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Learn how to introduce yourself in conversation and in writing

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Why good introductions matter

Structuring your introduction, how to create a great self-introduction, personal introduction examples, hello world.

First impressions are important. While you’ll forget preconceived notions or awkward handshakes, the way someone presents themself to you lingers and affects how you feel about them later in the relationship . Unless you’re given the opportunity to learn otherwise, you likely already made up your mind about them.

A true first impression only takes seven seconds to form , so you need to start strong — from the first moment. 

And we make these first impressions all the time when dating, making friends, and networking . It can feel daunting knowing we must constantly present ourselves well. 

Luckily, acing self-introductions isn’t difficult. We’ll discuss how to introduce yourself verbally and in written form to leave a professional impression and offer some introduction examples for you to try.

Presenting yourself well means leaving a good first impression, which impacts the early stages of any relationship. You'll likely manage to change someone’s mind about you with time and patience if you have a rocky start. 

But if you can avoid misunderstandings from the beginning, it could set you up for opportunities you might otherwise miss.

For example, if you’re writing a letter of interest to a company you’d like to work for and forget to include personality traits and skills matching their organization values, they may move past your application. Remembering to include those sections helps you start that much further ahead in the application process.

Writing an introduction about yourself also allows you to consider your strengths and interests. Even professional introductions often involve discussing a few hobbies and favorite pastimes. You can self-reflect when creating these short introductions about yourself to improve your self-awareness and write a more authentic letter. 

Regularly updated self-intros on your platforms like LinkedIn also help prospective followers and professional connections know what you’re up to and what to expect when they connect.

In professional settings, a good introduction doesn't need to be formulaic and can be casual or lengthy, depending on the scenario. Here’s a general outline for an intro that covers all the bases: 

If you're wondering how to start an introduction about yourself, the best thing to do is keep it simple. Greet your conversation partner or audience, state your name, and mention why you're there, if relevant.

Let your audience know where you’re from and what you’ve been up to recently. Customize this to the situation. In some cases, you’ll discuss where you grew up and where you live now. In others, where you went to school and your profession will be your focus. 

In professional settings, mention any relevant skills and offer context by discussing why you’re mentioning or where you gained them. 

If this is a written introduction, like a cover letter or letter of intent , include skills mentioned in the job description to show you’ve prepared and know what’s required for the role. And ensuring your skills are aligned benefits you. According to Gallup, working where you can use your skills to the best of your ability reduces the likelihood of hypertension and high cholesterol .

Achievements

In most professional intros, it’s helpful to note things you’ve accomplished, like degrees or promotions . This might also be relevant when introducing yourself to new colleagues or clients. 

You can use an introduction to express to your community what you’d like to achieve and how you might get there. This subtle type of networking might help you gain help or land an opportunity you might’ve missed. 

To show your proactivity and sincerity, include examples of how you’re already taking action to realize these goals. For example, if you're interested in learning French, mention you're taking classes and have a language-exchange partner you meet once a week.

Expressing your values during an introduction doesn’t have to be explicit. The way you behave when meeting someone says more than stating you value a specific trait. Be honest, speak articulately and with kindness, and remain humble to show you value transparency, compassion, and humility. If this is a job search or workplace introduction, align your values with those expressed by the team or company. For example, if their mission statement mentions valuing teamwork skills , talk about your love of collaborating with others to achieve common goals. 

The best way to end an introduction is to leave the conversation open. For example, if the intro is for a job interview, ask the hiring manager how they'd like to proceed . If it’s a meet and greet where there’s only time for introductions, set a follow-up call to ask more questions .

Preparing a succinct and genuine introduction is valuable in every facet of your life. Here are five tips for composing the best introduction: 

1. Rehearse it 

A great way to make introducing yourself less nerve-wracking is to memorize a simple introduction. Customize this to each situation so you don’t have to think on the spot so much, or rehearse intros for various scenarios so you’re never caught off guard. 

Try recording yourself saying the introduction to ensure you’re speaking articulately and clearly. You could also rehearse it with a friend to get constructive feedback . 

2. Tell a story

Instead of summarizing easily-accessible online information about you, engage your audience by sprinkling in new details and formatting your intro like a story . 

A great way to do this is to replicate the STAR interview method . This is the framework: 

• Situation : Establish your career path , starting with where you came from and a challenge you faced.
• Task : Define what your position and responsibilities were during this time.
• Action : Tell them how you confronted this challenge.
• Result : Share what you achieved and the insights you gained along the way.

You can shorten or lengthen this story, depending on your circumstances.

3. Communicate your values

Communication skills are essential to making a good first impression. Demonstrate your confidence with good posture, show your values by remaining sincere, and express your consideration for others by actively listening .

4. Showcase your personality

Even in professional settings, your audience wants to know what kind of person you are. A hiring manager cares about your qualifications but also wants to ensure you’ll get along with your coworkers and enjoy the company culture .

Being yourself also shows your sincerity — you’re not about to completely hide qualities such as humor and nerdiness just because this is a formal introduction. 

5. End with a question

A great way to show your interest in the person on the other end is to complete your introduction with a question. In a professional setting, this might be asking something about a job description or probing about next steps. This shows you see them as active participants in the conversation and also keeps things moving smoothly. 

You understand the importance of a great self-intro, know how to format one, and are filled with tips and tricks for creating a great first impression. Here are two introduction templates for different scenarios to help you get started: 

Example 1 — Job interview intro

Hey [recruiter name], 

My name’s [name]. I completed my [qualifying course or training] in [year] and have [x] years of experience working as [relevant position]. While working for [previous company’s name], I developed [soft and hard skills], which I think will apply well to this role.

I’ve also been hoping to work on my [ambitions], and I know I’d get the opportunity to do so at [this company] since you value [insert value]. I look forward to telling you more about my qualifications throughout this call and thank you in advance for your time.

Do you have any questions about the resume I sent over?

Example 2 — New team member intro

Hello everyone,

I’m [your name]. I've just joined this department as [position]. I have [x] years of experience [list relevant tasks and situations]. I've had the pleasure of meeting some of you already and look forward to getting to know everyone here better. To start, maybe everyone could mention the position they’re in and the clients they’re focused on?

Composing a self-introduction is an excellent opportunity to reflect on where you’ve been, what you’d like to achieve, and what you have to offer. We make formal and informal intros all the time, be it with a new date or a potential employer, so it’s worth knowing how to introduce yourself. 

Consider asking friends, family, and colleagues for help if you find it hard to summarize your past and qualifications. Fresh perspectives are always helpful since it’s hard to pinpoint our own strengths and weaknesses. And once you’ve practiced a basic intro a few times, you’ll feel ready for every scenario.

Elizabeth Perry

Content Marketing Manager, ACC

How to introduce yourself in an interview: Examples & tips

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas About Me Slides: How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation

About Me Slides: How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation

From conference talks to client demos, it’s always essential to include an About Me slide in any presentation you are giving. Introducing yourself early into the presentation helps build a better rapport with the audience.

You can start with several fun facts about me slide to break the ice or go for a more formal professional bio to explain your background and what makes you qualified to talk about the topic at hand. At any rate, your goal is to get the audience on your side by revealing some of your personality. 

How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation: 4 Approaches 

It’s a good practice to include self-introduction slides at the beginning of your presentation. If you are looking to answer how to introduce yourself professionally, typically somewhere after the title, opening slide , and the main agenda. However, the presentation structure will be somewhat different depending on whether you are presenting to a new audience or a group of people familiar with (e.g., your team, clients, or business partners). 

Here are four about me slide ideas you can try out, plus an About me template you can use to present yourself in a presentation. 

1. Mention Your Name and Affiliations

Start with the introduction basics. State your name, company, title/position, and several quick facts about who you are and what you do. Even if you present to a familiar audience, a brief recap is always welcome. 

To keep things a bit more engaging, consider adding some lesser-known facts about yourself. For example:

• Your interests 
• Recent accomplishments
• Testimonial/quote from a team member 
• Fun nicknames you got 

The above can be nice ice breakers for less formal team presentations, project updates, or catch-ups with clients. 

Here are several unique About Me examples you can try out:

For a client case study presentation : 

“Hi, I’m Lynda, Chief Customer Success Specialist with Acme Corp. (Also, someone you thought was a chatbot for the first few encounters)

47 NPS | 15% Churn Rate | 40% repeat purchase rate”

For a team after-action review presentation :

Mike, Project Manager at Cool Project

(aka Maximizer)

Personal Project stats:

387 Slack messages answered

56 cups of coffee consumed

Project profit gross margin: $1.2 million 

2. Work On Your Elevator Pitch 

One of the best ways to introduce yourself in a presentation is to share a punchy elevator pitch. This works extra well if you are presenting to a new audience. 

An elevator pitch is a concise statement (1-2 sentences) that summarizes your unique strengths, skills, and abilities and explains how these can benefit your listener. 

It’s nice to have one ready for your presentations and networking in general since it helps you immediately connect with new people and communicate your value. 

Writing a solid elevator pitch may require several attempts and iterations. But the sooner you start — the faster you’ll arrive at the best formula! 

To get your creative juices flowing, here are several elevator pitch ideas you can incorporate in an introduction slide about yourself. 

For professionals: 

“Certified Salesforce Administrator, data visualization specialist, and analytics for top SaaS brands. I help businesses make more sense of their data to drive better outcomes”.

For a mentor :

“Adjunct professor of creative writing at Columbia University, published author, former lifestyle editor at Esquire, the New York Times. I can teach you how to find, shape, pitch, and publish stories for web & print.”

For a student: 

“Third-year Marine Biology student at Denver State Uni. Volunteer at Lake Life Protection NGO, climate change activist, looking to expand my research about water conservation”.

3. Answer Popular Questions or Assumptions 

If you are a frequent presenter , chances are you get asked a lot of the same “About Me questions” after your speeches and during the networking bits. So why not address a roaster of these in your About Me slide? Select 4-5 most common questions and list them as quick FAQs on your slide deck. 

4. Focus on Telling a Story 

Strong introductions are personable. They are meant to offer a sneak-peak into your personality and the passion behind your work. That’s why for less formal presentations, you can (and should!) start with a short personal story. 

Remember: reliability is important to “click” with your audience. 

For instance, neuroscience research of political ads recently found that ads featuring real people performed better than those with genetic stock footage. Among viewers, emotional engagement and memory encoding (recall) increased dramatically when political ads showed relatable people. 

The same holds true for commerce. In 2015, GE launched a viral “What’s the Matter With Owen?” video ad series to attract more young talent to the company. The clips featured a relatable protagonist, struggling to explain what his work at GE entails e.g. that the company isn’t building railroads, but actually does some very innovative pilots. Many engineers related to the promo and work applications to GE shoot up by 800% ! 

As the above examples show, a good relatable story can go a long way. So think about how you can make a PowerPoint presentation about yourself more representative of who you really are as a person. 

How to Give a Presentation About Yourself: 4 Fool-Proof Tips

On other occasions, you may be asked to give a full-length “about me” presentation. Typically, this is the case during a second interview, onboarding , or if you are in attending a training program or workshop where everyone needs to present themselves and their work. 

Obviously, you’ll need more than one good about me slide in this case. So here’s how to prepare a superb presentation about me. 

What to Put in a Presentation About Yourself?

The audience will expect to learn a mix of personal and professional facts about you. Thus, it’s a good idea to include the following information: 

• Your name, contact info, website , social media handles, digital portfolio .
• Short bio or some interesting snippets. 
• Career timeline (if applicable).
• Main achievements (preferably quantifiable).
• Education, special training.
• Digital badging awards , accolades, and other types of recognition.
• Something more personal — an interest, hobby, aspiration. 

The above mix of items will change a bit, depending on whether you are giving an interview presentation about yourself or introduce yourself post-hiring. For example, in some cases a dedicated bio slide may be useful, but other times focusing on main achievements and goals can be better.

That being said, let’s take a closer look at how to organize the above information in a memorable presentation. 

P.S. Grab an about me slide template to make the design process easier! 

1. Create a List of “Facts About Me”

The easiest way to answer the “tell me about yourself” question is by having an array of facts you can easily fetch from your brain. 

When it comes to a full-length about me presentation , it’s best to have a longer list ready. To keep your brainstorming process productive, organize all your ideas in the following buckets: 

• Key skills (soft and hard)
• Educational accolades, training
• Accomplishments and other “bragging rights”
• Personal tidbits (a.k.a. fun facts ) 

Once you have a list, it gets easier to build a series of slides around it. 

2. Think Like Your Audience 

Most likely you’d be asked to make a presentation about yourself by a recruiter. There’s a good reason why many ask this — they want to determine if you are a good “cultural fit” for their organization. 

After all, 33% of people quit within the first 3 months of accepting a new job. Among these:

• 43% of employees quit because their day-to-day role was different than what they were told it would be during the hiring process.
• 32% cite company culture as a factor for leaving within the first three months. 

About me presentations often serve as an extra “filter” helping both parties ensure that they are on the same page expectations- and work style-wise. Thus, when you prepare your slide deck, do some background company research. Then try to align the presentation with it by matching the company tone, communication style, and cultural values. 

3. Include Testimonials and Recommendations

Use the voice of others to back up the claims you are making in your presentation. After all, trumping your own horn is what you are expected to do in such a presentation. But the voices of others can strengthen the claims you are personally making. 

Depending on your role and industry, try to sprinkle some of the following testimonials: 

• LinkedIn recommendations
• Quotes from personal or professional references
• Social media comments 
• Data metrics of your performance
• Funny assessments from your colleagues/friends 

The above not just strengthen your narrative, but also help the audience learn some extras about you and your background. Testimonial slides can be of help for this purpose.

4. Include a Case Study 

One of the best ways to illustrate who you are is to show what you are best in. Remember, an about me presentation often needs to “soft sell” your qualifications, experience, and personality. 

One of the best ways to do that is to showcase how you can feel in a specific need and solve issues the business is facing. 

So if you have the timeframe, use some of the ending slides to deliver a quick case study. You can present: 

• Short retrospective of a past successful project
• Before-after transformations you’ve achieved 
• Spotlight of the main accomplishments within the previous role 
• Main customer results obtained
• Specific solution delivered by you (or the team you’ve worked with) 

Ending your presentation on such a high note will leave the audience positively impressed and wondering what results you could achieve for them.

To Conclude 

It’s easy to feel stumped when you are asked to talk about yourself. Because there are so many things you could mention (but not necessarily should). At the same time, you don’t want to make your introduction sound like a bragging context. So always think from the position of your audience. Do the facts you choose to share benefit them in any way? If yes, place them confidently on your About Me slides! 

1. Personal Self Introduction PowerPoint Template

Use This Template

2. Self Introduction PowerPoint Template

3. Meet the Team PowerPoint Template Slides

4. Introduce Company Profile PowerPoint Template

5. Modern 1-Page Resume Template for PowerPoint

6. Modern Resume Presentation Template

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How to Introduce Yourself For a Presentation | 6 Strategies for a Powerful Opening

Leah Nguyen • 04 Oct 2023 • 7 min read

First impressions are everything in public speaking. Whether you’re presenting to a room of 5 people or 500, those first few moments set the stage for how your entire message will be received.

You only get one chance at a proper introduction, so it’s crucial to nail it.

We’ll cover the best tips on how to introduce yourself for a presentation . By the end, you’ll walk onto that stage with your head held high, ready to kick off an attention-grabbing presentation like a pro.

Table of Contents

#1. start the topic with an engaging hook, #2. set context around your topic, #3. keep it brief, #4. do the unexpected, #5. preview next steps, #6. perform mock talks, bottom line, frequently asked questions, tips for audience engagement.

• Stage Fright
• What Are The Facial Expressions?

Start in seconds.

Get free templates for your next interactive presentation. Sign up for free and take what you want from the template library!

How to Introduce Yourself for a Presentation (+Examples)

Learn how to say “hi” in a way that leaves a lasting impact and your audience wanting more. The introduction spotlight is yours—now go grab it!

