Tips and Examples on How to Introduce Yourself to a New Team

Introduction

There’s a rule of thumb that you should know yourself. But your mind might still go blank, making you ramble when talking about yourself. It can be a problem when making self-introductions.

Learning how to introduce yourself to a new team is an important skill not just for the growth of your personal life but, more so, for your professional development. Impressions matter, and they last. That’s why the goal of an effective introduction is to avoid leaving a bad impression. Instead, building relationships and establishing trust with others are the aims of delivering a successful introduction speech.

Although there’s no single best approach to introduction speeches, flexibility allows you to craft your introduction. Sometimes, you must do casual introductions, while other occasions require a formal introduction. The tips and examples below would help you create your get-to-know-me speech in various settings.

Why is it important to introduce yourself to your team?

Fostering a positive relationship with your team in your career journey starts with the good impression you make when you introduce yourself.

As a new team member, introducing yourself begins the establishment of rapport with your colleagues. Since sharing your role is part of an introduction, it lets your team know how and when to approach you, thus, enhancing the dynamics of the office environment. A good introduction sets the tone for the rest of your interaction with them. Ultimately, you don’t want anyone to approach you as “hey, you” in the office.

Lastly, introductions open opportunities for gaining the support of your team as you move forward working with them.

How to introduce yourself to your new team

When you’re starting a new job or company, it can be challenging to start conversations with your colleagues. You may feel nervous about approaching them or asking questions. Below are tips and strategies to guide you on how to introduce yourself to a new team:

Learn about your team

Base your introduction on your environment or company culture before approaching your work colleagues. You can do this by reading the company handbook and knowing the organizational chart. Having gathered this background will give you a boost in talking to your colleagues for the first time. Learn about the administrative departments and study the seating chart of your office.

Exhibit positivity

People who give off a good aura are simpler to approach than those who look brooding. Use this concept when introducing yourself to your new team. Starting your speech with a greeting like good morning, and hi would ease up your introduction. Afterward, show you make a genuine connection with your office mates by telling them about yourself or striking a small talk to know more about them.

Dress professionally

Your attire does the speaking before you open your mouth. Hence, ensure that you adhere to the company dress code. There are four types of dress codes: business formal, business professional, business casual, and casual. Lawyers, bankers, and consultants usually use business formal or business professional attire since meeting with clients is part of their daily routine. Anyone in the organizational chart can wear business casual or casual attire if the company dress code allows it.

Approaching your company’s HR to inquire about the dress code to plan your attire would make you blend into the office environment.

Positive Body Language

There are several positive body language communication you can use when introducing yourself. In one-on-one introductions, ensure to offer a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, and smile. When introducing yourself to a group, stand tall, use hand gestures, and lean slightly toward your audience.

Maintain Eye Contact

Eye contact is an important body language because, as the famous quote says, “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” When conversing, make eye contact to establish a connection. Looking at your feet when introducing yourself shows you lack confidence and reliability. Approximate eye contacts for five seconds, and show your interest while speaking.

Smile

A smile is contagious and lightens up the mood. Before you start your self-introduction speech, smile at your office mates and greet them. This simple gesture will let them know you’re friendly, approachable, and easy-going.

Speak Clearly

Pay attention to the delivery of your speech and practice your pronunciation, tone, and volume. Speak clearly, so your listeners understand what you say. Modulate your voice to exude confidence and a friendly character. Avoid using speech fillers like um, eh, and uh, as it steers the attention of your listener away from your message.

Offer Culturally Acceptable Greetings

We are part of a global community wherein cultural sensitivity is essential. It is not uncommon for people to greet each other differently depending on their country of origin. Countries like Japan and China commonly greet each other by bowing. A handshake is customary in the USA, France, and Germany. Meanwhile, a hard handshake is considered rude in Vietnam and Thailand. In Nigeria, Greece, and South Korea, waving a hand with the palm facing outside is considered offensive.

Observe your team

Pay a bit of attention to your colleagues to learn their dynamics. By doing this, you will know their team values, especially when working with project teams. The project managers of a marketing team, for example, can gain insight into how their team members work by assigning them tasks and noting how they approach them.

By observing your team, you learn their management styles, personality traits, and communication approaches.

