When introducing yourself to a group (especially in a virtual context like on Zoom or your LinkedIn page) it’s easy to forget that an introduction is a dialogue, not a monologue.
You are trying to communicate who you are to your listeners (or readers), but you’ll connect more authentically if you think of your introduction as a conversation rather than a speech.
That being said, an introduction is still worth preparing for and practicing. Often when we’re “put on the spot” and have to introduce ourselves, we get nervous and either get “tongue-tied” or we “blabber on” and don’t know when to stop talking.
How can you prepare an introduction of yourself? First of all, imagine that you’re introducing yourself to just one person. Think of the questions a person normally asks in an introductory exchange of information.
- What’s your name?
- Why are you at this event? Who else do you know here?
- Where are you from?
- What do you do?
- How did you get into that line of work?
- Are you married/single/in a relationship? Do you have kids or pets?
- What do you do for fun?
Questions may of course vary depending on where you’re at and how you’ve met this person (your context). However, these are common small talk questions. Your natural and immediate answers to these questions are a good place to start when preparing your self-introduction.
You’ll connect more authentically if you think of your introduction as a conversation rather than a speech.
A Closer Look
Now let’s look at these questions more closely. I’ve highlighted in bold the grammar/vocab that is typically used in these situations.
Read each description, then write on a separate paper your initial response to each question. What feels like the most natural answer for you? You may even want to record your answer on your phone instead of writing.
What’s your name?
Depending on the context, you may want to share your first name and last name or what you’re normally called.
“Hi, I’m Stephanie Anderson, but you can call me Steph.”
“My name is Stephanie, but most people call me Steph.”
Why are you at this event? Who else do you know here?
Your listener wants to place you in context. They want to know your relationship to the event or place. They also want to know who else you know. Our network of colleagues friends and acquaintances is an important part of our personal context.
“I’m a friend of Angie’s.”
“Angie invited me to attend.”
“I’ve heard a lot about this group from Angie.”
“I’m part of the PBA program.”
“I serve on the board for the English language teachers’ association.”
“I’m the spouse of an American diplomat.”
(I know that introducing what your spouse does rather than what you do can be controversial in expat circles, but sometimes it’s the easiest and quickest way to explain why you are where you are and why you’re doing what you do. You’ll have to decide what’s relevant and works best for you, keeping in mind that this might change depending on who you’re talking to.)
Where are you from?
This question provides even more context – this time physical placement.
“I’m originally from California, but right now I’m living in Germany.”
“I’m based in D.C., but currently living in Dubai.”
“I live in New York, but I’ll always be a California girl at heart.”
“We’ve lived here for 2 years.”
“We moved here from El Salvador.”
What do you do?
Most English speakers coming from “doing” cultures, not “being” cultures, so this question is very important. In fact, it’s often the first thing someone will ask when you meet them.
Nailing your answer to this question is even more important if you’re an entrepreneur or solopreneur introducing yourself to potential clients.
If this is the case, think beyond what you do to what you offer. Focus on the transformation or experience you provide. Also, think about how you identify and describe your client. Will your listener identify themselves in your description?
It can be difficult to talk about what you do so that it sounds authentic instead of “sales-y”.
In the Portable Business Accelerator, Amel Derragui of Tandem Nomads provides this formula to help you describe your client, what they want, and what you offer.
I help…(patient).
Their problem or desire is…(disease).
The pain points they experience are… (symptoms).
What they really want is…(result).
The solution I provide is…(cure).
She emphasizes that it’s important to focus on the transformation for the client. (I highly recommend checking out Amel’s resources for more help crafting your “value proposition.”)
Here’s my statement, but it’s still a work in progress!
“I help expats, diplomats and accompanying partners who are conversationally fluent in English to level up their professional writing and English speaking skills so they can confidently navigate globally mobile lives and careers.”
How did you get into that line of work?
Talking about what you do segues naturally into describing your origin story. Be careful not to spend too long telling your story. What does the listener need to know? What’s the most relevant information for them to know?
Remember once again to think of this as a dialogue, not a monologue. No one likes getting stuck listening to someone’s job history or journey of self-discovery. A little goes a long way!
Are you married/single/in a relationship? Do you have kids or pets?
Decide for yourself if this information is relevant based on the context. Share only what you’re comfortable sharing or what feels most appropriate.
What do you do for fun?
Again, decide what’s most appropriate for the context.
I’d suggest thinking of 3-5 interesting facts about yourself, likes and dislikes, or hobbies you have. Practice describing each of them quickly and succinctly in one short sentence. Keep these little “interest nuggets” ready to pull out whenever you’re asked to “introduce yourself and tell us something interesting about yourself.”
Prepare
Now it’s your turn to get your introduction ready. After you’ve read the descriptions, read aloud each question to yourself, then write or record the first answer that comes to your mind. This is just a rough draft!
Later come back to your paragraph or recording and work on refining it: edit things out, try saying it aloud to a friend, or practice in front of the mirror. The more you work on it, the more polished it will become, and the more prepared you’ll feel to introduce yourself in a group!
If you’d like help or advice, feel free to contact me!