Pose an open-ended challenge related to your experience. “If you had to navigate X complex issue, how might you approach it? As someone who’s dealt with this firsthand…”

Tease an accomplishment or detail about your background. “What many don’t know about me is that I once…”

Relate a brief story from your career that shows your expertise. “There was a time early in my career when I…”

Pose a hypothetical and then relate from experience. “What would you do if faced with an upset customer like I was several years ago when…”

Refer to success metrics or positive feedback that proves your authority. “When I last delivered a presentation on this, 98% of attendees said they…”

Mention where you’ve been published or invited to speak. “…which is why organisations like [names] have asked me to share my insights on this topic.”

Pose an open question and commit to answering it. “That leads me to something many of you may be wondering – how did I get so involved in this issue? Let me tell you my story…”

Sparking intrigue around your qualifications rather than just stating them will naturally draw the audience in through fun, engaging anecdotes .

For students:

• “As someone studying [subject] here at [school], I became fascinated with…”
• “For my final project in [class], I dove deeper into researching…”
• “Over the past year working on my undergraduate thesis about [topic], I discovered…”
• “When I took [professor’s] class last semester, one issue we discussed really stood out to me…”

For professionals:

• “In my [number] years leading teams at [company], one challenge we continue to face is…”
• “During my tenure as [title] of [organisation], I’ve seen firsthand how [issue] impacts our work.”
• “While consulting with [types of clients] on [topic], one common problem I’ve observed is…”
• “As the former [role] of [business/department], implementing strategies to address [issue] was a priority for us.”
• “From my experience in both [roles] and [field], the key to success lies in understanding…”
• “In advising [client-type] on matters of [area of expertise], a frequent hurdle is navigating…”

Start by stating a problem or question that your presentation will address. “You’ve all likely experienced the frustration of…and that’s what I’m here to discuss – how we can overcome…”

Share your key takeaway as a concise call to action. “When you leave here today, I want you to remember this one thing… because it will change the way you…”

Refer to a current event or industry trend to show relevance. “In light of [what’s happening], understanding [topic] has never been more critical for success in…”

Relate your message to what matters most to them. “As [type of people they are], I know your top priority is… So I’ll explain exactly how this can help you achieve…”

Tease an intriguing perspective. “While most people look at [issue] this way, I believe the opportunity lies in seeing it from this viewpoint…”

Connect their experience to future insights. “What you’ve faced so far will make so much more sense after exploring…”

The goal is to grab attention by painting a picture of what value they’ll gain to ensure the context won’t be missed.

When it comes to pre-show introductions, less is truly more. You’ve only got 30 seconds to make a blast of an impression before the real fun begins.

That may not sound like much time, but it’s all you need to pique curiosity and get your story started off with a bang. Don’t waste a single moment with filler – every word is an opportunity to enchant your audience.

Instead of droning on and on, consider surprising them with an intriguing quote or bold challenge related to who you are. Give just enough flavour to leave them craving seconds without spoiling the full meal to come.

Quality over quantity is the magic recipe here. Pack maximum impact into a minimum timeframe without missing a single delicious detail. Your introduction may only last 30 seconds, but it can spark a reaction to last all presentation long.

Forget a traditional “hi everyone…”, hook the audience in right away by adding interactive elements to the presentation.

68% of people say that it’s easier to remember the information when the presentation is interactive.

You can start with an icebreaker poll asking everyone how they are feeling, or let them play a quiz to learn about yourself and the topic they’re going to hear naturally.

Here’s how interactive presentation software like AhaSlides can bring your introduction to a notch:

• AhaSlides has a plethora of slide types for your polling, quiz, Q&A, word cloud or open-ended question demands. Whether you’re introducing yourself virtually or in person, these features are your best sidekicks to attract every eye to you!
• The results are shown live on the presenter’s screen, grabbing the audience’s focus with eye-catching designs.
• You can integrate AhaSlides with your common presentation software such as PowerPoint or Google Slides.

There are a few ways to show why your topic matters, such as:

Pose a burning question and promise the answer: “We’ve all asked ourselves at some point – how do you achieve X? Well, by the end of our time together I’ll reveal the three essential steps.”

Tease valuable takeaways: “When you leave here, I want you walking away with Y and Z tools in your back pocket. Get ready to level up your skills.”

Frame it as a journey: “We’ll discover a lot of things as we travel from A to B to C. By the end, your perspective will be transformed.”

Introduce yourself in style with AhaSlides

Wow your audience with an interactive presentation about yourself. Let them know you better through quizzes, polling and Q&A!

Spark urgency: “We’ve only got an hour, so we have to move fast. I’ll hustle us through sections 1 and 2 then you’ll put what you learn into action with task 3.”

Preview activities: “After the framework, be ready to roll up your sleeves during our hands-on exercise. Collaboration time starts…”

Promise a payoff: “When I first learned how to do X, it seemed impossible. But by the finish line, you’ll say to yourself ‘How did I live without this?'”

Keep them wondering: “Each stop delivers more clues until the big reveal awaits you at the end. Who’s ready for the solution?”

Let the audience see your flow as an exciting progression beyond an ordinary outline. But don’t promise air, bring something tangible to the table.

Presentation perfection requires plenty of playtime before showtime. Run through your intro like you’re on stage – no half-speed rehearsing allowed!

Record yourself to get real-time feedback. Watching playback is the only way to spot any awkward pauses or filler phrasing begging for the chopping block.

Read your script to a mirror to eyeball presence and charisma. Does your body language bring it home? Amp up appeals through all your senses for total captivation.

Rehearse off-book until your intro floats to the surface of your mind like breathwork. internalise it so you shine without flashcards as a crutch.

Perform mock talks for family, friends or furry judges. No stage is too small when you’re perfecting your part to sparkle.

💡 Know more: How to introduce yourself like a Pro

And there you have it – the secrets to Rocking. Your. Intro. No matter the size of your audience, these tips will have all eyes and ears hooked in a snap.

But remember, practice isn’t just for perfection – it’s for confidence. Own those 30 seconds like the superstar you are. Believe in yourself and your value, because they’ll believe right back.

How do you introduce yourself before a presentation?

Start with the basic information like your name, title/position, and organisation before introducing the topic and outline.

What do you say to introduce yourself in a presentation?

A balanced example introduction may be: “Good morning, my name is [Your Name] and I work as a [Your Role]. Today I’ll be talking about [Topic] and by the end, I hope to give you [Objective 1], [Objective 2] and [Objective 3] to help with [Topic Context]. We’ll start with [Section 1], then [Section 2] before wrapping up with [Conclusion]. Thank you for being here, let’s get started!”

How to introduce yourself in a class presentation as a student?

Key things to cover in a class presentation are name, major, topic, objectives, structure and a call for audience participation/questions.

Leah Nguyen

A former event organiser on the ultimate quest - to help presenters create the juiciest online experiences and leave all attendees on a high note.

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How to Introduce Yourself in a Presentation

Last Updated: October 4, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Patrick Muñoz . Patrick is an internationally recognized Voice & Speech Coach, focusing on public speaking, vocal power, accent and dialects, accent reduction, voiceover, acting and speech therapy. He has worked with clients such as Penelope Cruz, Eva Longoria, and Roselyn Sanchez. He was voted LA's Favorite Voice and Dialect Coach by BACKSTAGE, is the voice and speech coach for Disney and Turner Classic Movies, and is a member of Voice and Speech Trainers Association. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 121,291 times.

Introducing yourself in a presentation is more than just saying your name. It’s an opportunity for you to share relevant details about yourself and connect with your audience. It also sets the tone for the rest of the talk. How you introduce yourself will influence how your audience receives the message you want to get across. Make your next introduction flawless by presenting the most engaging information about yourself. Be sure to prepare the introduction in advance and start with an attention-grabbing technique to connect to the audience.

Including Relevant Information in Your Introduction

• If you have an unusual or difficult to pronounce name, you may want to add a small remark to help your audience remember it. For example, you can say “My name is Jacob Misen, like ‘risen’ but with an M.”
• Try to make eye contact with parts of audience during your presentation as well. [1] X Research source

• If you are VP of Marketing at a large company, it can actually be much more effective to say something like “I have more than a decade of experience using Facebook marketing ads to target clients in the dance industry” rather than simply stating your job title.

• You can also specifically refer your audience to the handout or powerpoint for more information. For example, if you want to let them know that you have articles in many international newspapers but you don’t want to list them all out, simply say “I’ve written for a number of internationally recognized news organizations. You can find the full list on the first page of my handout.”

• For example, you could say “when I designed a website for Richard Branson last year …” to inform your audience that you have an impressive resume, without having to list it all for them in your introduction.

• Try concluding your introduction by mentioning a client or project you were working on that directly relates to the topic of your presentation. For example: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with NXP Semiconductors for the past three years. Just last week we encountered a problem with our logistical database...” and then lead into your presentation about a new software that will solve everyone’s logistical hiccups.

Grabbing Your Audience’s Attention Before Your Introduction

• If you don’t have music that can tie to your presentation, you can use a song with the theme of beginning. For example, if you are presenting at a sales meeting, play some soft jazz as participants enter. Then, when it’s time for you to start, play the Black Eyed Peas chorus of “Let’s Get it Started” to get your audience’s attention. You can then open with an energetic “Good morning!” or “Good Afternoon” as the music ends.
• Remember to choose music that’s appropriate to the event. An academic conference may not be the best place for pop music, for example (unless you are presenting research on pop music, of course).

• For example, if you are presenting on the design of a new user-friendly coffee machine, you may start your presentation by referencing Elon Musk: “Any product that needs a manual to work is broken,” and then go on to say “My name is Laurie Higgens, and my coffee machine doesn’t come with a manual.” Speak briefly about your relevant experience and qualifications, and then dive into presenting your design.
• Avoid cliche or overused motivational quotes the audience has probably already heard many times.
• Be sure to correctly cite your quote.

• For example, you might start with “According to Time magazine, Americans filled 4.3 billion prescriptions and doled out $374 billion on medicine in 2014.” Then, introduce yourself and your qualifications in medical research and transition into a presentation about how to prevent doctors from over prescribing medication to their patients.
• Remember to cite the source of your statistics. You will look more professional and reliable, and the audience will be able to follow up on the information if they wish.

• If you are giving a presentation about a new airport security-friendly travel bag, try starting your presentation with “How many of you have ever stood in line at airport security and nearly missed your flight?”
• You can also invite your audience to close their eyes and imagine something as you lead up to your question.
• Don’t be discouraged if your audience doesn’t raise their hands when you ask a question. Sometimes these questions seem more rhetorical to an audience, or maybe they are just shy. You can often see signs that they are still engaging with the question if people are nodding or smiling after you ask it.

• Try telling stories, showing pictures on a powerpoint, or using quotations.
• Being funny not only puts your audience at ease, but it also helps them remember you after the presentation. [10] X Research source

• For example, if you are making a presentation about a pizza delivery app, ask your audience members to tell their name, their favorite pizza topping, and a situation where they’ve had a particularly amazing or awful experience with food delivery.

Preparing Before Your Presentation

• When it’s time to present, it’s probably best to just write down a few notes or key words to remind you of what you want to say so you don’t just read off your note cards.
• Think about your overall intention as a speaker. Are you trying to educate, enlighten, or entertain the audience? Figure out the effect you want to have on the listener so your presentation is impactful.

• If you don’t have a friend to watch your presentation, record yourself on video and play it back later to refine your presentation skills. It can be uncomfortable to watch yourself on video, but it will help you nail your introduction. You can even record your whole presentation. Keep recording and re-recording until you are happy with it. Then you know the audience will be happy too.

• The best resource to learn about the local culture is the locals themselves. If you have a contact where you will be speaking, ask them about customs, dress code, and how humor is usually received. If you don’t know anyone personally, try searching in industry-specific online forums. Find YouTube videos of presentations given in the area that are relevant to your industry.

What Is The Best Way To Start a Presentation? . By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube.

Expert Q&A

• Don’t spend too much time introducing yourself. Your introduction should be short and to the point so you can get on to your main presentation material. Depending on the length of your presentation, your introduction should be between 20 seconds and 2 minutes long. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/eye_contact_tips_to_make_your_presentations_stronger
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/introduce-yourself-professionally
• ↑ https://www.washington.edu/doit/presentation-tips-0
• ↑ https://www.gvsu.edu/ours/oral-presentation-tips-30.htm
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/09/27/15-hacks-for-making-your-presentation-more-creative-and-engaging/
• ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/oralcommunication/guides/how-to-engage-your-audience-and-keep-them-with-you
• ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/make-em-laugh-ten-tips-using-humor-presentations-judy-romano-mba?trk=portfolio_article-card_title
• ↑ https://www.ncsl.org/legislators-staff/legislative-staff/legislative-staff-coordinating-committee/tips-for-making-effective-powerpoint-presentations.aspx
• ↑ https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/19102/22119
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/tjwalker/2011/06/07/should-i-rehearse-and-for-how-long-presentation-training/

About This Article

To introduce yourself at the start of your presentation, all you need to do is state your name and tell the audience any relevant experience or skills you have. For example, say something like, “My name is Jacob Misen, and I have over a decade of experience using Facebook marketing ads in the dance industry.” If you have a broad range of relevant experience, you can bullet point a few examples on your opening slide instead of reading them out. Once you’ve introduced yourself, smoothly transition into your presentation. For instance, you can mention a client or project you’ve recently worked on that relates to the topic of your presentation. For more tips, including how to practice your presentation, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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10 ways to present yourself more professionally

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Whether you're delivering a speech, running a meeting, or interviewing for a job, these tried-and-true tricks can make you come across as confident and professional.

So you’re getting ready for that big presentation. Your PowerPoint is perfect, you know your facts, and you’re ready to go. Only thing is… you’re lacking that certain polish to tip the scales in your favor.

When it comes to interviews, presentations, important meetings, and any situation where you need to make a stellar impression, looking professional is just as important as being professional. But looking professional means more than just having a top-of-the-line briefcase, Italian shoes, the best laptop money can buy, and a bright smile that would shame a Hollywood celebrity. In this article, I’m going to share some tips you may never have thought of in the course of your career. Chances are, one (or more) of these tips will help you win over a crowd, land that job, or impress the higher ups.

1: Dress the part

Standard business fare most often will do for your average meeting. But when you raise the bar of importance, you must match it with your personal appearance. And this doesn’t stop at your neck. Not only should you be wearing your best suit, you should make sure you are properly groomed. Don’t think your hair can go “one more week” before you get it cut. And get it cut a couple of days before the big to-do. And your clothing shouldn’t just look good; it should also be comfortable. The last thing you want is to be in front of a crowd and notice your pants are too tight or too loose or your shoes are killing your feet. If you have to wear heels, don’t wear heels that are too high. And do NOT forget antiperspirant. Now you may be thinking these are all very obvious tips, but people can (and often do) overlook the obvious.

You may not know this but your body, and your ability to present yourself, is directly affected by its state of being. If you get up to do a presentation or run a crucial meeting and your muscles are cold and tight, it will reflect in your posture and presentation. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to stretch your muscles to get them warm and used to moving. Stretch your arms, legs, back, and neck. With relaxed muscles your presentation will come across smoother and more relaxed. You should also give your voice plenty of chance to warm itself up before you start.

3: Fuel yourself

Have you ever been in a meeting or interview and had your stomach growl so loudly that everyone in the room heard it? You may think this would be a fun moment where everyone will get a chuckle. It’s not. It’s unprofessional. Make sure you eat before you present your material. But don’t overdo it. What is worse than a gurgling stomach is a noisy backside or the need to break for Mother Nature. Sure, you can include time in your presentation for bathroom/stretch breaks. But if you are in an interview and that stomach makes itself known, it will look less-than-professional. And fuel is not just about quieting an other-wise noisy digestive system. You also need plenty of fuel to get you through the process. If you don’t take in enough calories, your body will let you know — which will not go unnoticed.

4: Choose your props carefully

I have seen presentations that looked horribly amateur simply because the speaker was carrying a McDonald’s coffee cup as he spoke or a whiteboard or easel that didn’t work. When putting together the pieces for your presentation, don’t leave out any details. If you need a drink (and you should have water with you), make sure your water glass (and pitcher, if you drink a lot) is clean, simple, and classy. Do not use a sippy cup or sports water bottle. If your presentation requires an easel or whiteboard, be sure that everything is solid, works as it should, and looks new or at least clean and sturdy.

