Introducing Yourself!

So, you've started a new job, school, or wish to make an impression on a new friend or neighbour, but how best to introduce yourself?

You don't want to jump right in with all of your deepest secrets, but you want to seem friendly... Well, you've come to the right place!

Confidently Introducing Yourself

Smile, smile, smile. A smile goes a long way, it's the first thing we notice in a stranger or acquaintance and it will always mean you get a smile back, which breaks the ice. That's the tricky part done. If you seem tense or nervous, it can sometimes make first impressions a little confusing, so try and stay calm and at least show you are relaxed with loose shoulders and generally relaxed posture. Though it may not seem like much, doing so portrays you to be an approachable and laid-back person, which will make conversation come more naturally.

Be polite. An easy one, but is often missed. Being over-the-top with politeness with a first encounter isn't a bad thing, you want to ensure you start off on the right foot, so leave out the slang and bad language for later down the line once you have earned the trust of each other.

Be open, but not too honest. A typical introduction would be something like "Hello, I'm ---- and I'm from ----" for example. The more open you are with something, the more the inital connection will be. I can guarrantee you can think of one bond or friendship which came about after the first conversation, as you did find something in common with the other person almost straight away. So, it seems the generic questions do come in handy, "Do you have pets?", "What do you do in your spare time?", "What do you enjoy doing?". All questions like these are basic, but will make conversation easier as you can agree, disagree or compare with all of these kinds of topics. What you are looking for is that "No way! Me too!" moment. Common ground is always good. Don't be over-informative though, I'm not sure they would want to know about your tummy troubles, nor how you nearly killed the neighbour's cat with your car last week, at this early stage. Our judgement is usually pretty good at when is best to say things, so listen to your gut!

Human beings are completely and utterly infatuated with themselves - well, that's sort of true. Research suggests that if you find conversation hard, ask the other person about themselves. We can talk about ourselves so fluently and confidently without realising, that it'll take the pressure off, and the other person will be grateful you are listening! If you suspect someone else is struggling with conversation, flip the technique on it's head, try speaking about yourself a little until they catch on, it shouldn't be long before they slip in a "I remember when I.." or "That's like the time I.." - something along those lines. Take every opportunity you can to learn about the other person whilst educating them about you!

By following these tips, you are sure to have flawless introductions in no time at all, roll on the next meeting!