You’re introducing yourself wrong.
Discover how to replace dull, transactional intros with an authentic Impact Intro that actually sparks curiosity and genuine connection.
(500) Days of Summer. Photo: Searchlight Pictures, 2009.
“What do you do for work?”
That line has started more dead-end conversations than I can count. It’s overdone and immediately checks us out of a conversation. You can almost see the mental script kick in as soon as the words leave your mouth.
Let’s be honest, you wouldn’t introduce yourself that way to your dream employer. You’d find a way to show what you bring to the table and what makes you interesting. So why do we give everyone else our most generic, forgettable version?
Somewhere along the way, introductions became transactions. We ask questions like we’re checking boxes, not opening doors. As the world becomes more impersonal, with people becoming increasingly comfortable living life behind screens, our conversations have followed suit. We’re trying to fast-forward through every moment like a TikTok on 2x speed.
But connection doesn’t happen when you rush through every seemingly insignificant interaction; it happens when you share. Even those of us who like to think we’re open books have slowly become open pamphlets, or maybe even opening sentences. Recently, I’ve been challenging myself, and now you, to slow down, share more, and connect on a deeper level. We’ve reached a point where it’s crucial to stop the pursuit of isolation, even if we don’t recognize it for what it is. Whether your motivation is personal growth, career advancement, or simply not regretting your current choices five years from now when you’re stuck in the same place, you likely need to work on the first step: introducing yourself.
The Death of the Elevator Pitch
The “elevator pitch” used to be the holy grail of introductions: short, sharp, professional (especially taught to entrepreneurs like me). These days, it feels outdated, like something we’d prep for a résumé, not a relationship. I wanted to see something more human, a rebrand, if you will, something that didn’t sound like I was auditioning for LinkedIn.
Meet the Impact Intro
So, I started experimenting with what I now call the Impact Intro, a way to introduce yourself that’s not about titles and not performative, but a reflection of who you are. An Impact Intro is about sharing who you are in a way that makes people want to keep listening and hopefully even share back. For example, it’s the difference between “I’m a marketing manager at a tech company” and “I’m a storyteller who helps brands connect with people through emotion and data. Outside of work, I’m trying to perfect my homemade sourdough.” One ends the conversation, the other starts one (I’m sure you can guess which is which).
Your Challenge
Introductions shouldn’t be just social niceties, they can be micro-opportunities for connection in a world that feels more disconnected than ever. So take the opportunity. When you give someone a little more than, well, nothing to work with and share something that is maybe a little vulnerable or feels like too much, you invite them to do the same. We need to make space and conversation for connection to happen. So here’s the challenge: the next time someone asks, “What do you do?”, tell them who you are instead.
A Tool to Help You Out
After seeing this for myself throughout my entire career (and watching how it impacted my relationships), I wanted to help others do it too, so we built ‘Amy’, a friendly little digital networking coach who helps you create your Impact Intro.
She asks you one question at a time, about your work, passions, strengths, and personality, then helps you turn your answers into intros that actually sound like you. Think of a BuzzFeed quiz with useful results. Great connections don’t start with “What do you do?” but with curiosity and a story worth remembering. Amy’s here to help you tell yours, so here’s the link to try her out for yourself!
A little bonus note: This link will also give you access to a free live session (and its subsequent recording) where I’ll be answering questions about conundrums faced out in the wild (ie, the office, social events, etc) and giving advice on connecting, from the most basic questions to the specific or even personal networking dilemmas (we’ll keep these confidential).
— Amy Buchan Siegfried, CEO and Co-founder of Cultivate A Network of Champions