If you depend upon handouts for your presentation, make sure they’re in collated, pre-stapled, and stacked neatly or distributed to each audience member’s chair. The less you have to interrupt your presentation or meeting to get everything in order, the better. And don’t skimp. If you shell out for a cheap easel or whiteboard, you might find yourself fighting with them more than you should. Pay for solid tools and you will get solid results.

5: Spell check

It amazes me when I am a participant in a lecture, interview, presentation, or meeting and I see spelling errors in handouts or resumes or on a whiteboard or overhead. The fastest way to lose attention or a job prospect is to have spelling errors littered throughout your work. An audience or interviewer may forgive minor or tricky sentence structure issues, but spelling? No way. If you don’t employ spell check in your word processor — do. If you know you’re plagued with spelling problems, have someone check your presentations, resume, or handouts.

6: Turn your phone on silent mode

Your audience doesn’t need to know how many people call or text you, and there is nothing more unprofessional than stopping your presentation or interrupting your interview to answer a phone or a text. There are few exceptions to this rule. If your wife is about to give birth, that’s one of the few. If that is the case (or if there is another, equally pressing need), explain the situation to your audience so they understand. Outside of extenuating circumstances, set the phone on silent or turn it off.

7: Watch your time

Remember that time is money. Not only are people paying you for your services, but your audience members have their own work to do. Stick to the allotted timeframe and you will always come out on top. And that doesn’t mean end early. When a company pays for your time, it wants to get its money’s worth. Don’t shortchange it. And if you’re in an interview, do NOT act as though you have something more important to do. You don’t. The single most important thing you have going on is that interview. This also includes being on time. As a good rule of thumb, you should be prepared to GO at the slotted time. This does not mean you should ARRIVE at your starting time. Show respect by arriving early so you can be prepared to go on time.

8: Be prepared

This really holds true if you’re using a laptop to run a presentation through a projector. Do not depend upon your host for anything (outside of the projector). Bring any possible connector you will need as well as a spare battery and your AC adapter for your laptop. You do not want to have your host scrambling around to find something to help you get your presentation off the ground.

Preparedness also includes making sure you have enough literature for your audience. Always bring more than you need. Find out ahead of time how many attendees are expected so you can make sure you bring more than enough supplies. And bring extra digital copies of your presentation. You never know whether, for some reason, the presentation will wind up corrupt on your PC. Bring your presentation on a CD and a flash drive just to be safe.

9: Know your audience

Do you remember some of the advice you were given in school about writing cover letters for your resume? Did you ever start a cover letter with “To whom it may concern…”? I didn’t think so. So why would you begin a presentation without knowing your audience? This can be crucial to delivering a professional presentation or meeting. If you’re giving a network presentation to a group of UNIX or Linux administrators, don’t speak in Windows terms. If you’re in front of a group of Windows administrators, don’t insult them by bragging about how strong your UNIX kung fu is.

10: Don’t be a comic

A little humor will go a long way to help connect to your audience. But don’t use the event as a vehicle for your standup routine. You will look less like a professional and more like a clown. Sure, break the ice with a funny anecdote or relax the situation when too much information is offered at once. But you don’t want to present yourself as a jokester or a comedian. You won’t be taken seriously when serious is called for. And you’re probably not as funny as you think you are. So leave the comedy to the professionals.

Other tips?

These simple tips can help you come across more professionally when giving presentations, running important meetings, or being interviewed. What other advice would you offer fellow TechRepublic members who want to present themselves more professionally?

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How to professionally introduce yourself

Introducing yourself in a professional setting can be nerve-wracking.

You have to be confident and charming, present the most important information about yourself, and appear as someone others would want to work with. 

It’s not an easy task, whether you’re:

• Meeting your coworkers for the first time, 
• Reaching out to a new client,
• Attending a networking or work event, or 
• Trying to ace a job interview.

That’s why, in this article, you’ll learn the most useful tips on how to professionally introduce yourself and leave a great first impression. 

Table of Contents

Why does the first impression matter?

No pressure — but leaving a good first impression is a big deal.

There’s something called the primacy effect — in simple terms, it’s a tendency of our brains to recall the information presented first better than information presented at the middle or end of “a list of items ”. 

Moreover, a Harvard study cited in Forbes revealed that after a bad first impression, it takes 8 subsequent positive encounters to change someone’s negative opinion of us.

This means that the first impression has a significant effect on how others perceive you — so, the way you introduce yourself matters. 

Easier said than done, but — don’t be. 

If you follow all of our tips when introducing yourself, I guarantee you will leave a good first impression and appear as pleasant and professional as one could be. 

Tip #1: Pay attention to your body language

If you are introducing yourself in a written form (via email or a team messaging app , for example), body language is not something you have to worry about.

However, if the introduction takes place in person, body language is crucial .

Answers to “How long does it take to form the first impression?” range from 33 milliseconds to 27 seconds , which is quite a difference. But the general consensus is — before you even have a chance to open your mouth, you will be “rated” by others.

Now, what body language cues are important to have, to improve that first impression and “rating”?

Here are some of them:

• Clear voice
• A firm handshake (but not too firm — crushing someone’s hand doesn’t leave a good impression, I’ll tell you that)
• Good posture
• Looking people in the eyes (but not too intensely, as it can come off as intimidating or even scary)

Moreover, along with having open body language, make sure you dress the part. 

Your clothes should be:

• Appropriate for the occasion, 

But, your outfit doesn’t have to be boring — it’s a great way to show your personality.

Appearing confident and well-groomed can go a long way, partly because of the halo effect .

It’s a cognitive bias whereby one positive trait someone has (or our overall impression of a person) positively influences our judgment of other, related traits of theirs.

For example, if someone is assertive and well-spoken, we’ll assume they’re competent and knowledgeable — even though they might not necessarily be.

💡 Pumble Pro Tip

Body language is important factor in virtual meetings, too — check our tips for improving body language during virtual meetings:

• Tips for improving body language during virtual meetings

Tip #2: Prepare what you’re going to say

As Benjamin Franklin said, “ By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail ”.

Before you introduce yourself to someone, prepare what you’re going to say.

But, don’t plan and memorize every single word — it will come off as if your speech was scripted.

Instead, have a general idea of what you’re going to talk about, while also leaving room for improvisation and letting your personality shine.

Additionally, planning what you’re going to say prevents you from rambling and oversharing. 

And why is this important?

Well, as harsh as it sounds, people you’re going to meet aren’t your friends — and you shouldn’t tell them your whole life story. 

Also, remember that others want their turn to talk too, so try not to overpower the conversation.

Extra tips: The information you should include when introducing yourself professionally

If you’re not sure what information to include, we got you covered.

• Start with the most basic information: your name and current job title . 
• In case they are not familiar with what your job title entails, you can describe what you do in a sentence or two . Often, this may be necessary. For example, everyone knows what teachers or lawyers do, but there are many new(er) job titles that people outside your industry are not familiar with, so you might have to clarify. (If I had a dollar every time someone asked me what content writers do…) 
• Explain why you’re reaching out , if it’s not already obvious. You can also mention a mutual connection (if there is any) to capture their attention — e.g. “ Peter Smith from Finances gave me your email.”
• Let them know what value you can provide . The best way to be memorable and make people interested is to show how you can benefit them. This is especially true in more formal contexts, such as job interviews, where it’s crucial to let interviewers know how you can help their company and what skills and qualifications make you stand out.

Examples of good professional introductions

All put together, a professional introduction should sound something like this.

Example of an introduction at a job interview

“ Hello, my name is Samantha Johnson, and I’ve been working as a social media manager for the past 7 years.   I’m excited for the opportunity to be a part of your Marketing team!  I’ve successfully managed many social media accounts, including X and Y, and I would love to help you grow your social media, increase your brand awareness, and improve communication with your customers.”

Since she’s at a job interview, she doesn’t need to clarify what her job title means — hiring managers should be familiar with the position and what it entails. 

Then, she goes on to:

• Express her enthusiasm to work for their company
• Mentions the relevant work experience and achievements (i.e. the successful social media accounts she’s been managing)
• Describes how she’s going to provide value to the company

All of this makes an excellent introduction in a job interview.

Example of an introduction to new colleagues

When Samantha gets the job, she will introduce herself to her new coworkers in a more informal, but still professional manner:

“ Hi, I’m Samantha!  I’m your new Social Media Manager — so if you see someone making TikToks in the office, that’s me, haha! I’m really happy to be a part of the team, and I look forward to working with you all. ”

Example of an introduction to a coworker to ask for a favor

If you need to ask a coworker you don’t know for a favor , you need to introduce yourself first — especially if you’re new to the company.

This makes a lot of people anxious, but it doesn’t have to be as awkward as you’d imagine it would be.  

First, tell your coworker your name and what you do. Then, politely but without beating around the bush, tell them why you’re contacting them.

Don’t make the message too long — they are likely busy and appreciate a message that is short and straight to the point. 

Phrases to use when introducing yourself professionally

We now know how to introduce ourselves in theory — but, let’s go over some specific phrases we can use.

Start simple, for example:

“Hi, my name is __, and I’m a [job title] at [company]”

“Let me introduce myself, I’m…”

“Nice to meet you, my name is…”

“I don’t think we’ve met before — I’m…”

When you’re describing what you do, you can stick to “ I’m [job title] at [company] ”, as we’ve mentioned above — or you can say:

“I work in [field/industry]”

“Currently, my job is to…”

“I work as a [job title], and my role is to…”

“My job is [job title], which essentially means …”

“I work as a [job title]. I’m responsible for…”

“I work with [person].”

“I’m self-employed/freelancer in [industry].”

Then, you can let them know why you’re there and/or what they can expect from you:

“I’m here to…”

“I’m reaching out because…”

For the next [amount of time], I’m going to…”

“My purpose today is…”

“I’d love to…”

Tip #3: Show interest in the person you’re talking to

If the introduction goes well, it will lead to a full-blown conversation. What are you going to talk about?

If you planned to just continue talking about yourself — well, I advise you to change your plan.

No one is particularly fond of “ me, me, me ” persons.

In his book How to Win Friends and Influence People , Dale Carnegie said: “ To be interesting, be interested .” 

In other words, the best way to spark the interest of others is to be interested in what they have to say.

That’s also a good way to form an actual connection with someone, which can benefit you in many ways.

How to show interest, you may wonder?

• Listen attentively and carefully.
• Ask questions . You can do it to summarize what’s been said and make sure you understand, or you can ask follow-up questions to dig deeper and show interest in the topic.
• Have open body language (see Tip #1).
• It may sound silly, but when they’re speaking, nod from time to time . It shows that you’re engaged and following along.
• Don’t interrupt people.
• Show appreciation — e.g. “ It was a pleasure meeting you. Thank you for your time and your invaluable advice. Looking forward to talking to you again soon. ”

Note : At first glance, this tip doesn’t seem applicable in some contexts — like job interviews, where a conversation is more structured.

However, showing interest and asking questions is still a way to go — your questions would just revolve around a position, company culture , expectations, etc., instead of the person you’re talking to.

What NOT to do when you’re introducing yourself professionally

Is there something we have to pay attention not to do when introducing ourselves in a professional setting?

Yes, there is — for example, DON’T :

• Use the same introduction in every situation . The way you introduce yourself to your new manager would be different from the way you greet a new coworker, right? Tailor your introduction according to the occasion, level of formality , and who you’re going to meet.
• Complain and be negative . Even if what you’re saying is true, there’s a time and place for everything, and you don’t want to be remembered as a negative Nancy. If your criticism is specific and constructive, share it with the person who’s in charge of that particular thing you want to criticize (or HR).
• Check your phone every couple of minutes . You may be doing it because you’re nervous, but it comes off as rude and shows disinterest in the person you’re talking to. Even if you’re busy, you can spare a few minutes to connect with someone without interruptions.
• Assume everyone comes from the same (cultural) context as you . This is especially true if you work in a multinational company or your network is multicultural. For example, grabbing someone’s hand and giving it a firm shake is perfectly acceptable in the west, but it would make a person from Japan uncomfortable — their handshakes are much softer.

If you’re having trouble navigating cross-cultural communication in a business environment, check out our blog post:

• How to perfect cross-cultural communication at the workplace

Conclusion: When introducing yourself, preparation and amiability are key 

You only get to make the first impression once.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do that can make almost everyone form a positive opinion of you: 

• Have open body language, smile, and look people in the eyes
• Be well-groomed
• Prepare in advance
• Make your introduction relevant, informative, and not too long
• Show interest in other people 

And, of course — be yourself. Your personality is what will make you stand out and connect with others. 

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Dunja Jovanovic is a content manager at Pumble, leading a team of communication authors and researchers. She has been researching and writing about communication and psychology, especially in a professional setting, since her university days. As she has been working remotely since the beginning of her career, she likes helping others not only survive but also thrive in a virtual work environment.

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What Are Effective Presentation Skills (and How to Improve Them)

Presentation skills are essential for your personal and professional life. Learn about effective presentations and how to boost your presenting techniques.

At least seven out of 10 Americans agree that presentation skills are essential for a successful career [ 1 ]. Although it might be tempting to think that these are skills reserved for people interested in public speaking roles, they're critical in a diverse range of jobs. For example, you might need to brief your supervisor on research results.

Presentation skills are also essential in other scenarios, including working with a team and explaining your thought process, walking clients through project ideas and timelines, and highlighting your strengths and achievements to your manager during performance reviews.

Whatever the scenario, you have very little time to capture your audience’s attention and get your point across when presenting information—about three seconds, according to research [ 2 ]. Effective presentation skills help you get your point across and connect with the people you’re communicating with, which is why nearly every employer requires them.

Understanding what presentation skills are is only half the battle. Honing your presenting techniques is essential for mastering presentations of all kinds and in all settings.

What are presentation skills?

Presentation skills are the abilities and qualities necessary for creating and delivering a compelling presentation that effectively communicates information and ideas. They encompass what you say, how you structure it, and the materials you include to support what you say, such as slides, videos, or images.

You'll make presentations at various times in your life. Examples include:

Making speeches at a wedding, conference, or another event

Making a toast at a dinner or event

Explaining projects to a team 

Delivering results and findings to management teams

Teaching people specific methods or information

Proposing a vote at community group meetings

Pitching a new idea or business to potential partners or investors

Why are presentation skills important? 

Delivering effective presentations is critical in your professional and personal life. You’ll need to hone your presentation skills in various areas, such as when giving a speech, convincing your partner to make a substantial purchase, and talking to friends and family about an important situation.

No matter if you’re using them in a personal or professional setting, these are the skills that make it easier and more effective to convey your ideas, convince or persuade others, and experience success. A few of the benefits that often accompany improving your presentation skills include:

Enriched written and verbal communication skills

Enhanced confidence and self-image

Boosted critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities

Better motivational techniques

Increased leadership skills

Expanded time management, negotiation, and creativity

The better your presenting techniques, the more engaging your presentations will be. You could also have greater opportunities to make positive impacts in business and other areas of your life.

Effective presentation skills

Imagine yourself in the audience at a TED Talk or sitting with your coworkers at a big meeting held by your employer. What would you be looking for in how they deliver their message? What would make you feel engaged?

These are a few questions to ask yourself as you review this list of some of the most effective presentation skills.

Verbal communication

How you use language and deliver messages play essential roles in how your audience will receive your presentation. Speak clearly and confidently, projecting your voice enough to ensure everyone can hear. Think before you speak, pausing when necessary and tailoring the way you talk to resonate with your particular audience.

Body language

Body language combines various critical elements, including posture, gestures, eye contact, expressions, and position in front of the audience. Body language is one of the elements that can instantly transform a presentation that would otherwise be dull into one that's dynamic and interesting.

Voice projection

The ability to project your voice improves your presentation by allowing your audience to hear what you're saying. It also increases your confidence to help settle any lingering nerves while also making your message more engaging. To project your voice, stand comfortably with your shoulders back. Take deep breaths to power your speaking voice and ensure you enunciate every syllable you speak.

How you present yourself plays a role in your body language and ability to project your voice. It also sets the tone for the presentation. Avoid slouching or looking overly tense. Instead, remain open, upright, and adaptable while taking the formality of the occasion into account.

Storytelling

Incorporating storytelling into a presentation is an effective strategy used by many powerful public speakers. It has the power to bring your subject to life and pique the audience’s curiosity. Don’t be afraid to tell a personal story, slowly building up suspense or adding a dramatic moment. And, of course, be sure to end with a positive takeaway to drive your point home.

