Professional Introductions

Hey there,

Welcome to Week 20 of TechExec - the newsletter that turbocharges your growth to become a Tech Executive!

In the last few weeks, I have launched three episodes of the Careers Not Ladders Podcast on YouTube. While the feedback has been very positive, I have received requests to make the podcast available on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts, as they are more convenient. After all, most people listen to podcasts during their commute to and from work, and YouTube might not be best suited for that.

So here we go! I am excited to announce that the Careers Not Ladders podcast is now available on your favorite podcast streaming services. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or even Amazon Music!

As always, we are sharing a new set of BLTs this week

• 💼 B - a Business concept / theory / story

• 💝 L - a lifestyle advice

• 🤖 T - a Tech explainer

Here is the schedule:

Monday —>💼 B - a Business concept / theory / story

Wednesday —> 💝 L - a lifestyle advice

Friday —> 🤖 T - a Tech explainer

This week we covered Liquidation Preferences on Monday, and we will cover DevOps on Friday.

Today’s lifestyle advice is on how to do Professional Introductions!

💼 L - Professional Introductions

As we step into the world of professional meetings, we find ourselves in a sea of handshakes, business cards, and the ever-so-dreaded traditional meeting introductions. "Hi, I'm John Doe, working as a 'blah blah' in 'blah blah' company." Yawn! I bet you've already forgotten half of what I just said. And that's why traditional meeting introductions are as ineffective as a chocolate teapot.

The problem with these introductions is that they're as exciting as watching paint dry. They are a snoozefest, usually filled with professional jargon that no one really cares about. Not to mention, they are easily forgettable. In fact, they're so forgettable that by the time you get to the coffee break, you're left wondering, "Who was that guy again? The one with the blue tie? Or was it red?"

Now let's think about this for a second. Do you really want your first impression to be as memorable as that time you accidentally walked into a glass door? (Don’t lie, we've all done it.) Of course not! Instead, you want your introduction to be like that unforgettable song that gets stuck in everyone's head.

So how do we make this happen? How do we transform our drab introductions into something more engaging? Well, it's simpler than you think. The key is to be authentic, brief yet impactful.

Here is a framework from the HBR article called A Simple Way to Introduce Yourself - PRESENT, PAST & FUTURE.

• PRESENT: Start with a present tense statement which includes your name, your title, and your focus area. In the case of a multi-region meeting, mention your geographic region too!

• PAST: Establish credibility by laying out your education credentials, your previous work experience, and past accomplishments

• FUTURE: Share your enthusiasm or your expectations from the meeting.

Here is an example!

Hello, I'm Rachel, Director of Product at FiveSome, responsible for QuikRR's monetization. With a background in event management and an MS in Electrical Engineering, I bring strategic planning expertise. Based in Toronto, Canada, I'm excited to contribute!

Remember to keep it snappy. We all know how easy it is for our minds to wander during long introductions. So don't be that person who drones on and on about their entire professional history.

Finally, ditch the jargon and speak in plain English. You're not trying to impress anyone with your extensive vocabulary, you're trying to connect with them on a human level. So keep it simple and straight to the point.

In conclusion, traditional meeting introductions are like those old school flip phones—outdated and not very effective. But by adding a touch of authenticity and a dash of personality to your introduction, you can make sure that you're remembered long after the meeting has ended. Now go out there and introduce yourself like the rockstar professional you are!

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Until next time!

Gaurav