Tell your story

Giving personal introductions is impactful when introducing yourself to a new team. However, ensure that you are not oversharing and that the story you tell is about your professional life. For example, you may share your career journey, your favorite part of your job, and how you approached a challenging work situation.

Here’s an example of a personal story that you can share to work:

Here’s an example of a personal story that you can share to work:

I don’t know if you believe in fortune-telling. But when I was young, a friend who practices palmistry told me, “You’re going to be a writer.” Two years after that, I took a degree in marketing. I have been writing since I graduated and have worked with a team of writers from various companies, which led me to land this job as a social media marketing manager.

Set expectations

Your professional story serves as the springboard to share with your new team the expectations you have in joining them. Setting your goals and expectations guides your interaction with your office mates. You can share with them your quick goals (short-term) and long-term goals.

Here’s an example of speech to set expectations:

A project for the upcoming holidays was turned over to me by the previous manager. In two months, I aim to collaborate with you in fusing our respective creative energies in successfully launching this campaign. In the long run: I will devote myself to ensuring that we get along; mentor you in becoming better in this field; provide you with tasks that will highlight your talents, and work on more projects with your talented team.

Prepare for questions

Companies have an onboarding process for their new employees. In their orientation session or orientation program, you can ask questions about the company.

In one-on-one introductions, preparing questions for small talk and gathering work-related information would help you to learn the office dynamics.

Here are a few questions you can ask when making small talk in one-on-one introductions:

• How long have you been working here?
• What’s your favorite part of your job?
• What’s the most remarkable thing about this team?
• What can I do to help you achieve your goals as we work together?
• What would you recommend the first food I try in our office cafeteria?

In contrast, when doing a group introduction, you should prepare to answer these questions:

• What are the skills you have that could contribute to our team?
• What is your professional vision or motto?
• Do you work best alone or in teams?
• What’s the highlight of your career?
• What do you expect to achieve in this new role?

Send a follow-up message

After being introduced to the team, you can send them a follow-up email thanking them for listening to you and welcoming you to their team. In your business email, indicate that you are open for conversation by telling them they can contact you if they have questions.

Here is a sample email to the team that you can send:

Greetings, / Hi team, / Hi all,

Thank you for the warm welcome you gave me! I’m excited and happy to work with you. Please don’t hesitate to approach me if you have questions or would like to collaborate on a project. My email is also open to any inquiries you might have.

Best,

Your Name

Close Conversations

One impression mistake you should avoid is not closing a conversation. Since you initiated to introduce yourself, you should also be the one to end the conversation after having a speech or small talk. You can do this by:

1. thanking them for their time,
2. telling you hope to see them around,
3. giving your contact information, or
4. expressing that you anticipate collaborating with them.

Make Yourself Available for Conversation

When attending the office in person, you will be assigned a workspace. Part of making yourself available for conversation is telling your workmates where they can go to talk to you. For example, you can tell them you work in the third cubicle or your office is beside the HR office.

Moreover, you can also tell them about your free time or that you’re open for conversations during lunchtime and they can invite you over.

Tips for introducing yourself in a Team meeting

Team meetings are one of the avenues to introduce new employees or members of the team. Below are tips you can use to create an effective introduction:

Base your introduction on your environment

Observe the people around you as you enter the conference room or office space. You can initiate a small talk before the official start of the meeting to gauge if you have to make a formal or casual introduction to the team. Use the applicable background observation you have as the team meeting takes its course.

Know the Company’s Organizational Chart

The company handbook is the best source of the organizational chart. But if you don’t have access to it, you can browse the company website to look for this data. Use the information to determine who to approach first, know the members of the team meeting, and adjust your speech as you talk to them

Use a meeting agenda

The agenda, which contains the initial meeting information, is a great source for tailoring your introduction speech. Examine the business meeting flow to see where your introduction will happen. Use the transition of the previous meeting activity leading to your time to introduce yourself to condition yourself in speaking.

Share your background

Introductions answer the questions: Who are you?; and What is your purpose? Therefore, it won’t be complete without telling people about yourself after stating your name. The applicable background pieces of information you can share are:

1. your education and professional history,
2. professional accomplishments,
3. projects you handled, and
4. any awards you received.

To keep your introduction interesting, you can share a fun fact about you or an anecdote that would relate to them. Remember that your background is one of the ways you could connect with them and find common ground.

