Making introductions: using body language and clear speech

Master the verbal and non-verbal formula for perfect introductions

B2
60 min
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1

Think about these questions before watching. Share your ideas with a partner.

  1. Think about a time you witnessed or were part of an awkward greeting, such as a missed handshake or a confusing hug. What do you think caused the confusion, and how could it have been avoided?
  2. Beyond a simple handshake or 'hello', what non-verbal cues (like eye contact, personal space, or gestures) are important when meeting someone for the first time in your culture? How might these differ from what you've observed in other cultures?
  3. When you meet someone new, what specific things do you notice that contribute to your first impression of them? Consider factors beyond just their words, such as their body language, tone of voice, or overall energy.
2

Watch the video carefully. Pay attention to the main ideas and key details.

Video script147 segments · click a timestamp to jump

here's a weird little social skill

introducing yourself right this like

kind of an awkward thing to do and if

you do it wrong it's really awkward so

here's a video little formula on how to

introduce yourself first non-verbal

there's actually two parts of

introducing yourself it's the verbal

what you say but it's also the

non-verbal like I can have the perfect

words but look terrible watch hi I'm

Vanessa and I'm so happy to be here and

meet you as the host of this event like

even though the verbal is good like I

look terrible so you have to match them

so let's start with the non-verbal first

if you feel like smil smiling this is

the perfect time to smile but I only

want you to smile if it's authentic

there is nothing worse than a fake smile

hi I'm Vanessa and I'm so happy to be

here so only smile if it's authentic if

it's not it's okay if you don't have a

smile but if you feel happy to be there

actually show the smile second

non-verbally you want to show if you're

going to have some sort of touch or

physical greeting so especially if

you're in person are you going to

handshake are you going to hug are you

going to high-five or do you want

nothing this doesn't apply on video but

in person if you're going to handshake I

want you to Blade so hi I'm Vanessa so

nice to meet you okay so you're going to

put your hand out to show I am about to

give you a handshake this is going to

avoid the most awkward moment for humans

which is are we going to handshake or

hug are we are we GNA H fist my high

five hug oh side hug awkward cheek right

you avoid that so if you want a

handshake blade if you want to hug do

the both hands open if you're on video

or you're on stage I highly recommend a

non-verbal greeting from afar so hi

everyone nice to meet you happy to be

here a simple visible hand um visible

hand also helps the brain see a friend

not foe we're not hiding

anything so visible hand for a hug to be

very clear and the last one is what I

call full fronting not full frontal full

fronting that is that you're angling

your toes your torso and your head

towards the person that you're meeting

we don't really like it when someone is

hey nice to meet you we like it when a

body is fully angled towards us so that

is angling my head my torso and my um

toes towards the person especially if

you're moving in towards them this works

on video this works on stage if you're

on stage even like gesturing with your

whole audience so hey everyone so nice

to be here so I'm full fronting with

everyone that's in front of me or the

room that's in front of me okay that's

the non-verbal the verbal first a quick

greeting hi howdy hello welcome one word

right just a quick one second your name

slow slowly this is the biggest mistake

we make when we introduce yourself and I

am guilty of it which is we rush through

our name because we're nervous we think

people have heard it before we just

stumble over it so we swallow our name

or rush through it the way that I used

to do this is hi I'm Vanessa

man no one even knows that so if you're

in a casual setting first name only hi

I'm Vanessa if you're in a formal

setting and introducing yourself in

front of an audience people who don't

know you hi I'm Vanessa van Edwards full

name slow I know it sounds painfully

slow to you but it's worse when you rush

through it because it signals low

confidence so one word greeting hi howdy

hello welcome Aloha your name slowly

then I like to have just a very quick

positive word I'm so happy to be here

I'm so honored to be here I'm so excited

to be here or if you're leading I'm so

thrilled to be leading this meeting I'm

so happy to be hosting this party I'm

really happy to introduce my other

friends like one positive word it kind

of in injects a little bit of positivity

in in the interaction and it sets you up

for Success we like people who use

positive words so word name positive

thing then you're going to add your

title or reason for being there so

depending on where you're introducing

yourself are you hosting the party are

you leading the meeting do you need to

say who you are your job title your

title that day so I could say I

introduce myself all the time in front

of presentations so I would say hi I'm

Vanessa van Edwards I'm so honored to be

here and I'm a recovering awkward person

right like that's my funny one you could

also say um I'm lead marketer here I'll

be leading the call so what's your title

and reason for being there and lastly if

you want to you can add a fun fact you

don't have to you don't have to but if

