At a networking event or company meeting, you sometimes have to introduce yourself quickly. Presentation skills coach and professional speaker Gilda Bonanno explains how to introduce yourself with confidence and ease so you can make a connection to your audience, whether it's one or one hundred people. For more on this topic, download Gilda's article, "How to Introduce Yourself Quickly" http://bit.ly/28ZXkvE Get more public speaking and networking strategies from Gilda's e-newsletter: http://www.gildabonanno.com/Pages/newsletter.aspx

1. How to Introduce
Yourself Quickly
by Gilda Bonanno
Presentation Skills Coach
& Professional Speaker

2. Sometimes
you have
LESS than 60
seconds to
introduce
yourself

3. A QUICK
introduction
is NOT
your “elevator
speech”
(an elevator
speech is longer)

4. When do you need
a QUICK introduction?

5. At some
networking
events, you
stand and give
a quick
introduction:
NAME & JOB
or BUSINESS

6. Or when presenting to company executives,
you give a quick introduction: NAME,
ROLE, DEPARTMENT & LOCATION

7. A quick introduction sounds easy, but often
people… stumble, fumble & mumble

8. Don’t waste
the opportunity
to make a good
impression

9. Remember the
following
guidelines
when doing
a QUICK
introduction

10. Prepare
What will you
say?
(think about what
matters to this
audience)

11. Practice
Out loud

12. Practice
in front
of the
mirror

13. Practice saying your introduction without
filler words…
I mean…
Kinda…
Uh…
Like
really…
I guess…
Um…
Ya
know…
Sorta
…

14. Communicate
Self-Confidence
If you don’t communicate self-
confidence, then how can the
audience be confident about
what you say?

15. How can you
communicate
self-confidence?

16. Speak loudly, slowly & clearly enough
to be heard and understood

17. Remember,
it’s the first time the
audience is hearing
your name
Remember,
it’s the
first time
the audience is
hearing your
name
(though you’ve
heard it all your
life)

18. Smile
Smiling helps
you look
relaxed
& communicates
warmth and
sincerity

19. Make eye
contact
If you don’t
have time
to look at
everyone
- pick a few
key people

20. Stand up straight
Shoulders back,
head up,
weight evenly
distributed on both
feet

21. If you’re seated
Sit up straight,
keep hands on the
table & feet firmly
on the ground

22. These guidelines also apply if
you’re introducing yourself
to one person
instead of a group

23. And here are more guidelines
for introducing yourself
to one person

24. Shake hands firmly while making eye
contact & smiling

25. Listen to the other person’s introduction
and comments

26. Focus on the
person you’re
introducing
yourself to

27. Give your business
card if asked - or
ask permission to
give it
(and receive theirs
respectfully)

28. Here are some examples
of quick introductions

29. "Good morning. I'm
Denise Wallace, the
Customer Service
Supervisor at the Dallas
Call Center.”
Example (within a company):

30. "Hello, I'm Xavier Boyd.
I'm a sales representative
covering Western Canada.
I sell durable medical
equipment like canes and
wheelchairs.”
Example (within a company):

31. "Good afternoon. I'm
Andrew Milne. I own and
operate Print Plus, a full-
service print and copy
store in White Plains.”
Example (outside a company):

32. “Hi, I'm Amira Sen. I'm a
tax consultant in
Brooklyn specializing in
small businesses.”
Example (outside a company):

33. Follow these
strategies to
introduce yourself
QUICKLY with
confidence and clarity

34. Want more presentation skills strategies?
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