Active listening

Active listening is a valuable skill all on its own. When you understand and thoughtfully respond to what you hear—whether it's in a conversation or during a presentation—you’ll likely deepen your personal relationships and actively engage audiences during a presentation. As part of your presentation skill set, it helps catch and maintain the audience’s attention, helping them remain focused while minimizing passive response, ensuring the message is delivered correctly, and encouraging a call to action.

Stage presence

During a presentation, projecting confidence can help keep your audience engaged. Stage presence can help you connect with your audience and encourage them to want to watch you. To improve your presence, try amping up your normal demeanor by infusing it with a bit of enthusiasm. Project confidence and keep your information interesting.

Watch your audience as you’re presenting. If you’re holding their attention, it likely means you’re connecting well with them.

Self-awareness

Monitoring your own emotions and reactions will allow you to react well in various situations. It helps you remain personable throughout your presentation and handle feedback well. Self-awareness can help soothe nervousness during presentations, allowing you to perform more effectively.

Writing skills

Writing is a form of presentation. Sharp writing skills can help you master your presentation’s outline to ensure you stay on message and remain clear about your objectives from the beginning until the end. It’s also helpful to have strong writing abilities for creating compelling slides and other visual aids.

Understanding an audience

When you understand your audience's needs and interests, you can design your presentation around them. In turn, you'll deliver maximum value to them and enhance your ability to make your message easy to understand.

Learn more about presentation skills from industry experts at SAP:

How to improve presentation skills

There’s an art to public speaking. Just like any other type of art, this is one that requires practice. Improving your presentation skills will help reduce miscommunications, enhance your time management capabilities, and boost your leadership skills. Here are some ways you can improve these skills:

Work on self-confidence.

When you’re confident, you naturally speak more clearly and with more authority. Taking the time to prepare your presentation with a strong opening and compelling visual aids can help you feel more confident. Other ways to improve your self-confidence include practicing positive self-talk, surrounding yourself with positive people, and avoiding comparing yourself (or your presentation) to others.

Develop strategies for overcoming fear.

Many people are nervous or fearful before giving a presentation. A bad memory of a past performance or insufficient self-confidence can contribute to fear and anxiety. Having a few go-to strategies like deep breathing, practicing your presentation, and grounding can help you transform that fear into extra energy to put into your stage presence.

Learn grounding techniques.

Grounding is any type of technique that helps you steer your focus away from distressing thoughts and keeps you connected with your present self. To ground yourself, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and imagine you’re a large, mature tree with roots extending deep into the earth—like the tree, you can become unshakable.

Learn how to use presentation tools.

Visual aids and other technical support can transform an otherwise good presentation into a wow-worthy one. A few popular presentation tools include:

Canva: Provides easy-to-design templates you can customize

Powtoon: Animation software that makes video creation fast and easy

PowerPoint: Microsoft's iconic program popular for dynamic marketing and sales presentations

Practice breathing techniques.

Breathing techniques can help quell anxiety, making it easier to shake off pre-presentation jitters and nerves. It also helps relax your muscles and get more oxygen to your brain.  For some pre-presentation calmness, you can take deep breaths, slowly inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.

While presenting, breathe in through your mouth with the back of your tongue relaxed so your audience doesn't hear a gasping sound. Speak on your exhalation, maintaining a smooth voice.

Gain experience.

The more you practice, the better you’ll become. The more you doanything, the more comfortable you’ll feel engaging in that activity. Presentations are no different. Repeatedly practicing your own presentation also offers the opportunity to get feedback from other people and tweak your style and content as needed.

Tips to help you ace your presentation

Your presentation isn’t about you; it’s about the material you’re presenting. Sometimes, reminding yourself of this ahead of taking center stage can help take you out of your head, allowing you to connect effectively with your audience. The following are some of the many actions you can take on the day of your presentation.

Arrive early.

Since you may have a bit of presentation-related anxiety, it’s important to avoid adding travel stress. Give yourself an abundance of time to arrive at your destination, and take into account heavy traffic and other unforeseen events. By arriving early, you also give yourself time to meet with any on-site technicians, test your equipment, and connect with people ahead of the presentation.

Become familiar with the layout of the room.

Arriving early also gives you time to assess the room and figure out where you want to stand. Experiment with the acoustics to determine how loudly you need to project your voice, and test your equipment to make sure everything connects and appears properly with the available setup. This is an excellent opportunity to work out any last-minute concerns and move around to familiarize yourself with the setting for improved stage presence.

Listen to presenters ahead of you.

When you watch others present, you'll get a feel for the room's acoustics and lighting. You can also listen for any data that’s relevant to your presentation and revisit it during your presentation—this can make the presentation more interactive and engaging.

Use note cards.

Writing yourself a script could provide you with more comfort. To prevent sounding too robotic or disengaged, only include talking points in your note cards in case you get off track. Using note cards can help keep your presentation organized while sounding more authentic to your audience.

Learn to deliver clear and confident presentations with Dynamic Public Speaking from the University of Washington. Build confidence, develop new delivery techniques, and practice strategies for crafting compelling presentations for different purposes, occasions, and audiences.

Article sources

Forbes. “ New Survey: 70% Say Presentation Skills are Critical for Career Success , https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2014/09/25/new-survey-70-percent-say-presentation-skills-critical-for-career-success/?sh=619f3ff78890.” Accessed December 7, 2022.

Beautiful.ai. “ 15 Presentation and Public Speaking Stats You Need to Know , https://www.beautiful.ai/blog/15-presentation-and-public-speaking-stats-you-need-to-know. Accessed December 7, 2022.

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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Learning to Be Present With Yourself

Can you just "be" instead of "doing" all the time.

Posted April 20, 2012

The Power of Now “Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.” ― Eckhart Tolle

The Power of Now

New research on the brain in the past 10 years has shed a light on how much past experience and the desire to avoid pain shapes our brain pathways. Our brains were designed first and foremost to help us survive and pass on our genes , and therefore have automatic negative biases and orientations towards danger. We automatically scan our worlds for past mistakes we dare not repeat and future threats we try desperately to avoid and prepare to deal with. In so doing, we lose touch with present-moment experience and limit our abilities to spontaneously experience positive states such as joy, connection, and love. Teaching ourselves to focus on the present moment can train our brain pathways towards more deliberate and positive experiencing.

The Pros and Cons of “Doing” Mode

John Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness -Based Stress Reduction therapy suggests that our brains operate primarily in “Doing” Mode. We actively use our minds to solve problems, make plans, anticipate obstacles, evaluate how far we are from desired goals and choose between alternatives by judging their relative value. While “Doing” mode is extremely useful for helping us advance in our careers, be popular, lose weight, and a myriad of other life tasks, it falls short when it comes to managing emotions. Emotions cannot be reasoned away or “solved” and evaluating how far we are from feeling as happy as we’d like to feel only makes us feel worse. This type of thinking can actually exacerbate “sad” emotions by introducing a second layer in which we criticize or judge ourselves for being sad. “Doing” mode also doesn’t work when there is nothing we can do to change the situation. We may desperately want to be married, rich, loved, or successful, but we cannot force these outcomes to happen right away, even with the best of efforts. “Doing" mode can also lead to disheartening comparisons with people we feel are doing better than us and ruminations of why we are not where they are.

“Being” as an Alternative to “Doing”

Now, nobody is suggesting that we give up “Doing” mode altogether. If this were the case, we would never even find our keys to get out the front door. However, there is another way of being that many of us are not even aware of, and that is “Being” Mode. Unlike its counterpart, “Being” mode is not action-oriented, evaluative, or future-focused. It involves slowing down our minds and deliberately grounding ourselves by focusing on what we are experiencing right now. In "Being” mode, it is okay to just be us, whatever we happen to be experiencing; we do not try to change our thoughts or emotions into more positive ones or shut out aspects of our experience. Rather, we begin to develop a different relationship with our own senses, bodily states and emotions by deliberately focusing on what they are trying to tell us and allowing ourselves to be compassionately open to these messages.

“Being” mode involves accepting what is, because it will be there anyway. We begin to release energy, relax, and let go of the struggle to mould our reality into our preconceived ideas of what it should be. We begin to let go of judgments and regrets about the past and fear of the future. Rather than berating ourselves for not achieving the status in life we think we deserve or are entitled to, we allow ourselves to look fully and open-mindedly at where we are. Eventually we realize that this may not be so bad. We learn to extend love, compassion, and kindness to ourselves, and everything around us, rather than compartmentalizing reality into “good” and “bad,” or “winners” and “losers.” We are all infinitely more complex than what we earn or own; we are lovable and interesting, just by being human. This moment is just this moment and not where we are stuck forever. Ironically, by accepting the present, we open up space for internal and external movement and change.

The Advantages of “Being” Where We Are

”Being” mode is a core component of mindfulness and spiritual practices. It is something that requires practice and training because we need to overcome our minds’ natural habits and fear-based biases. Experiencing “Being” mode can help us feel more whole and relaxed; we move from reacting automatically to having more choices about how we respond, based on a fuller understanding and acceptance of our own sensory, physical, and emotional experience. It is the opposite of dissociation and avoidance that many people use to cope with negative emotions and situations. We activate the more loving “approach” circuits of our brain and move away from the “avoidance” modes.

“Being” Mode As a Component of Different Psychotherapies

Learning to connect with the present moment is a skill taught in different ways in many different kinds of therapy. In psychoanalysis , “free association” involves freely experiencing and expressing whatever comes to mind. In Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, patients are taught to “reserve judgment” before jumping to negative conclusions and base their attitudes on current experience rather than fixed “rules for living.” Behavior therapy also teaches people to face and deal with what they fear, rather than avoiding; in so doing, they habituate physiologically and feel more empowered...” Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy approach teaches the skill of “radically accepting” who we are now as a counterpoint to pushing oneself to change. Mindfulness-Based psychotherapies have most explicitly articulated the importance of “Being in the Now” and developed a host of techniques to experience this state, including meditation , mindful walking, and body scans.

Mindfulness and the Brain

Research on Mindfulness suggests that learning the skill of "Being in the Now” can actually change the way our brains process information so that there is more activity in brain centers involved with processing positive emotions, and more interconnections between right and left hemispheres and the cortex and limbic systems. Mindfulness training results in improved relationships, life satisfaction, and pain relief.

Concluding Thoughts

Sometimes the most important things in life are simple and this is one of those times. When you have too much to do and fear you will never get where you want to be, try taking some time out to fully experience the present moment!

About The Author

Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, and expert on Mindfulness , Positive Psychology, Emotion Regulation , and Relationships. Dr Greenberg provides workshops and speaking engagements for organizations, life, weight loss, or career coaching , and psychotherapy for individuals and couples.

Visit my website:

http://melaniegreenbergphd.com/marin-psychologist/

Follow me on twitter @drmelanieg

Like me on Facebook www.fb.com/mindfulselfexpress

Read my Psychology Today blog & personal blog

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-mindful-self-express

http://marinpsychologist.blogspot.com/

Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D. , is a licensed clinical psychologist and life coach practicing internationally via distance technologies. She is a former professor, national speaker, and the author of The Stress Proof Brain .

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Presenting yourself

Understanding the roles you play when giving a business presentation.

We have all heard it said: when it comes to giving a business presentation, you should just be yourself. Don’t try to be someone else.

The idea that you should just be yourself is usually offered as an antidote to nerves. Don’t be nervous, just go out there and be yourself. “Be yourself” is code for “just relax.”

But my advice to anyone giving a business presentation is, don’t just try to be yourself. Be better than yourself. Don’t try to be someone other than yourself. Be your best possible self. A business presentation is a professional event. Rise to the occasion. Don’t settle for an informal, easygoing, and largely improvised version of yourself-trying-hard-to-relax. Face the audience. Stand up straight. Take a deep breath. Open your mouth. Look them in the eye and speak with distinction. Bring your best game.

What role are you playing?

It is also important to remember that when you are giving a presentation you are playing a role. A successful presentation depends on a clear understanding of your role. Your job is to provide useful information that your audience needs to make decisions. Your objective is to reach your audience, transform their thinking and move them to action. But there are three basic roles that presenters take to accomplish the objective and the job at hand. The three basic roles are actor, director and narrator.

In a business presentation, actors are not playing characters or persons other than themselves. An actor is an active agent in the events that are described in the presentation. The actor has physical presence and a direct and personal interest in the execution of events. The actor is attempting to engage the audience as fellow actors. If you are seeking approval or support from the audience for a new strategy or business initiative on behalf of your company, department or team, then your role is likely that of an actor. The orientation of the actor is, “We need…” or “I want…” to get things done, and I need your understanding if not your actual help.

A director is not an active agent in the execution of the events described in the presentation. But the director has a unifying vision for how the action needs to unfold if it is to be successful. The director takes responsibility for seeing that the right actors are identified and engaged, that they all have complementary objectives, and that they are actively coordinating their efforts. If you are an internal consultant or are presenting a new operating plan to one of your departments you are likely assuming the role of a director. The director is empathetic and supportive of the actors, but also sets high expectations and standards. The general orientation of a director is, “You need…” to be doing the following things in order to do your jobs and meet the objectives as defined.

The third basic role is that of a narrator . The narrator is an objective observer, with special insight and no other agenda than the truth. The narrator may have played an active role in the past, but is now describing or interpreting events and the actions of others with the benefit of perspective and hindsight. The general orientation is, “this is what other people are doing or have done in the past.” If you are presenting market research or a competitive analysis you are likely assuming the role of a narrator.

Decide which role is most appropriate to the presentation you are giving and then fully commit yourself to that role. Don’t allow the audience to become confused as to what your role is. If you are an actor then demonstrate a little passion, a bias for action and a sense of urgency. If you are a director then you must have an inspiring vision and take responsibility for the efforts of everyone in the pursuit of that vision. If you are a narrator, the audience must know that you have depth of insight, clear judgement and their best interests at heart.

Changing roles

In any presentation, or at any given point in a presentation, the presenter is assuming one of these basic roles. Stick to your role. Sometimes a transition from one role to another is required during the presentation. If that’s the case, it’s generally best to begin the presentation as a narrator and then transition to the roles of director or actor. This is true for two reasons:

• This flow creates momentum toward action. The presenter becomes engaged and assumes an active role over the course of the presentation which a) lends credibility to everything they just said as a narrator and b) inspires the audience to follow their example.
• Actors and directors are perceived to hold a bias which makes it harder for them to quick change and assume the role of a wholly objective narrator.

Benefits of embracing your role

There is security in knowing your role and what it is you need to do. Understanding and embracing a role gives you confidence. You are able to address and engage the audience with a distinctive and consistent voice. With confidence comes the right amount and kind of relaxation.

When the audience recognizes a familiar role, they too are able to relax. The role places information in context, the message becomes clearer and the audience becomes more receptive to the message.

So more than knowing yourself and just being yourself, the path to success in the business presentation is made straight when you know your role and play that role with energy and conviction.

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2.3 Perceiving and Presenting Self

Learning objectives.

• Define self-concept and discuss how we develop our self-concept.
• Define self-esteem and discuss how we develop self-esteem.
• Explain how social comparison theory and self-discrepancy theory influence self-perception.
• Discuss how social norms, family, culture, and media influence self-perception.
• Define self-presentation and discuss common self-presentation strategies.

Just as our perception of others affects how we communicate, so does our perception of ourselves. But what influences our self-perception? How much of our self is a product of our own making and how much of it is constructed based on how others react to us? How do we present ourselves to others in ways that maintain our sense of self or challenge how others see us? We will begin to answer these questions in this section as we explore self-concept, self-esteem, and self-presentation.

Self-Concept

Self-concept refers to the overall idea of who a person thinks he or she is. If I said, “Tell me who you are,” your answers would be clues as to how you see yourself, your self-concept. Each person has an overall self-concept that might be encapsulated in a short list of overarching characteristics that he or she finds important. But each person’s self-concept is also influenced by context, meaning we think differently about ourselves depending on the situation we are in. In some situations, personal characteristics, such as our abilities, personality, and other distinguishing features, will best describe who we are. You might consider yourself laid back, traditional, funny, open minded, or driven, or you might label yourself a leader or a thrill seeker. In other situations, our self-concept may be tied to group or cultural membership. For example, you might consider yourself a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, a Southerner, or a member of the track team.