Practice your introduction

Before the event, you should, at least once, practice your introduction speech. You can effectively convey your message in this manner. By preparing before the team meeting, you’ll be less likely to become flustered and ramble in front of your colleagues. When rehearsing your speech, you can invite a friend to listen to you and comment on your spiel for improvement.

Keep it short and sweet

Always keep in mind the attendee’s attention spans. In 2022, the average attention span is eight seconds. Grab their interest by making your speech short, simple, yet striking, so they can remember your name and what you do. You can prepare your business card and give it to the team meeting attendees after your speech to encourage them to connect with you.

Show that you care

Exuding your genuine interest in the team starts with your preparation before the meeting. Therefore, check the following at least a day before the scheduled meeting:

• the attire you will wear adheres to the company dress code
• write and rehearse your speech
• review the meeting agenda
• research about the company
• prepare and bring your business card.

In your speech, show that you read about the company and that your vision aligns with its goals.

Listen before you speak

As a new member of the team, you will learn more about the company culture by listening to its members. A roll call is usually part of the meeting agenda. Therefore, note the names of your team members so you can address them properly in your introduction.

Let your personality shine

One of the best ways to leave a good impression is by showing your personality to the people you meet. The speech you rehearsed serves as the backbone of your introduction. But you can add parts appropriate to the situation impromptu.

Be friendly

Creating a positive atmosphere by being friendly draws people into you. Don’t proceed to sit in the corner when you enter the office setting for the meeting. Instead, confidently navigate your way to the team members, greet them with a smile, shake hands, and exchange pleasantries. This shows that you are interested in getting to know them better.

Ask questions

Before the meeting, ask questions to the organizer about the agenda, the duration they will allot for your introduction, and the attendees. Arrive at least fifteen minutes early on the day of the meeting so you can familiarize yourself and have time for a small talk with the other attendees.

Generally, you must avoid asking personal questions and focus on asking work-related questions. Asking informed questions about the team, your role, and the projects they do is also acceptable.

Check your attitude

Although you have to gain authority with people, you must do it positively and avoid forcing it. Be sincere about getting to know your teammates. The tone of your voice and your body language should convey enthusiasm and friendliness.

Acknowledge the entire staff

The importance of checking the organizational chart shines in this part. In your speech, acknowledge the entire staff but give distinction to the executives, subject matter experts, and supervisors present in the meeting. Knowing their names and position in the company shows that you exerted effort and are genuinely interested in meeting them.

Introductions in different situations

One piece of advice on careers you must remember is giving introductions doesn’t have a single formula. Thus, flexibility in every situation is needed. Your rehearsed introduction will not always apply in every situation, but it will help you not think on your feet. Here are tips on how to introduce yourself in different situations:

Introduction in an interview

Prepare for the common question, “Tell me something about yourself.” Don’t just state what’s in your resume file and alight your speech with the job role and company culture. Perform a resume review and browse resume samples before the interview to get a feel of questions you might be asked.

Here are examples of great answers to interview questions about your background:

Sample answer 1: Hi, I’m Lilly Pad. I have been working as a graphic designer for three years. Creating art is my hobby turned profession. I have a degree in marketing but have been working with global clients as an artist to help build their branding through the designs I make. I’m passionate about my work and would love to share my skills and creativity in attaining the company’s goals. In fact, the previous start-up business I worked with has gone viral and increased its customer base by 70% because of the pub mats I created for their social media campaigns.

Sample answer 2: Hello! My name is Tad Pole, a recent graduate of XYZ University, where I gained my associate degree in project management. Although I’m relatively new in this profession, I have experienced working with two NGOs and university organizations in crafting and launching programs with them. Recently, I finished my internship at PQR company. I worked with their creative department on various projects. It gives me joy to see how an idea transforms into something useful for people. I’m looking forward to putting my knowledge and skills into practice and growing with a company that values teamwork, creativity, and quality.

Introduction in a small office setting

New employees are often introduced in a small office setting to their immediate team members. Since there will likely be more time given to you, consider sharing more information about yourself in your speech. For example:

Hello everyone! I’m Lilly Pad. I will be working as your operations manager. I graduated from XYZ University, where one of my favorite extracurriculars is outdoor team building and camping. Before being in a management role, I worked as a sales assistant at various retail stores. I’m excited to share my skills and lead your team of talented people. Let’s build a rewarding work life and beat our targets as we work together! Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself.

