I have a habit of walking up to people and introducing myself rather than waiting for someone else to introduce us at a social gathering.
A few people have advised me against doing this. They believe it may lower my image, make me appear too ordinary, and prevent me from receiving the respect I deserve. However, I have a different perspective.
More often than not, I am genuinely interested in getting to know the other person. Introducing myself encourages them to respond with their own name. It also serves as an excellent icebreaker, especially when you are in a group. Even if we have been introduced before, it is a useful way of prompting someone to mention their name again when we meet in a crowd, and I cannot quite recall it.
The sweetest sound to any person is the sound of their own name. Yet, once we grow out of childhood, we seldom hear our names spoken warmly by others. Deep down, most of us continue to cherish a quiet desire to hear our names remembered and pronounced with care.
I have noticed that many people make little effort to remember names or even pronounce them correctly. What they fail to realize is that they are missing the simplest and most effective first step towards building a meaningful relationship—one that might otherwise be lost in the sea of people they encounter throughout their professional lives.
On the other hand, when you shake someone’s hand, look them in the eye, and greet them with genuine warmth and goodwill, you instantly make the interaction personal. That small gesture lays the foundation for trust and rapport.
Opportunities to personalize relationships do not come every day, so make the most of them. After all, people seldom leave jobs—or, more importantly, bosses—they genuinely like.
Remember: A handshake may last only a few seconds, but remembering a person’s name can leave an impression that lasts a lifetime.