Men are more likely than women to include group memberships in their self-concept descriptions.

Stefano Ravalli – In control – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Our self-concept is also formed through our interactions with others and their reactions to us. The concept of the looking glass self explains that we see ourselves reflected in other people’s reactions to us and then form our self-concept based on how we believe other people see us (Cooley, 1902). This reflective process of building our self-concept is based on what other people have actually said, such as “You’re a good listener,” and other people’s actions, such as coming to you for advice. These thoughts evoke emotional responses that feed into our self-concept. For example, you may think, “I’m glad that people can count on me to listen to their problems.”

We also develop our self-concept through comparisons to other people. Social comparison theory states that we describe and evaluate ourselves in terms of how we compare to other people. Social comparisons are based on two dimensions: superiority/inferiority and similarity/difference (Hargie, 2011). In terms of superiority and inferiority, we evaluate characteristics like attractiveness, intelligence, athletic ability, and so on. For example, you may judge yourself to be more intelligent than your brother or less athletic than your best friend, and these judgments are incorporated into your self-concept. This process of comparison and evaluation isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can have negative consequences if our reference group isn’t appropriate. Reference groups are the groups we use for social comparison, and they typically change based on what we are evaluating. In terms of athletic ability, many people choose unreasonable reference groups with which to engage in social comparison. If a man wants to get into better shape and starts an exercise routine, he may be discouraged by his difficulty keeping up with the aerobics instructor or running partner and judge himself as inferior, which could negatively affect his self-concept. Using as a reference group people who have only recently started a fitness program but have shown progress could help maintain a more accurate and hopefully positive self-concept.

We also engage in social comparison based on similarity and difference. Since self-concept is context specific, similarity may be desirable in some situations and difference more desirable in others. Factors like age and personality may influence whether or not we want to fit in or stand out. Although we compare ourselves to others throughout our lives, adolescent and teen years usually bring new pressure to be similar to or different from particular reference groups. Think of all the cliques in high school and how people voluntarily and involuntarily broke off into groups based on popularity, interest, culture, or grade level. Some kids in your high school probably wanted to fit in with and be similar to other people in the marching band but be different from the football players. Conversely, athletes were probably more apt to compare themselves, in terms of similar athletic ability, to other athletes rather than kids in show choir. But social comparison can be complicated by perceptual influences. As we learned earlier, we organize information based on similarity and difference, but these patterns don’t always hold true. Even though students involved in athletics and students involved in arts may seem very different, a dancer or singer may also be very athletic, perhaps even more so than a member of the football team. As with other aspects of perception, there are positive and negative consequences of social comparison.

We generally want to know where we fall in terms of ability and performance as compared to others, but what people do with this information and how it affects self-concept varies. Not all people feel they need to be at the top of the list, but some won’t stop until they get the high score on the video game or set a new school record in a track-and-field event. Some people strive to be first chair in the clarinet section of the orchestra, while another person may be content to be second chair. The education system promotes social comparison through grades and rewards such as honor rolls and dean’s lists. Although education and privacy laws prevent me from displaying each student’s grade on a test or paper for the whole class to see, I do typically report the aggregate grades, meaning the total number of As, Bs, Cs, and so on. This doesn’t violate anyone’s privacy rights, but it allows students to see where they fell in the distribution. This type of social comparison can be used as motivation. The student who was one of only three out of twenty-three to get a D on the exam knows that most of her classmates are performing better than she is, which may lead her to think, “If they can do it, I can do it.” But social comparison that isn’t reasoned can have negative effects and result in negative thoughts like “Look at how bad I did. Man, I’m stupid!” These negative thoughts can lead to negative behaviors, because we try to maintain internal consistency, meaning we act in ways that match up with our self-concept. So if the student begins to question her academic abilities and then incorporates an assessment of herself as a “bad student” into her self-concept, she may then behave in ways consistent with that, which is only going to worsen her academic performance. Additionally, a student might be comforted to learn that he isn’t the only person who got a D and then not feel the need to try to improve, since he has company. You can see in this example that evaluations we place on our self-concept can lead to cycles of thinking and acting. These cycles relate to self-esteem and self-efficacy, which are components of our self-concept.

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem refers to the judgments and evaluations we make about our self-concept. While self-concept is a broad description of the self, self-esteem is a more specifically an evaluation of the self (Byrne, 1996). If I again prompted you to “Tell me who you are,” and then asked you to evaluate (label as good/bad, positive/negative, desirable/undesirable) each of the things you listed about yourself, I would get clues about your self-esteem. Like self-concept, self-esteem has general and specific elements. Generally, some people are more likely to evaluate themselves positively while others are more likely to evaluate themselves negatively (Brockner, 1988). More specifically, our self-esteem varies across our life span and across contexts.

Self-esteem varies throughout our lives, but some people generally think more positively of themselves and some people think more negatively.

RHiNO NEAL – [trophy] – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

How we judge ourselves affects our communication and our behaviors, but not every negative or positive judgment carries the same weight. The negative evaluation of a trait that isn’t very important for our self-concept will likely not result in a loss of self-esteem. For example, I am not very good at drawing. While I appreciate drawing as an art form, I don’t consider drawing ability to be a very big part of my self-concept. If someone critiqued my drawing ability, my self-esteem wouldn’t take a big hit. I do consider myself a good teacher, however, and I have spent and continue to spend considerable time and effort on improving my knowledge of teaching and my teaching skills. If someone critiqued my teaching knowledge and/or abilities, my self-esteem would definitely be hurt. This doesn’t mean that we can’t be evaluated on something we find important. Even though teaching is very important to my self-concept, I am regularly evaluated on it. Every semester, I am evaluated by my students, and every year, I am evaluated by my dean, department chair, and colleagues. Most of that feedback is in the form of constructive criticism, which can still be difficult to receive, but when taken in the spirit of self-improvement, it is valuable and may even enhance our self-concept and self-esteem. In fact, in professional contexts, people with higher self-esteem are more likely to work harder based on negative feedback, are less negatively affected by work stress, are able to handle workplace conflict better, and are better able to work independently and solve problems (Brockner, 1988). Self-esteem isn’t the only factor that contributes to our self-concept; perceptions about our competence also play a role in developing our sense of self.

Self-Efficacy refers to the judgments people make about their ability to perform a task within a specific context (Bandura, 1997). As you can see in Figure 2.2 “Relationship between Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem, and Self-Concept” , judgments about our self-efficacy influence our self-esteem, which influences our self-concept. The following example also illustrates these interconnections.

Figure 2.2 Relationship between Self-Efficacy, Self-Esteem, and Self-Concept

Pedro did a good job on his first college speech. During a meeting with his professor, Pedro indicates that he is confident going into the next speech and thinks he will do well. This skill-based assessment is an indication that Pedro has a high level of self-efficacy related to public speaking. If he does well on the speech, the praise from his classmates and professor will reinforce his self-efficacy and lead him to positively evaluate his speaking skills, which will contribute to his self-esteem. By the end of the class, Pedro likely thinks of himself as a good public speaker, which may then become an important part of his self-concept. Throughout these points of connection, it’s important to remember that self-perception affects how we communicate, behave, and perceive other things. Pedro’s increased feeling of self-efficacy may give him more confidence in his delivery, which will likely result in positive feedback that reinforces his self-perception. He may start to perceive his professor more positively since they share an interest in public speaking, and he may begin to notice other people’s speaking skills more during class presentations and public lectures. Over time, he may even start to think about changing his major to communication or pursuing career options that incorporate public speaking, which would further integrate being “a good public speaker” into his self-concept. You can hopefully see that these interconnections can create powerful positive or negative cycles. While some of this process is under our control, much of it is also shaped by the people in our lives.

The verbal and nonverbal feedback we get from people affect our feelings of self-efficacy and our self-esteem. As we saw in Pedro’s example, being given positive feedback can increase our self-efficacy, which may make us more likely to engage in a similar task in the future (Hargie, 2011). Obviously, negative feedback can lead to decreased self-efficacy and a declining interest in engaging with the activity again. In general, people adjust their expectations about their abilities based on feedback they get from others. Positive feedback tends to make people raise their expectations for themselves and negative feedback does the opposite, which ultimately affects behaviors and creates the cycle. When feedback from others is different from how we view ourselves, additional cycles may develop that impact self-esteem and self-concept.

Self-discrepancy theory states that people have beliefs about and expectations for their actual and potential selves that do not always match up with what they actually experience (Higgins, 1987). To understand this theory, we have to understand the different “selves” that make up our self-concept, which are the actual, ideal, and ought selves. The actual self consists of the attributes that you or someone else believes you actually possess. The ideal self consists of the attributes that you or someone else would like you to possess. The ought self consists of the attributes you or someone else believes you should possess.

These different selves can conflict with each other in various combinations. Discrepancies between the actual and ideal/ought selves can be motivating in some ways and prompt people to act for self-improvement. For example, if your ought self should volunteer more for the local animal shelter, then your actual self may be more inclined to do so. Discrepancies between the ideal and ought selves can be especially stressful. For example, many professional women who are also mothers have an ideal view of self that includes professional success and advancement. They may also have an ought self that includes a sense of duty and obligation to be a full-time mother. The actual self may be someone who does OK at both but doesn’t quite live up to the expectations of either. These discrepancies do not just create cognitive unease—they also lead to emotional, behavioral, and communicative changes.

People who feel that it’s their duty to recycle but do not actually do it will likely experience a discrepancy between their actual and ought selves.

Matt Martin – Recycle – CC BY-NC 2.0.

When we compare the actual self to the expectations of ourselves and others, we can see particular patterns of emotional and behavioral effects. When our actual self doesn’t match up with our own ideals of self, we are not obtaining our own desires and hopes, which can lead to feelings of dejection including disappointment, dissatisfaction, and frustration. For example, if your ideal self has no credit card debt and your actual self does, you may be frustrated with your lack of financial discipline and be motivated to stick to your budget and pay off your credit card bills.

When our actual self doesn’t match up with other people’s ideals for us, we may not be obtaining significant others’ desires and hopes, which can lead to feelings of dejection including shame, embarrassment, and concern for losing the affection or approval of others. For example, if a significant other sees you as an “A” student and you get a 2.8 GPA your first year of college, then you may be embarrassed to share your grades with that person.

When our actual self doesn’t match up with what we think other people think we should obtain, we are not living up to the ought self that we think others have constructed for us, which can lead to feelings of agitation, feeling threatened, and fearing potential punishment. For example, if your parents think you should follow in their footsteps and take over the family business, but your actual self wants to go into the military, then you may be unsure of what to do and fear being isolated from the family.

Finally, when our actual self doesn’t match up with what we think we should obtain, we are not meeting what we see as our duties or obligations, which can lead to feelings of agitation including guilt, weakness, and a feeling that we have fallen short of our moral standard (Higgins, 1987). For example, if your ought self should volunteer more for the local animal shelter, then your actual self may be more inclined to do so due to the guilt of reading about the increasing number of animals being housed at the facility. The following is a review of the four potential discrepancies between selves:

• Actual vs. own ideals. We have an overall feeling that we are not obtaining our desires and hopes, which leads to feelings of disappointment, dissatisfaction, and frustration.
• Actual vs. others’ ideals. We have an overall feeling that we are not obtaining significant others’ desires and hopes for us, which leads to feelings of shame and embarrassment.
• Actual vs. others’ ought. We have an overall feeling that we are not meeting what others see as our duties and obligations, which leads to feelings of agitation including fear of potential punishment.
• Actual vs. own ought. We have an overall feeling that we are not meeting our duties and obligations, which can lead to a feeling that we have fallen short of our own moral standards.

Influences on Self-Perception

We have already learned that other people influence our self-concept and self-esteem. While interactions we have with individuals and groups are definitely important to consider, we must also note the influence that larger, more systemic forces have on our self-perception. Social and family influences, culture, and the media all play a role in shaping who we think we are and how we feel about ourselves. Although these are powerful socializing forces, there are ways to maintain some control over our self-perception.

Social and Family Influences

Various forces help socialize us into our respective social and cultural groups and play a powerful role in presenting us with options about who we can be. While we may like to think that our self-perception starts with a blank canvas, our perceptions are limited by our experiences and various social and cultural contexts.

Parents and peers shape our self-perceptions in positive and negative ways. Feedback that we get from significant others, which includes close family, can lead to positive views of self (Hargie, 2011). In the past few years, however, there has been a public discussion and debate about how much positive reinforcement people should give to others, especially children. The following questions have been raised: Do we have current and upcoming generations that have been overpraised? Is the praise given warranted? What are the positive and negative effects of praise? What is the end goal of the praise? Let’s briefly look at this discussion and its connection to self-perception.

Some experts have warned that overpraising children can lead to distorted self-concepts.

Rain0975 – participation award – CC BY-ND 2.0.

Whether praise is warranted or not is very subjective and specific to each person and context, but in general there have been questions raised about the potential negative effects of too much praise. Motivation is the underlying force that drives us to do things. Sometimes we are intrinsically motivated, meaning we want to do something for the love of doing it or the resulting internal satisfaction. Other times we are extrinsically motivated, meaning we do something to receive a reward or avoid punishment. If you put effort into completing a short documentary for a class because you love filmmaking and editing, you have been largely motivated by intrinsic forces. If you complete the documentary because you want an “A” and know that if you fail your parents will not give you money for your spring break trip, then you are motivated by extrinsic factors. Both can, of course, effectively motivate us. Praise is a form of extrinsic reward, and if there is an actual reward associated with the praise, like money or special recognition, some people speculate that intrinsic motivation will suffer. But what’s so good about intrinsic motivation? Intrinsic motivation is more substantial and long-lasting than extrinsic motivation and can lead to the development of a work ethic and sense of pride in one’s abilities. Intrinsic motivation can move people to accomplish great things over long periods of time and be happy despite the effort and sacrifices made. Extrinsic motivation dies when the reward stops. Additionally, too much praise can lead people to have a misguided sense of their abilities. College professors who are reluctant to fail students who produce failing work may be setting those students up to be shocked when their supervisor critiques their abilities or output once they get into a professional context (Hargie, 2011).

There are cultural differences in the amount of praise and positive feedback that teachers and parents give their children. For example, teachers give less positive reinforcement in Japanese and Taiwanese classrooms than do teachers in US classrooms. Chinese and Kenyan parents do not regularly praise their children because they fear it may make them too individualistic, rude, or arrogant (Wierzbicka, 2004). So the phenomenon of overpraising isn’t universal, and the debate over its potential effects is not resolved.

Research has also found that communication patterns develop between parents and children that are common to many verbally and physically abusive relationships. Such patterns have negative effects on a child’s self-efficacy and self-esteem (Morgan & Wilson, 2007). As you’ll recall from our earlier discussion, attributions are links we make to identify the cause of a behavior. In the case of aggressive or abusive parents, they are not as able to distinguish between mistakes and intentional behaviors, often seeing honest mistakes as intended and reacting negatively to the child. Such parents also communicate generally negative evaluations to their child by saying, for example, “You can’t do anything right!” or “You’re a bad girl.” When children do exhibit positive behaviors, abusive parents are more likely to use external attributions that diminish the achievement of the child by saying, for example, “You only won because the other team was off their game.” In general, abusive parents have unpredictable reactions to their children’s positive and negative behavior, which creates an uncertain and often scary climate for a child that can lead to lower self-esteem and erratic or aggressive behavior. The cycles of praise and blame are just two examples of how the family as a socializing force can influence our self-perceptions. Culture also influences how we see ourselves.

How people perceive themselves varies across cultures. For example, many cultures exhibit a phenomenon known as the self-enhancement bias , meaning that we tend to emphasize our desirable qualities relative to other people (Loughnan et al., 2011). But the degree to which people engage in self-enhancement varies. A review of many studies in this area found that people in Western countries such as the United States were significantly more likely to self-enhance than people in countries such as Japan. Many scholars explain this variation using a common measure of cultural variation that claims people in individualistic cultures are more likely to engage in competition and openly praise accomplishments than people in collectivistic cultures. The difference in self-enhancement has also been tied to economics, with scholars arguing that people in countries with greater income inequality are more likely to view themselves as superior to others or want to be perceived as superior to others (even if they don’t have economic wealth) in order to conform to the country’s values and norms. This holds true because countries with high levels of economic inequality, like the United States, typically value competition and the right to boast about winning or succeeding, while countries with more economic equality, like Japan, have a cultural norm of modesty (Loughnan, 2011).

