Introduce individuals to each other using both first and last names. For example: ‘Professor Msimang, this is my colleague Samantha Stone. Samantha, Professor Msimang is the Dean of the Law Faculty at our local university.’

If you are introducing someone who has a title, include the title as well as the first name and surname in the introduction.

Introduce the younger or less prominent person to the older or more prominent person first, regardless of the gender of the individuals. However, if there is a big age difference between the two people, it is more courteous to make introductions according to age, regardless of superiority.

If the person you are introducing has a specific relationship to you, make the relationship clear by adding a phrase such as ‘my boss’, ‘my wife’, ‘my uncle.’ An unmarried couple who are living together should be introduced as partners, for example: ‘This is Don Abrahams and his partner Beatrice Jakobs’.

Use your spouse’s first and surname if he or she has a different surname from yours. For example, say: ‘This is my wife, Samantha Scott’.

Introduce an individual to a group first, then the group to the individual. For example: ‘Dr Smith, I’d like you to meet my friends Kim, Thombi and Lynn. Everyone, this is Dr Joe Smith.’

If you’ve forgotten someone’s name, you will seem impolite if you try to ignore the need for an introduction. It’s less awkward (and better manners) to apologise and acknowledge that you don’t remember their name.

If your host neglects or forgets to introduce you to other guests, introduce yourself and tell them your relationship to the host.

When you are introduced:

	Pay attention to the other person’s name.
	Repeat the name to yourself. This technique will improve your recall by as much as 30 per cent.
	Use the name in conversation. Repetition will help engrave the name in your long-term memory.
	Observe the face of the person you’re meeting.
	Commit one outstanding detail to memory, for example baldness or glasses.
	Associate the name with the face and form a mental picture, using an active image: ring the Bell; wrap Katlego (it means ‘gift’).

Reply by saying something like ‘Hello’ or ‘Pleased to meet you’ or ‘Brenda has told me so much about you.’

By Elsabé Manning

back to Articles list »