When you're at a party or networking event and someone asks, “So, what do you do?“, how do you respond?

Do you struggle to answer in a way that's clear, concise and even… interesting?

If so, you're not alone! This is one of the most common struggles I see among my clients—whether it's at a party, in an elevator or at a job interview.

The result is often sharing too many random details that the person on the other end doesn't understand or care about.

So what's the alternative?

And does this really matter?

The answer to the second question is a big YES, and this is what I'll be unpacking in today's newsletter. Let's dive in…

Why is your intro so important?

The way you introduce yourself has a significant impact on what happens next, as people make decisions about you within seconds of meeting. It can be the difference between a compelling conversation that ends in a new opportunity, or a short exchange that goes nowhere.

Here's the truth: we never know who we're going to run into. You may sit down on an airplane next to your future boss or meet a potential business partner at a networking event or holiday party.

Creating a compelling introduction will make you more interesting and engaging, and will open up these opportunities for you.

The problem is, most people do not have their intro nailed down.

And there's a simple reason for that: they've never taken the time to write it down and practice it. I know this because I've listened to lots of people introduce themselves.

Here's what often goes wrong

There are 3 mistakes I see people make:

1. You take me on the journey of your life story.

Seriously. I don't need to know what your first job was now that you're 15 years into your career or the details of something you were doing 10 years ago.

Why this hurts you: When this happens, the person you're speaking to is likely to lose interest. I've interviewed many people who spent up to 10 minutes answering the question, “So, tell me about yourself”.

Trust me when I say – no one wants this much detail.

2. You ramble and it feels disjointed.

You start sharing all of the different elements of what you do, who you lead and what you care about, but you're not doing it cohesively.

Why this hurts you: This leaves people with the impression that you're scattered and not quite sure who you are and what you stand for.

If it's difficult to follow, it won't be compelling.

3. You use way too much technical jargon.

You start sharing too many details about your job title and function, using acronyms and technical jargon that frankly, no one other than your close colleagues understands.

Why this hurts you: No one understands what the heck you're talking about. As in, they don't know any more after your intro than they did before it.

If your grandma can't understand what you do, you're not explaining it well.

Why is this so hard to get right?

The reason for each of the above mistakes is that most people simply haven't intentionally crafted and practiced their introduction. When you're winging it, you're much more likely to ramble and share too much detail.

The solve? Write down your intro and practice saying it! You don't need to memorize this word for word, but you should have a good sense of the 2-3 points you plan to make, and be able to make them concisely.

To help you do this, I've created a 3-step framework that will help you nail your leadership intro in 30 seconds.

Subscribe to my newsletter and get it delivered to your inbox instantly!

Until next time friends… ✌️💜

Katy