Allow Me To Introduce Myself…

If you attend networking events, how much attention do you give to your introduction? Often called an elevator speech, it is meant to be a brief summary of who you are and what you do in the time it takes ride an elevator (no elevator actually required). I know in the various networking groups I attend, a brief amount of time is allotted for members to introduce themselves; forty-five seconds to one minute is all we really need. Surprisingly, most people don’t have a well-polished, rehearsed introduction prepared. I know I need to make my own introduction better.

A great introduction takes time to prepare.

Why spend time to create an introduction? It is the first content you share with people to tell them who you are and what you do. You want to draw attention to yourself. You want to be memorable and informative.

The Basic Elements

Your introduction is a concise description of:

• Your name
• Your company
• Your product or service

Sounds easy, right?

Make a Plan

Now that you know what your basic elements are, it’s time to build upon them. We were all taught to write with an opening, body and conclusion in elementary school. This guide still holds true today.

Opening

• Introduce yourself.
  • TIP: Stand up so people can hear you.
• Tells us your product/profession or service.
• Keep it simple. Unless you are in a group of peers who speak the same “language”, try to eliminate any confusing jargon.

Body

• Include 2 – 3 points about what is is you do.
• Keep those points relevant. It is easy to drift off track and ramble.
• Try to include some reason people should care about your product/service or what makes you stand out from the rest.
• Write different versions to fit different networking events.

Conclusion

• Include a call-to-action. It’s amazing how many people don’t do this. It’s as simple as, “If you are ready to try product X, call me to learn more.”
• Tell people how they can contact you. You do not need to go into details so much as tell people to pick up your business card. Which prompts this reminder: don’t forget to bring business cards.
• Leave a positive, lasting impression. You want to be remembered when you meet people outside of your network group.
• Be ready to expand on your introduction if asked.

Tips to Consider

• Try to eliminate crutch words. These are all of the filler words we tend to use when we speak. Examples: um, ah, er, you know, like or, the repetition of a word. Fillers words are distracting and they make it sound as if you not confident about what you do.
• Be aware of your body language. This communicates more than words. Try to appear open and welcoming.
• Vocal variety adds spice to your introduction. We all remember the speaker with the monotone voice but we don’t remember what was said.
• Be courteous of time. It’s surprising how fast one minute flies by. If you prepare and practice, you can convey your message within the allotted time. Remember, there are others who are given the same amount of time to give their introduction.
• Practice, practice, practice.

Now that you have an outline, you can create a powerful and memorable introduction. I look forward to hearing yours!