you're brave enough it always breaks the

ice so this could sound like hi I'm

Vanessa I'm so happy to have you all at

my home tonight we'll be serving lots of

alcohol so hopefully relax you and not

help you be nervous right like whatever

it is that you're saying add a little

bit of a fun fact um you can also have a

fun fact about the meeting or a fun fact

about your host but really the first

part is the most important so opening

word your full fronting you are

hopefully smiling if you feel like it

bonus points for eye contact you're

going to say your name slowly a positive

word your reason for being there and if

you are brave enough a fun fact by the

way introducing yourself is step one in

a conversation what should you do next

how do you ask a conversation starter

how do you have the great conversation I

highly recommend checking out my

conversation Mastery course where I take

take you through all the steps very

practical actionable steps on how to

have amazing conversation with anyone so

if you want the next steps go check out

that course I would love to have you

3

Answer these questions in your own words. Support your answers with evidence from the video.

01According to the speaker, what is the most important rule to follow when smiling during an introduction, and why?
Sample answerThe video says you should only smile if it's authentic. A fake smile is actually worse than not smiling at all because it doesn't seem genuine. So, if you feel happy, you should show it with a real smile.
02How does the speaker suggest you can avoid awkwardness when initiating a physical greeting like a handshake?
Sample answerShe suggests you should clearly signal what you're going to do. For a handshake, you should put your hand out early, which she calls 'blading'. This shows the other person you want to shake hands and avoids confusion about whether to hug or do something else.
03In what way can the speed at which you say your name influence how others perceive you?
Sample answerThe speaker explains that rushing through your name is a big mistake because it can make you seem nervous or lacking in confidence. By saying your name slowly and clearly, you project more confidence and make it easier for people to remember you.
04Why does the speaker emphasize that both non-verbal cues and spoken words must match during an introduction?
Sample answerShe emphasizes this because if they don't match, the introduction fails. She gave an example where she said all the right words but her body language looked terrible, which made the whole introduction feel awkward and insincere. Both parts have to work together to be effective.
4

Vocabulary

Vocabulary
These expressions will help you communicate more naturally about this topic.
Examples
Break the ice — to say or do something to make people feel more relaxed and comfortable when they first meet.
This is a common idiom used in both informal and semi-formal situations. A simple question about the event or a compliment can be a great way to break the ice.
Come across as... — to seem to have particular qualities; to make a particular impression on someone.
This phrasal verb is perfect for discussing first impressions. For example: 'Even if you're nervous, try to smile so you come across as friendly and approachable.'
Read the room — to understand the general mood and feelings of the people in a particular situation or place.
This modern idiom is about social awareness. Before initiating a handshake or a hug, it's important to read the room to see what kind of greeting is appropriate.
Establish rapport — to build a good relationship and understanding with someone, where you can communicate well together.
This phrase is often used in professional or networking contexts. It describes the process of creating a positive connection that goes beyond a simple introduction.
Put someone at ease — to make someone feel comfortable, relaxed, and not nervous.
This is a key goal of a good introduction. Using clear, open body language, as mentioned in the video, is an effective way to put someone at ease.
5

Decide if each statement is true or false. Correct the false ones.

01The speaker suggests including a positive word or phrase, like 'I'm so happy to be here,' right after stating your name.
02Keeping your hands visible during an introduction is recommended because it helps others perceive you as a friend rather than a threat.
03The technique of 'full fronting' is only effective for in-person introductions and doesn't apply to video calls.
04The speaker advises using a long, detailed greeting to make a strong first impression.
05Adding a fun fact to your introduction is presented as an optional way to break the ice if you feel comfortable doing so.
6

Discuss these questions with a partner. Try to use vocabulary from the lesson.

  1. The video argues that an authentic, serious expression is better than a fake smile when making an introduction. Do you agree? In which professional or social situations might a polite, even if not fully genuine, smile be necessary to put someone at ease or break the ice effectively?
  2. Think about a time you had to adapt your greeting style for a different culture or a very formal situation, like a job interview. How difficult was it to read the room and choose the right non-verbal cues? How did you try to come across as confident and approachable while navigating these new rules?
  3. The video focuses on in-person greetings. How do you effectively establish rapport with someone you are meeting for the first time online? What specific strategies can help you come across as friendly and professional in a virtual setting where physical greetings are impossible?