Race also plays a role in self-perception. For example, positive self-esteem and self-efficacy tend to be higher in African American adolescent girls than Caucasian girls (Stockton et al., 2009). In fact, more recent studies have discounted much of the early research on race and self-esteem that purported that African Americans of all ages have lower self-esteem than whites. Self-perception becomes more complex when we consider biracial individuals—more specifically those born to couples comprising an African American and a white parent (Bowles, 1993). In such cases, it is challenging for biracial individuals to embrace both of their heritages, and social comparison becomes more difficult due to diverse and sometimes conflicting reference groups. Since many biracial individuals identify as and are considered African American by society, living and working within a black community can help foster more positive self-perceptions in these biracial individuals. Such a community offers a more nurturing environment and a buffer zone from racist attitudes but simultaneously distances biracial individuals from their white identity. Conversely, immersion into a predominantly white community and separation from a black community can lead biracial individuals to internalize negative views of people of color and perhaps develop a sense of inferiority. Gender intersects with culture and biracial identity to create different experiences and challenges for biracial men and women. Biracial men have more difficulty accepting their potential occupational limits, especially if they have white fathers, and biracial women have difficulty accepting their black features, such as hair and facial features. All these challenges lead to a sense of being marginalized from both ethnic groups and interfere in the development of positive self-esteem and a stable self-concept.

Biracial individuals may have challenges with self-perception as they try to integrate both racial identities into their self-concept.

Javcon117* – End of Summer Innocence – CC BY-SA 2.0.

There are some general differences in terms of gender and self-perception that relate to self-concept, self-efficacy, and envisioning ideal selves. As with any cultural differences, these are generalizations that have been supported by research, but they do not represent all individuals within a group. Regarding self-concept, men are more likely to describe themselves in terms of their group membership, and women are more likely to include references to relationships in their self-descriptions. For example, a man may note that he is a Tarheel fan, a boat enthusiast, or a member of the Rotary Club, and a woman may note that she is a mother of two or a loyal friend.

Regarding self-efficacy, men tend to have higher perceptions of self-efficacy than women (Hargie, 2011). In terms of actual and ideal selves, men and women in a variety of countries both described their ideal self as more masculine (Best & Thomas, 2004). As was noted earlier, gender differences are interesting to study but are very often exaggerated beyond the actual variations. Socialization and internalization of societal norms for gender differences accounts for much more of our perceived differences than do innate or natural differences between genders. These gender norms may be explicitly stated—for example, a mother may say to her son, “Boys don’t play with dolls”—or they may be more implicit, with girls being encouraged to pursue historically feminine professions like teaching or nursing without others actually stating the expectation.

The representations we see in the media affect our self-perception. The vast majority of media images include idealized representations of attractiveness. Despite the fact that the images of people we see in glossy magazines and on movie screens are not typically what we see when we look at the people around us in a classroom, at work, or at the grocery store, many of us continue to hold ourselves to an unrealistic standard of beauty and attractiveness. Movies, magazines, and television shows are filled with beautiful people, and less attractive actors, when they are present in the media, are typically portrayed as the butt of jokes, villains, or only as background extras (Patzer, 2008). Aside from overall attractiveness, the media also offers narrow representations of acceptable body weight.

Researchers have found that only 12 percent of prime-time characters are overweight, which is dramatically less than the national statistics for obesity among the actual US population (Patzer, 2008). Further, an analysis of how weight is discussed on prime-time sitcoms found that heavier female characters were often the targets of negative comments and jokes that audience members responded to with laughter. Conversely, positive comments about women’s bodies were related to their thinness. In short, the heavier the character, the more negative the comments, and the thinner the character, the more positive the comments. The same researchers analyzed sitcoms for content regarding male characters’ weight and found that although comments regarding their weight were made, they were fewer in number and not as negative, ultimately supporting the notion that overweight male characters are more accepted in media than overweight female characters. Much more attention has been paid in recent years to the potential negative effects of such narrow media representations. The following “Getting Critical” box explores the role of media in the construction of body image.

In terms of self-concept, media representations offer us guidance on what is acceptable or unacceptable and valued or not valued in our society. Mediated messages, in general, reinforce cultural stereotypes related to race, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, and class. People from historically marginalized groups must look much harder than those in the dominant groups to find positive representations of their identities in media. As a critical thinker, it is important to question media messages and to examine who is included and who is excluded.

Advertising in particular encourages people to engage in social comparison, regularly communicating to us that we are inferior because we lack a certain product or that we need to change some aspect of our life to keep up with and be similar to others. For example, for many years advertising targeted to women instilled in them a fear of having a dirty house, selling them products that promised to keep their house clean, make their family happy, and impress their friends and neighbors. Now messages tell us to fear becoming old or unattractive, selling products to keep our skin tight and clear, which will in turn make us happy and popular.

“Getting Critical”

Body Image and Self-Perception

Take a look at any magazine, television show, or movie and you will most likely see very beautiful people. When you look around you in your daily life, there are likely not as many glamorous and gorgeous people. Scholars and media critics have critiqued this discrepancy for decades because it has contributed to many social issues and public health issues ranging from body dysmorphic disorder, to eating disorders, to lowered self-esteem.

Much of the media is driven by advertising, and the business of media has been to perpetuate a “culture of lack” (Dworkin & Wachs, 2009). This means that we are constantly told, via mediated images, that we lack something. In short, advertisements often tell us we don’t have enough money, enough beauty, or enough material possessions. Over the past few decades, women’s bodies in the media have gotten smaller and thinner, while men’s bodies have gotten bigger and more muscular. At the same time, the US population has become dramatically more obese. As research shows that men and women are becoming more and more dissatisfied with their bodies, which ultimately affects their self-concept and self-esteem, health and beauty product lines proliferate and cosmetic surgeries and other types of enhancements become more and more popular. From young children to older adults, people are becoming more aware of and oftentimes unhappy with their bodies, which results in a variety of self-perception problems.

• How do you think the media influences your self-perception and body image?
• Describe the typical man that is portrayed in the media. Describe the typical woman that is portrayed in the media. What impressions do these typical bodies make on others? What are the potential positive and negative effects of the way the media portrays the human body?
• Find an example of an “atypical” body represented in the media (a magazine, TV show, or movie). Is this person presented in a positive, negative, or neutral way? Why do you think this person was chosen?

Self-Presentation

How we perceive ourselves manifests in how we present ourselves to others. Self-presentation is the process of strategically concealing or revealing personal information in order to influence others’ perceptions (Human et al., 2012). We engage in this process daily and for different reasons. Although people occasionally intentionally deceive others in the process of self-presentation, in general we try to make a good impression while still remaining authentic. Since self-presentation helps meet our instrumental, relational, and identity needs, we stand to lose quite a bit if we are caught intentionally misrepresenting ourselves. In May of 2012, Yahoo!’s CEO resigned after it became known that he stated on official documents that he had two college degrees when he actually only had one. In a similar incident, a woman who had long served as the dean of admissions for the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology was dismissed from her position after it was learned that she had only attended one year of college and had falsely indicated she had a bachelor’s and master’s degree (Webber & Korn, 2012). Such incidents clearly show that although people can get away with such false self-presentation for a while, the eventual consequences of being found out are dire. As communicators, we sometimes engage in more subtle forms of inauthentic self-presentation. For example, a person may state or imply that they know more about a subject or situation than they actually do in order to seem smart or “in the loop.” During a speech, a speaker works on a polished and competent delivery to distract from a lack of substantive content. These cases of strategic self-presentation may not ever be found out, but communicators should still avoid them as they do not live up to the standards of ethical communication.

Consciously and competently engaging in self-presentation can have benefits because we can provide others with a more positive and accurate picture of who we are. People who are skilled at impression management are typically more engaging and confident, which allows others to pick up on more cues from which to form impressions (Human et al., 2012). Being a skilled self-presenter draws on many of the practices used by competent communicators, including becoming a higher self-monitor. When self-presentation skills and self-monitoring skills combine, communicators can simultaneously monitor their own expressions, the reaction of others, and the situational and social context (Sosik, Avolio, & Jung, 2002). Sometimes people get help with their self-presentation. Although most people can’t afford or wouldn’t think of hiring an image consultant, some people have started generously donating their self-presentation expertise to help others. Many people who have been riding the tough job market for a year or more get discouraged and may consider giving up on their job search.

People who have been out of work for a while may have difficulty finding the motivation to engage in the self-presentation behaviors needed to form favorable impressions.

Steve Petrucelli – Interview Time! – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

There are two main types of self-presentation: prosocial and self-serving (Sosik, Avolio, & Jung, 2002). Prosocial self-presentation entails behaviors that present a person as a role model and make a person more likable and attractive. For example, a supervisor may call on her employees to uphold high standards for business ethics, model that behavior in her own actions, and compliment others when they exemplify those standards. Self-serving self-presentation entails behaviors that present a person as highly skilled, willing to challenge others, and someone not to be messed with. For example, a supervisor may publicly take credit for the accomplishments of others or publicly critique an employee who failed to meet a particular standard. In summary, prosocial strategies are aimed at benefiting others, while self-serving strategies benefit the self at the expense of others.

In general, we strive to present a public image that matches up with our self-concept, but we can also use self-presentation strategies to enhance our self-concept (Hargie, 2011). When we present ourselves in order to evoke a positive evaluative response, we are engaging in self-enhancement. In the pursuit of self-enhancement, a person might try to be as appealing as possible in a particular area or with a particular person to gain feedback that will enhance one’s self-esteem. For example, a singer might train and practice for weeks before singing in front of a well-respected vocal coach but not invest as much effort in preparing to sing in front of friends. Although positive feedback from friends is beneficial, positive feedback from an experienced singer could enhance a person’s self-concept. Self-enhancement can be productive and achieved competently, or it can be used inappropriately. Using self-enhancement behaviors just to gain the approval of others or out of self-centeredness may lead people to communicate in ways that are perceived as phony or overbearing and end up making an unfavorable impression (Sosik, Avolio, & Jung, 2002).

“Getting Plugged In”

Self-Presentation Online: Social Media, Digital Trails, and Your Reputation

Although social networking has long been a way to keep in touch with friends and colleagues, the advent of social media has made the process of making connections and those all-important first impressions much more complex. Just looking at Facebook as an example, we can clearly see that the very acts of constructing a profile, posting status updates, “liking” certain things, and sharing various information via Facebook features and apps is self-presentation (Kim & Lee, 2011). People also form impressions based on the number of friends we have and the photos and posts that other people tag us in. All this information floating around can be difficult to manage. So how do we manage the impressions we make digitally given that there is a permanent record?

Research shows that people overall engage in positive and honest self-presentation on Facebook (Kim & Lee, 2011). Since people know how visible the information they post is, they may choose to only reveal things they think will form favorable impressions. But the mediated nature of Facebook also leads some people to disclose more personal information than they might otherwise in such a public or semipublic forum. These hyperpersonal disclosures run the risk of forming negative impressions based on who sees them. In general, the ease of digital communication, not just on Facebook, has presented new challenges for our self-control and information management. Sending someone a sexually provocative image used to take some effort before the age of digital cameras, but now “sexting” an explicit photo only takes a few seconds. So people who would have likely not engaged in such behavior before are more tempted to now, and it is the desire to present oneself as desirable or cool that leads people to send photos they may later regret (DiBlasio, 2012). In fact, new technology in the form of apps is trying to give people a little more control over the exchange of digital information. An iPhone app called “Snapchat” allows users to send photos that will only be visible for a few seconds. Although this isn’t a guaranteed safety net, the demand for such apps is increasing, which illustrates the point that we all now leave digital trails of information that can be useful in terms of our self-presentation but can also create new challenges in terms of managing the information floating around from which others may form impressions of us.

• What impressions do you want people to form of you based on the information they can see on your Facebook page?
• Have you ever used social media or the Internet to do “research” on a person? What things would you find favorable and unfavorable?
• Do you have any guidelines you follow regarding what information about yourself you will put online or not? If so, what are they? If not, why?

Key Takeaways

• Our self-concept is the overall idea of who we think we are. It is developed through our interactions with others and through social comparison that allows us to compare our beliefs and behaviors to others.
• Our self-esteem is based on the evaluations and judgments we make about various characteristics of our self-concept. It is developed through an assessment and evaluation of our various skills and abilities, known as self-efficacy, and through a comparison and evaluation of who we are, who we would like to be, and who we should be (self-discrepancy theory).
• Social comparison theory and self-discrepancy theory affect our self-concept and self-esteem because through comparison with others and comparison of our actual, ideal, and ought selves we make judgments about who we are and our self-worth. These judgments then affect how we communicate and behave.
• Socializing forces like family, culture, and media affect our self-perception because they give us feedback on who we are. This feedback can be evaluated positively or negatively and can lead to positive or negative patterns that influence our self-perception and then our communication.
• Self-presentation refers to the process of strategically concealing and/or revealing personal information in order to influence others’ perceptions. Prosocial self-presentation is intended to benefit others and self-serving self-presentation is intended to benefit the self at the expense of others. People also engage in self-enhancement, which is a self-presentation strategy by which people intentionally seek out positive evaluations.
• Make a list of characteristics that describe who you are (your self-concept). After looking at the list, see if you can come up with a few words that summarize the list to narrow in on the key features of your self-concept. Go back over the first list and evaluate each characteristic, for example noting whether it is something you do well/poorly, something that is good/bad, positive/negative, desirable/undesirable. Is the overall list more positive or more negative? After doing these exercises, what have you learned about your self-concept and self-esteem?
• Discuss at least one time in which you had a discrepancy or tension between two of the three selves described by self-discrepancy theory (the actual, ideal, and ought selves). What effect did this discrepancy have on your self-concept and/or self-esteem?
• Take one of the socializing forces discussed (family, culture, or media) and identify at least one positive and one negative influence that it/they have had on your self-concept and/or self-esteem.
• Getting integrated: Discuss some ways that you might strategically engage in self-presentation to influence the impressions of others in an academic, a professional, a personal, and a civic context.

Bandura, A., Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control (New York, NY: W. H. Freeman, 1997).

Best, D. L. and Jennifer J. Thomas, “Cultural Diversity and Cross-Cultural Perspectives,” in The Psychology of Gender, 2nd ed., eds. Alice H. Eagly, Anne E. Beall, and Robert J. Sternberg (New York, NY: Guilford Press, 2004), 296–327.

Bowles, D. D., “Biracial Identity: Children Born to African-American and White Couples,” Clinical Social Work Journal 21, no. 4 (1993): 418–22.

Brockner, J., Self-Esteem at Work (Lexington, MA: Lexington Books, 1988), 11.

Byrne, B. M., Measuring Self-Concept across the Life Span: Issues and Instrumentation (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 1996), 5.

Cooley, C., Human Nature and the Social Order (New York, NY: Scribner, 1902).

DiBlasio, N., “Demand for Photo-Erasing iPhone App Heats up Sexting Debate,” USA Today , May 7, 2012, accessed June 6, 2012, http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/05/demand-for-photo-erasing-iphone-app-heats-up-sexting-debate/1 .

Dworkin, S. L. and Faye Linda Wachs, Body Panic (New York, NY: New York University Press, 2009), 2.

Hargie, O., Skilled Interpersonal Interaction: Research, Theory, and Practice (London: Routledge, 2011), 261.

Higgins, E. T., “Self-Discrepancy: A Theory Relating Self and Affect,” Psychological Review 94, no. 3 (1987): 320–21.

Human, L. J., et al., “Your Best Self Helps Reveal Your True Self: Positive Self-Presentation Leads to More Accurate Personality Impressions,” Social Psychological and Personality Sciences 3, no. 1 (2012): 23.

Kim, J. and Jong-Eun Roselyn Lee, “The Facebook Paths to Happiness: Effects of the Number of Facebook Friends and Self-Presentation on Subjective Well-Being,” Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking 14, no. 6 (2011): 360.

Loughnan, S., et al., “Economic Inequality Is Linked to Biased Self-Perception,” Psychological Science 22, no. 10 (2011): 1254.

