BUSINESS ETIQUETTE: THE ART OF INTRODUCTION

THE ART OF INTRODUCTION

“Introductions are a necessity, because, in a curious way, until someone is introduced into a group, socially they only half exist,” says John Moran. We come across people all the time in different types of social and business context or situations, what are out dispositions? Mannerisms displayed when we meet and how we greet people in those instances, go a long way to leave indelible impressions that could pave way for either a productive or unproductive encounter. This brings us to: The Art of Introduction.

The Art of Introduction.

Why is introduction important? It is because it s a forerunner to more information about anyone. It puts the maker of the introduction in good light, removes indifference, conveys a level of respect amongst all parties, removes discomfort embarrassment and self pity.

Most people are either shy, do not have the courage to introduce themselves to a person they have never met or known, except it is done by third party who know both of them. Friends, thee is always a first time, just do it yourself in any social or business function. Sometimes in parties one finds guest sitting in one corner wallowing in self pity with no one to talk to, go over to him or her and make an introduction, and a beneficial conversation may follow.

Shades of introduction:

There are two basic types of introduction. Business and Social introductions.

Business  Introduction in business is not based on gender, but on career status, in all occasions, persons of lower authority is introduced to persons of higher authority. The persons to whom the introduction is made is mentioned first and the introduced last. For example, Mr./Mrs. Lower personality. However, a customer or client must be regarded as “higher authority” over anyone in your organization. The same process of introduction occurs.

Some examples of order of prestige in introductions are shown below:

a.         A customer and person working in your company

Example: Mr. Chukwuemeka, this is Mrs. Atata, our Accounting Officer. Mr. Chukwuemeka is our customer from Nnewi. The customer is more important. the customer keeps you in business!

b.         A non-official to an elected official.

Example: Honorable Bob Manuel, allow me to introduce David Hastrup from the Post Express.

Always introduce anyone from the press to a public official fully for very obvious reasons, for he could be speaking on record.

Social Introductions:

The meaning is obvious and different in totally from the business one which is more upright.

Introducing Personalities in social functions.

Precedence is the language of protocol. Rules of international diplomatic protocol states persons should be presented to the Pope, presidents, royalty, ambassadors, ministers, dignitaries of the church, without regard to age or gender. Outside the above, gender, age, social status can now be considered in other social  introductions. No rules to introducing age group.

Other introductions

Relatives should be introduced with a good clarification to their relations with you, in order to ward of misrepresentation.

Introductions should not end in just names alone, but a piece of information about the persons may  be added.

A conversation may roll in because of that unique  information.

Good introduction of yourself, and carriage can make you a star performer especially in the business arena. Here are some tips .

How to make an entrance and work in the room

This refers to your entrying a room with confidence without butterflies in your stomac, mingling abilities, including the art of introductions and conversation expertise.Also, one should dress to match the occasion. note: it is how you are dressesd that you will be addressed!

All the same, at the venue one alights from the car and heads to the door. At the doorway, you can scan the room,  full  beautiful, corporate and intelligent people you have  never met before, butterflies now develop in your stomach and your heart skips, while your legs wobble a bit. What is your next action? With your confidence gone, you  now  heads sideways until someone you  know either comes around;  you remain there until the occasion comes to an end. Could  you have attended a party or business/social function? No!.

However the appropriate thing to do when you make an entrance walk straight through to the centre of the room with confidence and meet your host. If you are not alone introduce the persons you are with to your host.

Introducing yourself:

You can say hello or use the form of greeting you want to adopt to people you meet on the way to meet your host. With a thin smile on your lips your host will introduce you to four or five persons having a chat close by.

On the contrary you find yourself alone and feeling low, just go over to a group of people discussing (not two people engrossed in a conversation) just smile and when someone amongst them acknowledges your presence or as soon as there is a pause in their conversation, smile, offer to shake hands maintain eye contact introduce yourself telling them your name without any prefixes and concisely state your relationship with the host and if a business function, describe yourself in terms of what you do and ask if you may join them. This should be modesty done with common sense. You can equally introduce yourself to just the closet person to you too  in the manner above

Sometimes the host may be too busy greeting guest, so he may appoint other guest, representatives of the company if it is a business, function to be greeters. In this case the greeter introduces him/herself and accompanies the guest to the host  for introductions to the host and other guests or taken the bar to have drinks

Introducing others

When introducing a group pf people to each other, always use first names and surnames. This help to distinguish person who share the same first names. It s however important to use a little in the introduction if, the person is a doctor, in the military, clergy, engineer or a lawyer.

Your husband should be introduced in this manner to a friend “I d like you to meet my husband Patrick” (or “Patrick Kagua)’ do not refer to him as “Mr. Patrick” or Dr. White. This introduction takes the same order when you are being introduced by him too.

In some societies, some married women like to retain their maiden name. examples include Benezier Bhutto of Pakistan, Late MEE of  then classique magazine, Onyeka Onwenu and many others. When introducing a woman of such and her husband, it should be in this order “this is Doris Day and her husband bassey Okon”. When introducing an unmarried couple living together, say thus “I like you to meet Philomena Emmanuel and her companion Nelson White.” It is not your business  to mention they are co habiting.

In a formal introduce introduction, “How do you do,” a salutation, not a question, followed by the peson’s name is the response. When someone greets you, “How do you do, your response should be same.

In our culture, older persons and bosses are always respected. When for example you want to introduce your wife to your boss, always add his prefix to his name. “Dr. Nwachukwu, I’ d like to introduce my wife Stella to you. Stella this is Dr. Nwachukwu, our chairman/Managing Director.

Never repeat a peson name when introduced to you in an informal meeting. Just reply with a simle ‘helow’ or “ I’ve heard a lot about you,” if is true. Times have changed. Not the usual “I am pleased or delighted to meet you.

You could be taking a walk with a friend and another friend of yours stops to say hello. Learn to introduce the persons you are with. It is saucy to ignore his presence. In a restaurant, you find someone you know siting with friends, just say hello and pass by. Do not stop to chat. It more or less destabilizes every body, from his friends to waiters etc.

A speaker at a banquette or some officall  function should be introduced with his full names, “it gives me great  pleasure to present Paul Nimyel Okaka.”

Posture when introduced

Women and men should stand up when introduced to a member of the clergy, elderly persons, dignitary and guest of honour. Host and hostess always stand up to greet each guest who enters the party room. A man should always stand up when being introduced to a woman. The latter can it if she chooses except the person is very much older  than her. When being introduced to a stranger always shake hands.

Once you have been introduced to somebody you always acknowledge him wherever you meet. This  is because  selective social memory is a charmless.

Shaking hands and the social kiss

Your handshake speak a lot about you. A firm one indicates a confident, courageous and daring person. In our culture a woman should wait for a man to extend his hands first especially if he is older. A younger person does not extend his/her hand to greet an elder. Although, some traditions  expect the woman to make the move, it is the woman’s right to accept the man any. When dealing with amputees always extend your right hand even though they do not have one.

Greeting members and close allies. When this is to be done, go for the right side of the left one depending on your mood anyway. Most Europeans usually do this too. Have you watched Presidents when receiving foreign visitors?