Agenda
Subject matter experts can meet a lot of new people. Your introduction sets the tone for everything that follows. Great introductions include your name and your relevance.
Of course, your name is where all introductions start. Obviously, sharing your name with someone gives them a way to respectfully address you in a conversation. Your name is an essential courtesy. But there is more to it than that. Your name is also the identifier people will use to find you thereafter, particularly online. (Question: How well does your name map to your online persona?)
Pronouns: Some people prefer to include their pronouns in their introduction immediately after their names. This approach is increasingly accepted. (More one this below.)
Why should anyone trust you as an expert? Who is your audience? You must demonstrate that your skills and knowledge are germane to the unique circumstances. This is not about your brilliance or stunning personality, it is about fit. Your introduction should include one or more types of relevance:
Many people are sloppy and nonchalant with introductions. Do not be one of those people. Make your introductions measured, deliberate, and succinct. Make a good first impression.
Ideally your colleague will introduce you, rather than asking you to introduce yourself. People can say far more about you than you can appropriately say about yourself. When you introduce a colleague, give them a strong endorsement with a high degree of relevance. Give your subordinates stronger introductions. (When you don't introduce yourself it is much more natural to use preferred pronouns.)
Alan Berrey is a senior instructor at Expert Dig, an organization committed to the development of corporate experts. He has studied and written about expertise for the past 20 years. He has interviewed hundreds of expert practitioners. We all have his recent book, Beyond Expertise.
Alan started his working life in the food industry. In Idaho, where he grew up, he drove potato harvesters at age 13. Throughout high school he worked at a local grocery store. His father owned an accounting business, so during college Alan tested accounting software at his father’s firm.
Alan served the United States as an Airborne Ranger in the United States Army.
Over the past 25 years, Alan has been employed at IBM, Citibank, Ford Motor Company, Logica, and others. He has started four technology companies and sold three. He is a patent holder. He has lobbied lawmakers in Washington and served as an expert witness in courtrooms. He has written policy for mobile phone manufacturers including Apple and Samsung.
Alan received his bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Brigham Young University and his MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.
Good morning. I am Alan Berrey senior instructor at Expert Dig, an organization committed to the development of corporate experts. I have been studying expertise for most of my career.
As a young teen I worked on potato farms in Idaho. During high school I worked at a grocery store. During college I studied computer science, so my father hired me to test the software at his accounting firm.
I have spent time at IBM, Citibank, Ford Motor Company and others. I have been involved with four start up technology companies and helped establish public policy in Washington.
My BS is from Brigham Young University and I received an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.
Sundar Pichai (born in 1972) is the CEO of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google.
