common occurrence, and the other person has likely experienced it themselves. Here is what you can say in this situation: “Hello, my name is Sheila Anderson. I met you a few months ago at the Chamber of Commerce mixer. It’s nice to see you again. Please tell me your name again.”

Repeat the other person’s name a couple of times during the conversation to ensure you remember it. Moreover, do not be afraid to ask them to, so you make sure you pronounce it correctly. The sound of our name is one of the most precious words we ever hear. We all like our names to be pronounced correctly.

I help executives create a powerful image and brand so they look and feel confident wherever they are. Contact me at sheila@imagepowerplay.com to schedule a 20-minute call to discuss how we can work together to grow your visibility through my return on image® services.