Last night I attended a business meeting with an organization that I belong to named CEO Space. This is a networking group comprised for entrepreneurs from around the world who get together several times a year to share business ideas.

One of my first priorities in this particular setting is to make a strong first impression. I try to accomplish this by looking my best and engaging in purposeful, entertaining conversations. In addition, one of the clever things that I like to do is to make sure that I introduce myself first to others. I've found that this one simple idea provides the following key benefits for business success:

For some people, introducing yourself at a networking event may be a big challenge. But with the proper awareness and preparation, it's really simple and easy to do. There's no sophisticated strategy or masterful skill involved when it comes to introducing yourself. All I do is put a smile on my face and in a friendly manner say, "Hi! I'm Steve Nakamoto" and then wait for their response. From there I'll say something like, "So (state their name), what is it that you do or what kind of business are you in?" The conversation naturally flows from this point on.

When you get in the habit of introducing yourself first in a friendly, professional manner, it will make going to business networking events more effective and enjoyable for you in the future.

The Bottom Line

You can begin making great first impressions by simply developing the habit of introducing yourself first. By doing so, you'll take immediate control of any situation that you face and boost your self-confidence as a natural by-product.