Morgan, W. and Steven R. Wilson, “Explaining Child Abuse as a Lack of Safe Ground,” in The Dark Side of Interpersonal Communication , eds. Brian H. Spitzberg and William R. Cupach (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2007), 341.

Patzer, G. L., Looks: Why They Matter More than You Ever Imagined (New York, NY: AMACOM, 2008), 147.

Sosik, J. J., Bruce J. Avolio, and Dong I. Jung, “Beneath the Mask: Examining the Relationship of Self-Presentation Attributes and Impression Management to Charismatic Leadership,” The Leadership Quarterly 13 (2002): 217.

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Communication in the Real World Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Presenting yourself in a professional environment

Whether you know it or not, everyone works as a salesperson in some form or another and the brand you’re working for is yourself.

I know this may sound rather absurd or even philosophical. But simply put, we should all have the ability to promote ourselves, regardless of the situation. The logic that follows is simple; even if you have incredible skills and techniques that are not rivaled by anybody, if you don’t know how to market yourself appropriately, you probably won’t be able to take advantage of those skills.

So, I’d like to share two essential steps I always take to present myself well in professional settings, regardless of whether it’s an online discussion or job interview.

Step 1: Be reflective about who you are

As a menswear columnist, I am often asked for styling advice from friends and peers. Be it how to dress for a first internship or what color to pick for their first suit, there is a recurring pattern that boils down to one greater question: how do we conform ourselves to an established social construction?

While that’s certainly an important consideration to keep in mind before we make a decision, thinking it too much would be equally problematic. In fact, I would even encourage you to take a step back from focusing on how to fit into our surroundings. You first need to consider who you are as a person.

This could be best explained by a personal experience of mine, which you might find familiar.

Having grown up with social media being an essential part of my youth, I had been quite troubled by the constantly shifting fashion trend led by style idols (and influencers who came afterward) on what’s trendy or what not to wear.

Apart from the various economic and environmental implications that come with it (which could be another article all its own), the most concerning consequence of pursuing trends is that it made me less self-aware of my own tastes and passions.

To put this into perspective, no matter how nicely dressed I was in these clothing, I still wouldn’t look my absolute best because I was fundamentally mimicking or even living under someone else’s shadow.

Needless to say, you could expect I didn’t have much success in standing out, let alone having the opportunity to present myself effectively.

Fortunately, things took a turn when I was inspired by a few of my closest friends to tap into what I’m truly passionate about — craftsmanship and sustainability.

As a direct result of this rather monumental self-discovery, I also launched a blog called The Suitstainable Man , which examines the dynamic between my passions, along with men’s style.

Since then, I’ve been able to work closely with firms and businesses in the tailoring and sustainable fashion industry to present insight and stories within the trade, as well as to spread ideas on my website for my readers to enjoy.

All in all, the lesson here is rather straightforward – In order to present yourself effectively, you have to be more reflective of who you are as a person and what you want to represent beforehand. Then, if you’re confident enough to stand for your ideals, you’re more than halfway ready to promote yourself professionally.

Step 2: Think from your audience’s perspective, and promote yourself accordingly

With that said, it’s not enough to just be self-aware and authentic to your own identity. You also need a self-assessment of your strengths and weaknesses to see if it appeals to your audience.

The truth is, while you shouldn’t conceal your passion just to promote yourself, you could always choose what to present or at least rephrase your words in order to captivate your audience.

My personal experience tells me that sometimes even though you’d consider some of your strength are worth highlighting over others, they may not necessarily be what others are looking for.

There could also be scenarios where you didn’t consider a strength that could end up playing a crucial role, namely by even allowing yourself to secure a job. This was precisely the case from my previous job as a marketing officer.

I recall that during the interview, I was asked to demonstrate sufficient experience to qualify for the role. While I could have taken the safe path by elaborating on the job duties of my previous internship experience (which perhaps would have been overkill by quantity), I decided not to present myself that way.

Instead, I took a risk by focusing on my work at The Suitstainable Man, which I’d recently launched at that time. By emphasizing how running a one-person brand requires me to have the expertise in both content creation and effective marketing, it certainly served as a better demonstration of why I was the fitting candidate for the role.

Next thing I knew, the company was asking when I could start working, and that was just a few hours after the interview!

So, remember to stay flexible. Your strengths and weaknesses are relative to the person you’re talking to. Trying to think from your audience’s perspective and whatever catches their eye will always be your strength.

The key to presenting yourself successfully in a professional setting largely depends on a balance between the ability to think from your audience’s perspective and to stay reflective of who you truly are.

Take a page from what Will Smith’s Genie said to Mena Massoud’s character in the latest Aladdin movie, “You look like a prince on the outside, but I didn’t change anything on the inside.”

With that said, this doesn’t mean the clothing you choose to present yourself with is not important. Sometimes, it is the icing on the cake that can determine whether you’re the perfect pick or just pretty great.

If you’re interested in diving deeper into how you should dress for your internship or your first job, you can check out this article I’ve written on this topic. You can also send me an email ( [email protected] ) should you have any further questions.

Take care, and bye for now.

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May 4, 2023

How to introduce yourself in an email with 14 samples and a template

Learn how to introduce yourself in an email as a new employee for a job, to clients, team, colleagues, or business partners with the help of our self-introduction email samples.

Lawrie Jones

Table of contents

Self-introduction email format

Imagine you've started a new job, and nobody knows who you are and what you do. An introduction email is an essential ice-breaker and a great way to kick off your time at a new company.

Introduction emails are essential if you're taking on a new account or working with a new contact at a business.

As well as saying hi, introduction emails are a way to clarify any details to avoid confusion or embarrassment. For example, you can share pronouns to ensure everyone understands who you are and how you want to be addressed.

Here are the essentials of the self-introduction email format ...

1. Self-introduction email subject line

The subject line for email introducing yourself is critical, as it's the first (and potentially only) thing your recipient will see.

Unless it's compelling, it'll be ignored. (Don't worry if you get no response, here's how to send a reminder email or a follow-up email .)

How do you create a great introduction email subject line? Here are a few examples:

• Introduction from <name>
• Hello from <name> at <organization>
• A quick hello
• Request to chat
• Interested in opportunities

Let's put this into practice and build an example:

2. Self-introduction email body

Your recipient has clicked the message and opened it. Start by delivering a personalized greeting with the person's name, if possible. Then get to the point and introduce yourself!

If someone has already made an intro between you and someone else, you don't necessarily need to give too many details here (and if you do, remove the CC ).

Here are some suitable opening email phrases include:

• Let me introduce myself
• First, let me introduce myself
• Please allow me to introduce myself
• I wanted to introduce myself
• I would like to introduce myself through email

We can build our example message out some more...

3. How to end an email introducing yourself

They know who you are and why you're emailing, so it's time to end. You can add contact details or another call to action (CTA). Always add a sign-off and include your signature.

Before signing off and sending your email introduction, proofread it and ensure you've included everything – including your critical contact details.

Here's the final instalment of our example to show you how it's done...

If you're struggling with formatting emails or writing professional emails, check out our other guides, including how to write professional emails .

15 email introduction examples

Constructing introduction emails should be easy if you follow the principles above.

When in doubt, you can use these professional self-introduction email examples. Remember that intro emails sent inside your company to colleagues can have some personality.

But, when communicating as a manager or externally with clients or customers, focus on being formal!

1. Self-introduction email to colleagues sample

This self-introduction email to colleagues is short and easy to understand. There's not much personality on show here, but the core of the message is there.

It's ideal to send it to an email list, for example. On the other hand, if you send this to individuals, take the time to personalize it a little (or a lot).

2. Introduce yourself to a new team email sample

The example above is a pretty anonymous email you could send to anyone. When introducing yourself to team members, it's a good idea to outline your skills and experiences.

You'll want to be positive and make a great first impression, as these are the people you'll be working with every day.

How do you do that? Check out this email to introduce yourself to a new team member example.

3. Self-introduction email sample on the first day of work

Ahh, that first day of work feeling where you don't know anyone, what you'll be doing, or even where you're sitting.

This intro email (you can also send it on Slack or another messaging tool you may use) is set-up to connect with colleagues as soon as you arrive. Don’t be a stranger!

4. Sample email to introduce yourself to someone you've never met

We all know that cold emailing can be intimidating. There's the fear of failure and rejection. But in our experience, most people are polite and cheerful (the ones worth working with, anyway!).

This sample demonstrates how to introduce yourself in an email to someone you've never met before.

5. Sample email introducing yourself as a new manager

As a manager, you're in charge of a team and need to lead from the front. You'll want to appear professional and focused but also want to show some personality and appear approachable. You're the boss, so build an email that suits your personality and style – but here are the basic building blocks.

6. How to introduce yourself in an email for a job

You must be careful when sending an email to introduce yourself for a job, as you need to hit the right tone. Be confident but not arrogant.

When planning out how to write an email introducing yourself for a job, think about what the other person is looking for. You can use the job advert for some strong ideas about what they're searching for.

Be formal, use a full name if possible, and always check it for grammar and spelling before sending, and don't forget to attach a resume . 

7. New employee self-introduction email sample

When joining a new company, it's common to send a first-time introduction email to your colleagues or your boss .

Your new employee self-introduction email may go to your department or directorate. Still, in some cases (for senior roles), it may include the entire organization. In this example, the self-introduction email is going out to a large group, so we're keeping it light on details. 

Here's a new employee self-introduction email sample that you can adapt and use on your first day at work. 

8. Self-introduction email to team

A self-introduction to a team is likely to include more specifics and details than a general email. These are the people you'll be working with daily, so it's worthwhile giving them more information. As part of your organizational induction, you'll likely meet with these people, so being as enthusiastic is encouraged.

9. Self-introduction email to client

If you're wondering how to introduce yourself in an email to clients, we're about to show you. When introducing yourself to a client, it's important to follow the established rules, express enthusiasm, and be optimistic for the future.  

We describe how to introduce yourself in an email to existing clients who have a relationship with your business and new ones you begin working with. In this self introduction email to client template, we're contacting someone to request a meeting.

10. Self-introduction email to new clients

A self-introduction email to new clients can establish a solid start to your relationship. When deciding how to introduce yourself in an email to a new client, we suggest being polite and keeping things short, giving them the initiative to continue the conversation.

11. Business email introducing yourself

A self-introduction email to business partners or potential contracts should focus on the detail and encourage them to contact you. In this example of how to introduce yourself in a business email, we provide a short and snappy intro without delving too far into the detail. 

12. Official introduction email sample

The ability to formally introduce yourself over email is necessary when writing to official figures, such as politicians or Government officials. Formally introducing yourself in an email is a more acceptable form of correspondence than a phone call and more immediate than sending a letter.

In this example of how to introduce yourself formally in an email, we provide a standard format and template for you to follow before you make your request .

13. Professional self-introduction email sample

Writing a professional introduction email is an essential skill for anyone who is employed. When deciding how to professionally introduce yourself in an email, we recommend following the rules and conventions of formal writing.

In this example of how to write a professional email to introduce yourself, we give you a pretty standard approach. 

14. Personal introduction email

In this personal introduction email, we strike a friendlier and more casual tone. Of course, it's entirely up to you whether you want to be this informal.

Still, in certain situations, it can be appropriate. For example, if a colleague or a friend has introduced you to someone already, just say thanks and keep it casual.

Here's one example of an informal personal introduction email.

Checklist for introducing yourself in an email:

By now, you should understand how to put together great introduction emails. If you need a reminder of the essentials, here's a checklist for introducing yourself in an email.

• Use a clear and concise subject line
• Start with a friendly greeting
• Introduce yourself and explain the purpose of your email
• Briefly describe your professional background and skills (optional)
• Mention any relevant qualifications or certifications (optional)
• End with a call-to-action or request for further communication (it's optional but definitely worth considering).
• Proofread and edit your email before sending

Self-introduction email template

The samples above are an essential primer, but you can use the template below as the basis for building your own introduction emails.

Work through the template from top to bottom and fill in the gaps. The customizable template can be cut, pasted, and adapted for almost an purpose.

Pssst. Here's a secret. You can use Flowrite to supercharge your self-introductions. Test it out here:

‍ Flowrite is an AI writing tool that turns your instructions into ready-to-send emails and messages. If you're still struggling to find the right words for introducing yourself by email, Flowrite can help you get started and offer some inspiration.

The next time you need to write a self introduction email just keep our samples in mind or pick up Flowrite to introduce yourself with confidence.

Let me introduce the conclusion…

It's been a pleasure guiding you through the fundamentals of creating engaging introduction emails.

The important thing is to ensure you stick to the structure and include all the information required. There's no need to be creative.

Just cut straight to the point and say who you are and why you're messaging — it's the ideal introduction.

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Presenting Yourself Positively

Tips for people with visual impairments to present themselves positively with dressing, grooming, and social interactions..

Written by: Penny Rosenblum

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Presenting yourself positively includes selecting the right clothing for the occasion and wearing it well , how you groom yourself , how you communicate with others be it using print, braille, and/or technology;  and your social interactions . Few of us are drop-dead gorgeous; most of us are just average people in average bodies, but the way we choose to dress, groom and interact with others can be the difference between being perceived as a capable, competent person who is sought out by others and being perceived as someone who is not effective and is to be avoided.

If you are a parent , it’s never too early to start thinking about the image your child with a visual impairment is sharing with the world.  If you’re the one with a visual impairment, it may be easy for you to think, “Well I don’t see them, so what does it matter?”  It does matter how you present yourself.  We’ve got some ideas for you about dressing , grooming , communicating, and social interaction ; four essential elements to presenting a positive you!

A Note to Parents

Regardless of your child’s age and abilities, the image she presents to the world can impact not only today but her future.  Many people have never met a visually impaired person before and so your child presents the image of what visual impairment is to them.  When your child has multiple disabilities, this can present further challenges because of your child’s physical appearance, social interaction (or lack of) skills, mannerisms (behaviors such as rocking, hand flapping, eye poking, etc.) or verbalizations.

Candice, the mother of 15 year old Stephen, has some strong feelings about the importance of Stephen’s appearance.  She shares, “By the time Stephen was four years old, it was obvious that other children were unsure of how to interact with him. He looked different with his eyes often closed and his hands often flapping by his face as he rocked from foot to foot, he didn’t talk, and he hadn’t yet learned to play with toys. As the social gap widened, I realized the importance of making sure he was dressed the same way boys his age were dressed and that even if he didn’t know how to play with a toy like the other boys, he needed to have the ‘right’ toys, so to speak.”  

Candice went on to share about a time when Stephen was 8 and they were at a park.  Stephen had on a t-shirt with an action figure on it that was popular at the time and an action figure toy that made sounds.  A boy came up to her and commented, “Wow he has a toy I really want, but my mom says I can’t have it.”  Candice encouraged the boy to ask Stephen to share the toy and then prompted Stephen to let the boy have a turn.  As the boy rambled on about the action figures special powers, Stephen periodically would say “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”  Though he wasn’t responding to what the boy was saying, the boy didn’t realize this so he continued the interaction.  It was at this time that Candice truly recognized the boy never would have started the interaction if Stephen hadn’t been “appealing” to him because of how he dressed and the toy he had.

As a 15 year old, Stephen prefers the toys of preschoolers and has no concept of the latest musical groups or pro sports teams.  Candice has become a keen observer of teenage boys in her community. She often buys him clothes that have the logos of various musical groups and sports teams she sees other boys wearing.  Stephen has an iPod with music on it that he likes (typical of that listened to by a younger child), but she has also loaded music onto it that teens enjoy and she has added some games favored by boys Stephen’s age.  She’s taught Stephen to say, “Check out my iPod” and to offer it to others as a way to begin a social interaction. 

We’re not saying you need to go out and buy your child a new wardrobe or make sure she has the most expensive toys or gadgets.  Rather the message Candice is sharing with you is the need for your child to not stand out more because of the way he or she dresses, the things she has with her or her social interaction skills.  Start when your child is young by laying the foundation. Here are a few ideas to get you going.

