Category: Communicative

One of the most important skills you can develop is introducing yourself. Hold your head up, have a firm handshake, say your name clearly, etc.
Take a look at this TED talk to see what I’m talking about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xt7zgnuK0

One of the best things you can do when meeting someone either for the first time or for an interview for a job or even just passing on the street is to make a good impression. If you’re given an opportunity to introduce yourself it’s good to do it well. Firm handshake, look the other person in the I and smile, and say hi, I am so and so.
It’s not hard, but it is a skill that I had to learn. When I was in high school I was a shy teenager with a face covered in zits and a haircut that my mother gave me that was embarrassing when I look back on the pictures. My mom did the best she could, but we were trying to save money and so she cut my hair until it was 16 years old. She was the one that gave me the money to go and get a haircut at a salon that a friend of hers I worked out.
I was in the band and I had a band director that enjoyed his job and he enjoyed developing the people in the band into the leaders. I remember one day I had to go and talk to him about a fee or some sheet music that I had lost or something. He was at his desk sitting. I walked up and I stood in front of his desk and looked at the ground. He looked up at me, smiled, and said how can I help you? Still looking at the ground I told him what I needed. And he said I can’t really help you until you look me in the when you’re speaking to me. Because I don’t understand what you’re saying unless you looking at me. And I met his eyes and said what I had to say in a quivering voice and he helped me.
After that they always look them in the eye when I spoke to them. He always smiled with a twinkle in his eye and answered my questions and patted me on the back verbally and helped me grow into a much more direct and engaging the individual.
I can’t look you in the eye and tell you that you need to look me in the when you speak to me via email, but I can encourage it with my words. I can also recommend searching YouTube for eye contact practice if you prefer to practice on a video before you actually do it in the real world. But I think the best thing you could do is if you have trouble looking somebody in the eye when you talk to them to go and practice. When you go out to eat at either a fast food place or a sitdown restaurant look the server in the eye when you speak to them. You want to look at both eyes, just focus on one of them. Smile or at least don’t grimace and look like you have gas or something. Laugh at how funny it is. People tend to laugh with you and smile with you and you’re happy.
And when you are out there practicing practice saying your name and introducing yourself. It will help you in the long run!

Conversation skills are incredibly important! The more interested and engaging you can be the more unstoppable you will become! This is a Ted talk on developing better conversation skills that I highly recommend:

Enjoy!