The Best Ways To Greet Someone

We all know that sometimes things can get a little awkward when meeting and greeting people for the first time. It might not be as easy as 1,2,3 to make that good first impression but if you need some help, we’ve got you covered. Here are some situations that may arise when greeting someone and how to efficiently and accurately deal with them:

1. When you greet people in person for the first time—To make a good first impression when meeting new people, the following are a must as part of your greeting: a warm smile, an introduction that includes your first and last name, a welcoming comment, direct eye contact and a firm handshake, if and when appropriate. You should also reassure and repeat the persons’ first name, for example saying, “It’s very nice to meet you Susan,” is an excellent way to assure the person that you got their name.
2. When you meet people who don’t tell you their name—If this occurs, don’t beat around the bush, just simply ask them for their name. Saying something like“I didn’t catch your name” or an open ended statement like “It’s nice to meet you……” after which they will complete it with their name.For the former, when said person responds, it is usually recommended to follow the repetition step as described above.
3. When someone introduces you and does not include your name—When you are introduced to someone and the person making the introduction doesn’t include your name, it’s likely they forgot it or they don’t know how to make a proper introduction. In this case, offer a warm greeting as was described in the first tip and be sure to include your first and last name. This will prove you are paying attention and that you realize your name was omitted.
4. When you greet someone who likely forgot your name—When greeting people you have not seen in a while, always take the initiative to introduce yourself by name. You could say, “Hello Shannon; Gina Thompson; how are you doing?” If you don’t remember the person’s name, you could introduce yourself by sharing your name and hope they respond by sharing theirs. If people don’t offer their name in the greeting, you could say something like, “Will you kindly remind me of your name?”
5. When you are not introduced— The proper etiquette in a circumstance like this would be for your companion to introduce you to friends or other persons he/she meets that you are not familiar with. When you’re not introduced to people, you could generally respond by introducing yourself if the right opportunity presents itself. This seems to make everyone feel more comfortable.
6. When you meet with a group of people you DON’T know—Have you ever walked into a room with a small group of people you didn’t know and stood there awkwardly not knowing what you should do? If this happens, be proactive and introduce yourself to each person in the room. This will make you stand out from the group as someone with confidence. It will also make everyone feel more at ease.
7. When you meet with a group of people you DO know—When you get together with a group of friends or business associates, immediately greet each person with a friendly greeting. As new people join the group, be the first one to show you care by greeting them.
8. When you meet with a group of people-some you know and some you don’t know—When in this situation, you should always greet the people you know and introduce yourself to the people you have not yet met. Once again, this seems to make everyone in the group feel comfortable.
9. When you greet a receptionist—Whether you are greeting the receptionist at your dentist’s office or at the offices of one of your clients, always introduce yourself with a smile and friendly greeting. For instance, “Hi my name is Tiffany Smarts, I have a 4:00 appointment with Dick Sanders.” In the case of a business environment,  you could  hand the receptionist your business card to go along with your verbal introduction.
10. Practice, practice, practice—If you will follow these tips, you can be assured of making a positive first impression and enhance your existing relationships. You will be viewed as someone who is friendly, confident and recognizes the value of making people feel comfortable.