Knowing how to introduce colleagues and friends can make any social situation easier and more enjoyable. This skill will provide you with a sense of self-confidence and professionalism.
An enthusiastic introduction, followed by a few words about the person is an excellent conversation starter. For example: “Sally, I want you too meet Mr. Brown. He is a talented writer.” Sally does not have to begin a conversation with small talk, but can immediately ask Mr. Brown about his writing. Good networkers practice the art of seamless introductions, leaving everyone at ease and impressed by their politeness. The following suggestions will help you to handle introductions with ease.
The rules of formality in introductions are not always clear. You must take your cues from the age of the people involved, their positions in business and life, their relationships, the circumstances at the time, and even the community customs. There is no specific rule regarding using a title and a last name, such as “Mr. Brown” or just first and last names, such as “Jim Brown.” When in doubt, always take the more formal route.
It is better to attempt an introduction, than to leave people standing there awkwardly because you fear that you will make a mistake. If you do commit an obvious social blunder while introducing someone, do not panic! Graceful spontaneity will come to the rescue when good manners prevail. Say that you are sorry, and then begin the introduction again correctly.
Who is Introduced to Whom?
When you are faced with introducing someone for the first time, the task becomes a pleasure with the knowledge of a few guidelines. The most important rule is set out below:
The younger or less important person is introduced to the older or more important person.
The easiest way to remember this pivotal principle is to always say the name of the older more important person first. Once the person’s name flies from your lips, everything else should easily fall into place.
If you are introducing a teenager named John Smith to Ms. Black, who is elderly, you may want to use the following if it is a very formal setting:
“Ms. Black, I would like to present John Smith.”
Whereas, in an informal gathering you could simply say:
“Ms Black, this is John Smith.”
You will notice that when introducing a young person to someone considerably older, as a sign of respect, the older person’s title. In this case “Ms.” was used. It is up to Ms. Black to give John permission to use her first name.
Additional Guidelines
• Avoid saying: “Mr. Jones, I would like you to meet Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith . . . Mr. Jones.” Use people’s names only once, unless you are adding more information regarding their background to aid in conversation.
• Gender is not an issue in business introductions. Rank, and then age, are the deciding factors.
• Family members are usually considered less important than those outside the family, despite the family member’s rank. An elderly relative may sometimes take precedence.
• Always state the last names when introducing people to each other.
• If the person you are introducing has a title such as “Doctor” or “Major,” include their title in the introduction.
• If you are introducing your spouse to a friend, do not use a formal title such as (Mr., Mrs. or Ms.) for your spouse, even in formal situations. It will sound odd.
• If you are introducing a couple with different last names, it may be helpful to make their relationship clear.
Guidelines for Seamless Introductions - To learn more about this author, visit Catherine Bell's Website.
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Catherine Bell
(Visit Catherine's Website)
Additional business protocol tips that
foster good business relationships can be
found in Managing Your Image Potential:
Creating Good Impressions in Business by
Catherine Graham Bell.
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