How to Introduce Yourself to a New Team at Work

TL;DR

A strong self-introduction to a new team follows four parts: a greeting with your name and job title, your background, your hopes for the new role, and a closing. Throughout, convey four qualities through body language and words: positive, approachable, competent, and confident. Preparation, not winging it, is what produces that confidence.

Transcript

so you're in a new job you're working with a new team you're having your first meeting with them how do you confidently introduce yourself to your new team that's what we'll talk about in this video some people choose to wing it for a workplace introductions they want to appear natural not like they're reading from a script but there's only a small... Read More

Key Insights

• Preparation is what makes an introduction sound confident. Only a small group of very talented public speakers can wing it, and that ability usually comes from years of honing self-introductions. For everyone else, preparation brings confidence and the ability to sound clear and succinct.
• An introduction is not your first impression, it is a continuation of it. The very first impression is made when you walk into the room, before you have had a chance to speak. The introduction then either strengthens that impression or breaks it.
• Four qualities should run through an entire self-introduction: positive, approachable, competent, and confident. Every element, from body language to the background you share, should be chosen to convey these four qualities to the new team.
• A fake smile makes nervousness more visible, not less. The fix is to tap into genuine excitement about getting the new job and working with the new team, and to let that excitement generate an authentic smile for the people you are introducing yourself to.
• Looking down during an introduction signals that you do not care about the people, the team, or being in the room, and it detracts from your confidence as a professional. Window glare can also force squinting, so face away from windows or close the blinds.
• Standing to introduce yourself conveys confidence, courage, and respect for the new team, while sitting can be interpreted as laziness or lack of respect. Posture supports this: shoulders back at a comfortable level and head high to avoid looking toward the ground.
• Visible hands signal honesty. Hands should rest gently by your side or be loosely clasped in front, and moving them while speaking looks natural and approachable. Hands in pockets or hidden beneath a table get interpreted as hiding something or not being truthful.
• The opening of an introduction needs exactly three elements in about three sentences: a greeting, your name, and your job title. Avoid 'hi guys', which is too casual and may not sit well with women present, and avoid 'hi team' before familiarity is built.
• Previous experience is the only non-negotiable part of the background section, because it conveys competence as a professional. Previous location and a hobby or interesting fact are optional additions that can all be combined into a single sentence.
• Sharing hopes for the new position reveals an inner part of yourself and gives coworkers insight into who you are as a person and a professional. It also helps people understand what your expectations of them might be, contributing to a positive work environment.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do you structure a self-introduction to a new team?

The structure has four parts. First, the start: a greeting, your name, and your job title, delivered in about three sentences. Second, your background, which can include previous experience, previous location, and a hobby or something interesting about you. Third, your hopes for the new position, meaning what you are looking forward to or would like to accomplish. Fourth, a closing that leaves a positive, lasting impression. Body language runs across all four parts and should convey that you are positive, approachable, competent, and confident.

Q: What should you avoid saying when introducing yourself to a new team?

Two phrases should be avoided in a very first introduction. 'Hi guys' is too casual for a professional context, and many women in the audience might not appreciate being referred to as a guy. 'Hi team' should also be avoided because you need to build up a certain level of familiarity with your colleagues before you start referring to them as your team. Instead, open with a neutral greeting such as 'hi everyone' or 'hello', followed by your name and your job title.

Q: What should you do with your hands during a self-introduction?

Keep your hands either gently by your side or loosely clasped in front of you, and do not be afraid to move them as you speak, since gesturing helps you appear more natural and approachable. The critical rule is that your hands must stay visible at all times. Do not put them in your pockets and do not hide them beneath the table. If your audience cannot see your hands, they will interpret it as you hiding something about yourself or not being truthful about who you are.

Q: Why is preparation better than winging a workplace introduction?

Some people choose to wing workplace introductions because they want to appear natural rather than sound like they are reading from a script. But only a small group of very talented public speakers can pull that off, and they can usually do it because they have spent years honing their ability to introduce themselves. For everyone else, preparation is necessary. With preparation comes confidence and the ability to sound clear and succinct when you speak.

Q: What should you include in the closing of a self-introduction?

Three things can go in the closing: thank your boss for the opportunity, tell people where your office or desk is located, and end with a pleasantry. For example, 'Thank you Mr Green for this opportunity. I look forward to getting to know you and everyone else in our team in the coming weeks. If anyone needs to find me, my desk is in zone B over near the door.' Many people forget the closing entirely and hurry to sit down while still talking. Instead, finish fully and pause for a couple of seconds before sitting down.

Q: Why should you share your hopes for the new role in an introduction?

Sharing what you are looking forward to or would like to accomplish helps people understand who you are as a person and as a professional. When we learn about people's hopes and dreams, we feel they are revealing an inner part of themselves, giving us insight they would not normally share. In a new team, that deeper insight contributes to a positive work environment. It also helps colleagues understand what your expectations of them might be. An example: 'One of my hopes in this new position is to expand our client base and to ideally sign clients from the entertainment industry.'

Q: Should you stand or sit when introducing yourself to a new team?

Stand if you can. Standing makes you look like you have confidence, courage, and respect for your new team. Sitting down during your introduction risks being interpreted as laziness or as a lack of respect for the people you are going to be working with. Standing should be paired with good posture: keep your shoulders back at a comfortable level and keep your head high, which also stops you from looking toward the ground and losing eye contact with the room.

Q: What does a full self-introduction to a new team sound like?

The complete example from the video runs: 'Hi everyone, I'm Kara Ronan. I've just been hired as a new account manager for this department. Previously I worked for Coca-Cola as a sales representative in the western Sydney area, but I'm really glad that this job brought me to Melbourne because I'm very excited to check out the festivals and the theater performances that you have. One of my hopes in this new role is to expand our client base and to ideally sign clients from the entertainment industry. I want to thank Mr Green for this opportunity and for this new position. I look forward to getting to know you and everyone else in our team over the coming weeks. If anyone needs to find me, my desk is over in zone B near the door. Thank you.'

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Winging a workplace introduction only works for a small group of very talented public speakers who spent years honing that ability. Everyone else needs preparation, and preparation is what produces confidence and the ability to sound clear and succinct. An introduction is not your first impression; the first impression happens when you walk into the room, and the introduction either strengthens or breaks it.

• Body language carries the four qualities before your words do. Smile genuinely by tapping into excitement about the new job rather than plastering on a fake smile. Make eye contact instead of looking down, and avoid facing a window where glare makes you squint. Keep shoulders back and head high, stand if you can, and keep your hands visible.

• The spoken structure has four blocks. Open with a greeting, your name, and your job title in about three sentences. Share your background, covering previous experience, previous location, and a hobby, with previous experience being the non-negotiable element. Then share your hopes for the role. Close by thanking your boss, saying where your desk is, and ending with a pleasantry.