• Even if your child can’t see who she is talking to, she needs to look in the direction of the person speaking, so that person is comfortable interacting with her.  Beginning when your child is a toddler ,praise her when she looks at people and encourage her to do so when she doesn’t.
• Like Candice, take time to observe what other children who are your child’s age and gender are doing, wearing, and saying.  Learn about the television shows they watch, movies they go see, games they play, and music they like.  Incorporate this information into your child’s life in the same way Candice did for Stephen.
• Pay attention to the websites, books, and social media children your child’s age are using. Even if your child is a non-reader or not reading at the level of others, help her to develop an awareness of how others her age take in and share information.  She can have an Instagram account for example where the two of you share her experiences.  Taking photos of her doing things she enjoys and posting those to social media together is a great way to start. 
• Give your child realistic feedback about how she looks and acts. Share the positives you observe with her, such as how she smiled when she introduced herself to the new family who moved into the neighborhood, how the color green goes well with her hair, or that her fingernails are trimmed evenly.  At the same time, let your child know if her hair isn’t brushed nicely, her shirt is stained, or her head was down as she talked with a classmate.  Your child isn’t necessarily going to get this feedback from anyone else so it’s important you give it to her.  
• Help your child develop a signature – whether this is a handwritten signature or a stamp she uses to add her signature to items, such as a greeting card to a family member, an invitation to her birthday party, or a note to her teacher about what she did over the weekend. 
• Consider enrolling your child in an acting, dance, or modeling class.  Classes such as these help young people gain a better understanding of their own body and body image.  In addition they are a great venue to meet others.  Acting classes, especially, will allow your child to work on building her verbal communication skills with others. Some communities have programs for children with disabilities so speak with your child’s teacher or other team members about programs that might be available in your community.
• Describe to your child what you are observing when it comes to the impressions you have of others.  Let your child know that the hostess at the restaurant was dressed in a flattering outfit, looked you in the eye when you entered the restaurant and smiled at you.  By hearing about your observations your child will become more aware of the need to put her best foot forward because people really are paying attention.
• At school speak with your child’s educational team about including goals on her Individual Education Plan (IEP) that focus on skills she’ll need to present herself positively.  There’s more to school than just academics.

Be sure to read our suggestions about dressing , grooming and social interactions .  Though written for a person who is visually impaired, the ideas within these pages are ones you can consider and implement with your own child as appropriate.

Clothing Selection and Organization

Hang out in the mall and listen to conversations and you’re bound to hear two young women talking about how a sweater or pair of shoes looks and how they perceive it will look on them. Presenting the “right” look for a specific situation takes some thought and planning.  Rarely do you wear a dress to a friend’s house for a sleepover nor do you wear sweatpants to a job interview.  Even when you pick out the “right” type of clothing, matching the colors, getting a style that looks good on you, and making sure the clothes are clean takes time and effort.  

How do I know what to wear?

You may not see what other people are wearing, but they can see what you’re wearing so you’ll want to pick clothes that are “in” and don’t make you look out of place.  You can ask your family or friends for input on what to wear.  You can look at magazines or on the internet. If you can’t see the pictures, ask others to describe them for you.  Take notes for yourself about what you learn so you can refer back to these. At the mall you can visit stores that people your age shop in and talk to salespeople about what others are buying.  

What colors and styles look good on me?

Experimentation is something we all do to find out what colors and styles look good with our own body type.  Input from others is going to be essential to finding out what works well for you.  If someone gives you a compliment on your clothes, pay attention to what you have on so you know what outfit has been noticed.  Neutral colors, blacks, whites, grays, browns can be a cornerstone of your wardrobe.  Almost every color such as blue, green, yellow, red will work with a neutral color.  

How do I know what colors go together?

If you can’t see colors, how do you know if the green striped shirt goes with the flowered pants?  This is where a trusted person can really help you organize your outfit choices.  You might want to take notes about what goes with what, so you’ll not need to remember it all.  Some people will pin outfits together in the closet or fold them together in the drawer so everything is in one place and they know it matches.  When you put your outfit in the laundry, you can use safety pins or other fasteners to keep it together.  Some people write out a list and keep it in their bedroom so they can refer to it when making outfit choices.  

How do I tell my clothing apart?

There are lots of ways to tell your clothing apart so find a method that works for you.  Some people sew tags into the collars or waistbands of clothing.  You can buy clothing tags from companies such as MaxiAids   and Independent Living Aids . Companies such as these sell a variety of tags that have different shapes, colors and/or tactual markings on them.  If you put all the triangles in the colors of your blue shirts and all the squares in the collars of your white shirts you’ll be well on your way to having a system to tell like items apart.  You develop a system that works for you.  

Other people have a system where they cut notches clothing tags.  For example anything red may have a notch cut out of the right side of the tag and anything blue may have a triangle shape cut into the bottom of the tag.  Yet others divide clothes by color within the closet or drawer so that all blue things are together, all white things are together etc.  

Another option is to add braille tags to items.  You might pin cards on the hangers of clothing items and then when they come out of the laundry put them back on the same hangers. The important thing is that you come up with a system that is functional for you.  Be sure to take notes on your system so you can refer back to them if you forget.

What about stains?

Sighted people have stains on their clothing from time-to-time; it’s human nature.  They can look down and see the splash of spaghetti sauce on their shirt.  There are a lot of products on the market to remove stains.  If you think you might have spilled something and can’t tell, assume you have and treat the garment for stains.  You can also enlist the help of someone sighted to let you know if there is a stain on your clothing.  Another option is to take your clothes to a laundry service or dry cleaner and have them professionally cleaned.  You won’t want to do this for the sweatshirt and jeans you wear around the house, but this might be a viable option for your work clothes or going-out-on-a-date clothes.

We’ve given you a few pointers to getting started on having your clothes in order.

We’re sure you know how to take a bath or shower, brush your teeth and all that personal hygiene stuff, so what we’re going to focus on here is the importance of having a presentable appearance, tools to assist you with getting your grooming done efficiently, shaving and for the ladies putting on makeup.  

Why does it matter how my hair looks or if my nails are trimmed?

Since you more than likely can’t tell if someone else has neatly trimmed nails or if they have lint on their pants, why does it matter if you do?  Well it does, and it more than likely matters more for you than it does for the other person.  Why?  The truth is because you have a disability, people tend to look at you more and scrutinize everything you do.  We’re not saying all people in all situations, but especially when meeting new people, dating, or working at a job, people do look and they do judge.  

You want people to judge you on your strengths, your great personality, your ability to get the job done, or your knowledge of a subject.  Your personal appearance can detract from this and ultimately could impact your ability to make friends, get a job, or keep a job.  So, how you present yourself DOES matter!

What tools can assist me when it comes to grooming?

If you have some usable vision lighting is a must.  You have to be able to see how you look and the better the light the more you’ll see in most cases.  Consider changing the light  bulb in your bathroom or bedroom to one that will allow you to yourself as clearly as possible.  Think about using a full spectrum light or a light bulb that mimics natural light. 

Also think about the use of magnification, be it a stand magnifier or a magnifying mirror. Some people will polish or trim their nails under a closed circuit television.  Combining looking at and feeling the smoothness of each nail will help you get them looking even.

A lint brush is a must, especially if you own a pet, so get in the habit of using this tool to get excess lint, pet hair, etc. off of your clothing.  Use a systematic method where you overlap strokes so that you don’t miss a spot.  Also consider using the lint brush before you put on the clothing and then again once you have it on.

Wrinkles can take away from your appearance.  Learn to iron and do so systematically.  If you’re not a fan of ironing, then buy clothes that don’t wrinkle easily, hang clothes up in the bathroom nearby the shower so that the steam from the shower takes the wrinkles out, or put the clothing item in the dryer on fluff right before you plan to wear it. 

When do I seek out a professional?

If your finances allow, consider visiting a professional for assistance with grooming.  As part of getting your hair cut and styled, ask for an extended appointment (and be prepared to pay for the time) so that the hair technician can show you how care for your hair, use the products he or she recommends, and allow you to practice styling your hair with their input. Men can ask a barber to trim their mustache or beard and help them determine the best length for them to keep these.  Woman can schedule time with makeup technicians and nail technicians to get one-on-one instruction in how to apply products. There are many fully sighted people who take advantage of getting input from these professionals, so why shouldn’t you?  Be sure the individual understands what you can and cannot see.  Ask him or her to let you apply the makeup, hair product, or use the beard trimmer so you can make sure you really have the directions down and can carry things out at home. 

What are my options when it comes to shaving?

An electric razor is a great option when it comes to shaving.  You’re not going to draw blood when you use an electric razor!  Regardless of what type of razor you use be systematic and overlap your strokes.  Use your hand to feel the area you have shaved to make sure it is clean and smooth.

How do I know what colors of makeup to use and if I’ve put them on correctly?

Makeup is very individualized.  What works for one woman won’t work for another.  To select your makeup, you’re going to need to enlist the help of someone sighted: a friend, family member, or makeup technician in the store.  Show the person some samples of clothing you wear, so they can help you in selecting makeup that will go with your color pallet.  You may want to get two sets of makeup: one for every day and one for “going out” or special occasions.  You can keep each set in a separate bag or box so you don’t mix things up.  Consider labeling the containers with braille, large print or tactile markings, so you know which eye shadow is which color.  

When it comes to putting on the makeup, you need someone who is going to be honest with you and let you know if you have the right “look”.  You don’t want lots of blush on your left cheek and hardly any on your right cheek.  Be prepared to practice applying makeup as it takes practice to get the feel for how it is done.  If you have some usable vision, consider having a magnifying mirror to look at yourself in as you apply the makeup.

Using a systematic approach to makeup application is a must if you have a visual impairment.  For example, when putting on your foundation, always start at your forehead, then left cheek, then right cheek, then chin.  If you go in the same order each time you won’t end up with two applications on your left cheek.  Try counting, for example 3 strokes of blush on each cheek.  Use landmarks on your face to help you orient.  Feel for your cheekbone and use this as the starting place for applying the blush.  Be gentle, if you feel you’ve put on too much lipstick take a damp washcloth or cotton ball and gently wipe at the edges of your lips.  You want to be careful not to smear the foundation.  

Keep in mind that as you get older the amount of makeup and the color pallet you use is going to change.  Fashion also changes over time.  Hence it is a good idea each year on your birthday to review your makeup choices with someone you trust who is sighted. They can give you honest observations about what they are seeing you do in comparison to what other women your age are doing.

Social Interaction Skills

As you think about the way you are presenting yourself to others, it’s impossible to not consider your social interaction skills.  Do you hold your head up?  Do you look in the direction of the person speaking?  Do you stay on the topic of the conversation?  Do you have a firm handshake? Do you smile at the right time?  Things such as these impact how others perceive you and your overall appearance.

When you interact with others there is your verbal interaction, what you say and the tone of your voice, pitch, loudness etc. and there is what is called nonverbal behaviors.  Nonverbal behaviors are your physical actions and how these are “read” by others.  For example your smile or frown is a nonverbal behavior, nodding your head to signify “yes” or “no” is considered nonverbal behavior as is crossing your arms across your chest to let someone know you are bored or impatient.  Sighted people get a lot of information from observing the nonverbal behavior of others.  When you can’t see this behavior it can make it a challenge for you to read the signals others are giving.  At the same time you may be giving out the wrong information about yourself through your nonverbal behavior.  You might smile when someone is telling you sad news and you may not even realize you have a smile on your face.  Or the way you are slouching in your chair may give the message that you are not interested in anyone talking to you when in reality you would love to be included in the conversation.

You need to get honest feedback from those you trust about your social presence in different situations.  This is how Carmen approached getting some feedback from his friend Doug.

Carmen and Doug were in Doug’s car headed to the food court at the mall where they were meeting their friend Marco.  Marco had texted them that he was at the pizza place with Greg, a new guy at school.  Carmen had never met Greg before.  Before they arrived he told Doug that he always hated meeting new people because they got freaked out when they saw his cane.  Doug pointed out that sometimes people freaked out because Carmen didn’t look at them and his voice sometimes sounds funny when he is nervous.  Rather than getting offended, Carmen told Doug that he’d try to look at Marco and pay attention to how he sounded.  After the guys had pizza and Carmen and Doug were headed home, Carmen asked Doug to give him some honest feedback about if he was looking at Marco and if his voice sounded ok.

Like Carmen you can get feedback from others…let them know you really want to hear their honest impressions.  If you don’t feel comfortable doing what Carmen did, consider audio taping and/or video taping yourself as you interact with someone and then reviewing it later to judge what you did well and what you can improve on.  Of course you want to be respectful of the other people, so ask if it is okay for you to tape the interaction or, if you don’t ask, be sure only you listen/view the audio/video and then delete it.

Taking a drama or public speaking class or joining a club with this type of focus is another way you can work on your social interaction skills.  In these types of classes or clubs people talk about how to present themselves or their character.  You’ll pick up some good pointers on how both verbal and nonverbal language is read by others.

This article was originally posted on the BrailleSC website, which was funded by a grant from the US Department of Education with support from the University of South Carolina Upstate and The Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities.

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Is Divorce Draining You? Use These Tips to Revive Yourself!

Posted: November 22, 2023 | Last updated: November 22, 2023

A divorce doesn’t have to take away the sunshine from your life and leave you drained and discontent. That’s because there are ways in which you can revive yourself while going through a divorce and emerge at the end of the process healthy and happy. If you have no idea about how to get through a divorce without losing your spark, read on to see some of the ways in which you can find the brighter side without necessarily having to spend a lot of money.

Maintain a Healthy Routine

The first thing that you should do is to come up with a healthy routine and maintain it. This should be one that involves healthy habits such as sleeping and waking up at the same time every day. When you do this, it may be easier for you to keep up with the rest of the activities that you have planned out, and you may also be able to keep time a lot better as a result. This includes spending time with your child if you have one. On this note, keep in mind that in PA, if a child has to travel over one hour between their parent’s homes after one parent moves, this move is said to be a relocation.

Be Present When Spending Time with Your Child

If you have a child, you can also add meaning to your life by making sure that you’re present whenever you spend time with them. This is an important detail to keep in mind because you can draw fulfillment from maintaining a happy and healthy life with your child. Be patient with them and validate their feelings so that they feel safe and happy while they’re with you, keeping in mind facts such as that 15% of children still wet the bed at five years of age. By spending time with your child and teaching them how they can be the best version of themselves, you can expect to have a richer life in the end.

Find a Healthy Hobby to Spend Time Doing

If you don’t have any hobbies, this is the right time for you to find some. These should ideally be healthy hobbies that can improve your health and help you to relax mentally. Something that you may want to try along these lines is golf, which can help you get active and also give you a reason to spend time outdoors with people whose company you likely enjoy. While walking or driving through the course, you could learn about facts such as that motorized golf carts first started to appear on golf courses in the 1940s, according to GolfLink. This and general conversation can take your mind off the issues that you may be having and improve your mood considerably.

Surround Yourself With Supportive People

Last but not least, identify supportive people with whom you can surround yourself. Spend time in their company, and you may find that your life develops new meaning. Whether you’re meeting friends for brunch or going out to a hangout area with family or even talking on the phone to someone you hold near and dear, there are a number of things that you can do. As long as you don’t feel alone or end up in situations where you feel judged, you’re sure to have a much better outcome in the end.

These tips can help you regain your happiness and enjoy a much better life after going through a divorce. As long as you don’t lose sight of yourself, you can bounce back happier and healthier than ever. Remember that the most important thing may be finding meaning in life and learning to be fulfilled by yourself. This way, you can improve your perspective and have a lot more to share with those who spend time with you.

The post Is Divorce Draining You? Use These Tips to Revive Yourself! appeared first on Blogging Away Debt .

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What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

• Carmine Gallo

Five tips to set yourself apart.

Never underestimate the power of great communication. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. But while there are plenty of good speakers in the world, you can set yourself apart out by being the person who can deliver something great over and over. Here are a few tips for business professionals who want to move from being good speakers to great ones: be concise (the fewer words, the better); never use bullet points (photos and images paired together are more memorable); don’t underestimate the power of your voice (raise and lower it for emphasis); give your audience something extra (unexpected moments will grab their attention); rehearse (the best speakers are the best because they practice — a lot).

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

• Carmine Gallo is a Harvard University instructor, keynote speaker, and author of 10 books translated into 40 languages. Gallo is the author of The Bezos Blueprint: Communication Secrets of the World’s Greatest Salesman  (St. Martin’s Press).

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