A Peak Inside

Day 1: Gain A New Way to Introduce Yourself

Day 2: The Challenge – Present Yourself on Video 

Day 3: Refine Your Introductions with professional tips.

 This Introductions Mini Workshop is relevant to ANY professional field, audience, or need for visibility.

Even if you don’t share your final video, the action of doing this exercise will train you for forthcoming conferences, networking events – even talking to strangers at weddings!

Post the results for feedback and visibility!

Why Introductions Matter

Your Introduction is Your First – and Most Lasting – Impression.

Whether you’re meeting someone for the first time, applying for a job, or introducing yourself online, the way you present yourself sets the tone for how others perceive you.

A strong introduction:

• Grabs attention and makes people want to know more about you.
• Communicates confidence, even when words are simple.
• Builds trust and connection, which are essential for personal and professional relationships.

  They say you can’t undo a first impression.

  Let’s make sure you don’t need to!

Why Standard Introductions Suck

Most webinars will ask you to put a brief introduction to yourself in the chat. Who you are, what you do, and where you live.

Some try to make it zany and ask if you prefer cats or dogs, like pineapple on a pizza etc.

These are icebreakers designed to get you to lean in and commit to being here: to kickstart the algorithm, they are not asked to not learn what makes you tick.

They are not particularly interesting questions as they don’t gather any real quality information.

However, asking how you last voted or your opinion on euthanasia is widely viewed as too personal, too soon.

(Again, not in some sectors, it’s for you to know).

When meeting strangers non-professional, we need a way of presenting ourselves to attract like-minded people. That’s not data (where we live, our age) but our passions and interests. 

Sign Up to make GREAT Introductions in English!

The Essentials

Know what your job title is in English.

It sounds obvious, but some job titles don’t translate easily, for example, professeur in French is not the same as professor in English (in most cases it would be ‘lecturer’).

If it is not relevant to say where you live, you don’t need to use it.

Likewise for your age. It’s a high school English default setting to use it.

(Unless you are 80 and showing off that you have just completed your first parachute jump, I would advise against it). 

It’s Personal

For me, it can be relevant to mention favourite bands or artists  (Dandy Warhols if you are asking) because I’m an independent ELT professional, and part of my role involves sharing culture to make connections and break down inhibitions.

But I wouldn’t introduce myself that way to peers at a teacher’s conference.

I’d start by saying I’m an independent English coach based in Scotland, offering bespoke English language holidays to adults.

That way, anyone can know if I’m a useful contact, either by being independent (non-corporate), or a language coach (not a teacher), by being based in Scotland (can share Scottish culture), by being in the tourism and travel industry (more than traditional education). 

We all wear different hats (have different roles) and how we present ourselves changes accordingly. 

Your Name

I know you know it!

But will your audience know how to write it – or should you say ‘Molly with a ‘y’ or spell it out (yes, perhaps, if it has hard sounds for your audience).

Some people use this as a way of being memorable: ‘Gulce (rhymes with Dolce)’ will get your name inside someone’s head.

Want to do this? Prepare it in advance so it is automatic.

‘Ruth… rhymes with, ugh….umm,’ doesn’t look so good.

What Do You WANT to Be Called?

Most work places now use first names, but what should the people you are speaking to call you?

If you are teaching, learn what the institutional culture is.

Should your students call you ‘Miss’ or ‘Ruth’ or ‘Ms Pringle.’ 

Plus, nowadays, when presenting to an audience, you can expect people to quickly Google you: what page do you want them to find?

Own it. Point them to it your best platform in your introduction.