Introducing yourself in a meeting seems easy enough. Then why do so many people fail to make the most of it, and sometimes even leave a bad impression? Some people talk incessantly about all their experience and accomplishments in what ends up putting off rather than impressing their listeners. Others give only the bare minimum, stating their name and organization so quickly or meekly that if you don’t pay close attention, you just might miss it.
I am a stickler for short introductions that convey just the needed information, but I wasn’t always that way. Early in my career, I took part in an important presentation that had the potential to be really, really successful, but ended up being very, very bad. Terribly disappointed, I was determined to learn from it.
It was one of my first new-business presentations at a new agency. Our team had drafted a very strong proposal, made it to the finals, and were competing against one other firm. We were given 45 minutes to present our recommendations, and we brought a five-person team. Three of my senior colleagues spent a solid 20 minutes introducing themselves. This was not part of the plan, but their nervous energy got the best of them. And, since the first person gave their entire work history, the second person felt compelled to follow suit. These inflated introductions left very little time to present the meat of the proposal, and it gave exactly the wrong impression. The team came off as arrogant and boastful, talking all about themselves, rather than conveying competence and capability, focusing on client needs. Long story short, we lost the business. In fact, the potential client told us that while we had the best proposal, by far, the presentation just did not support it. That defeat left a huge impression on me.
Below are a few tips to consider next time you need to introduce yourself.
Your introduction is usually the first impression people will have of you. Make them want to talk to you and learn more about you and your expertise. Maybe they’ll even like you–and hire you.
The Reis Group is a woman-owned, boutique public relations agency focused on health and social causes. We are passionate about our clients' issues and believe in the power of communications to transform lives.
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