Introduction in a group setting

Some companies allot time during staff meetings or orientation to introduce new employees. Since there would be other agenda team meetings with several attendees, make your introduction short but impactful, so your officemates would remember you.

For example:

Good morning everyone! Thank you for giving me time to introduce myself today. My name is Tad Pole, and I will be working as your sales manager. I believe my career started when I was a kid trying to sell people lemonade and cookies. After studying business in college and working in the industry for five years now, I’m here with your team to share the strategies I learned along the way and to learn more with you. I hope we could get along well!

Introduction in a virtual setting

Remote teams are part of the new normal, along with the hybrid setting of the workplace. When introducing yourself virtually, ensure that you don’t have any background noise which can disrupt your speech. Since you won’t be with them physically, use your facial expression and body language to show your enthusiasm. Here’s a sample speech for introduction in a virtual setting:

Hi everyone! I’m delighted to meet you all. My name is Lilly Pad, and I’m the new event marketing manager. I have been managing events for six years, and what made me thrive in this industry is my love for socialization and making people’s ideas happen. Let’s make ideas come alive and collaborate on various projects. I know we will have many milestones working together.

Introduction in an email

Self-introduction email is the best alternative to virtual or in-person introductions. You can send a team email or tailor it to one person. Here are tips on writing your introductory email:

• • Create a subject line letting your receiver know the topic of your email.
  • Read self-introduction email examples to have a basis for writing.
  • Write a professional introduction email, and read and edit it before sending it.
  • Make sure that you are using your business email address.
  • Get to the point and be concise while staying personable.

Here’s an email sample format of a personal introduction email:

Subject Line: Introduction from [Your Name]

Hi team,

I’m [ your name], and I’m a new employee working at [department] as a [job description]. I will be working directly with you and wanted to get to know you more.

Aside from my work, I’m also interested in [hobby or interest]. We can chat about [hobby or interest] during our break time. Please let me know if you are available on Monday at lunchtime so we could all meet in person.

I’m excited to collaborate with you,

Lilly

When you are referred by a contact to link to a business person, you can use this format as a basis:

Subject line: [Name of the person who referred you] recommended that I reach out to you

Hello Mr./Ms. [Name],

I’m a [relationship to the person who referred you] of [name], and they urged me to connect to you for [your purpose]. I believe that we could discuss and collaborate on [project].

Please let me know if you would be interested in having a meeting to get to know each other better.

Looking forward to seeing you,

[Your Name]

Lastly, you can introduce two persons together via email. Here’s an example:

Subject Line: Connecting: Lilly Pad – Tad Pole

Hi Lilly,

I hope you are doing well. I’m pleased to introduce to you Tad Pole, who recently joined the marketing department. He specializes in graphic design and social media campaigns. You will be working closely together on our new project.

Introducing yourself at a networking event

Grabbing opportunities for introductions enable you to connect with like-minded people. Introduction during networking events is like an elevator pitch. It should be short, simple, and not a boring speech. Your goal is to foster friendly relationships and tie up on future projects.

Career fairs, seminars, and workshops are examples of networking events where you can build your professional contacts. Note that you should approach people in a friendly manner and know when to start a conversation. Don’t interfere if they are conversing with someone else. Keep your introduction speech short, and remember to give them your contact details like a business card.

Here is a sample conversation for introducing yourself at networking events:

Lilly: Hi, I’m Lilly, and I’m one of the event marketing managers of ABC Company. I believe we haven’t been introduced yet.

Tad: Hello, Lilly! Yes, it’s my first time seeing you here. I’m Tad, and I work as a branch manager of Company Z.

Lilly: I’m hoping to connect with you for future projects. Here are my contact details if you ever need services in event planning.

Tad: Thank you, I will keep your contact. Nice to meet you, Lilly!

Lilly: Pleasure is mine. Nice to meet you too!

Conclusions

One challenging part of being the new person entering a company or attending an event is making connections and introducing yourself. Transform your anxiety into excitement and enthusiasm for meeting new people and creating meaningful connections. With the tips above on how to introduce yourself to a new team, you can make a good impression and build lasting relationships.

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