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5 Things You’re Doing Wrong in Your Self-Introduction

Your self-introduction is your words, from you, about you.

EXPERT OPINION BY ANDREA WOJNICKI, EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION COACH AT TALK ABOUT TALK

DEC 6, 2025

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How many times a week do you introduce yourself? Whether it’s in person, virtually, one-on-one, in a large group, or formally or informally, you probably introduce yourself many times a week. Perhaps you are even making introductions many times a day. How much thought have you given to your self-introduction? 

In my executive coaching practice, I tell my clients that mastering the skill of effectively introducing yourself is critical. Your self-introduction is the most direct way you have to reinforce your professional identity. After all, these are your words, from you, about you. 

A little effort will go a long way to optimize your self-introduction. Here are five common mistakes that I see people make with their self-introduction and what to do instead. 

1. Memorizing your elevator pitch 

As an executive communication coach, my clients often ask me to help them with their elevator pitch. My answer? No. Why not? Two reasons: First, memorized pitches sound exactly like that—memorized. Second, memorized elevator pitches are never customized and therefore not optimized for the context. 

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Try this instead: Rather than memorizing your self-introduction, customize what you share about yourself, depending on the context. Consciously consider the formality of the context and how long you should speak. Consider what details to share about yourself based on what matters to other people and what’s relevant to the context. 

2. Reciting your resume 

Have you ever noticed that when introducing themselves in professional contexts, many people often sound as if they’re summarizing their resume? “I started my career in sales at ABC Corp. After 10 years, I moved to …” Whether you stayed in a position for three months or three decades, listing job titles makes the story flat.  

Try this instead: Rather than using chronology as your default structure, consider this three-point framework: present-past-future. Start with the present tense and your value proposition. Focus on your unique expertise or your leadership style. Then, share examples from the past to provide credibility. Lastly, end with a future-oriented statement. Starting with the present tense reinforces what’s most important, who you are and your unique value proposition. 

If you do mention how long you spent in a role, make sure you answer the so-what. “I’ve been here only three months, so I’m learning a lot, but I can already see how my experience will help me.” Or “Over my 10 years with the firm, I worked in three different functions, providing me with the insight and relationships required to lead.” 

3. Making it all about you 

Yes, it’s your self-introduction, but what about your audience? Many people have one standard version of their introduction, without considering what matters to others. This signals a lack of empathy. 

Try this instead: Adapt and optimize your ideal self-introduction not only to the context, but also to the people in the room. What do they care about? What do you have in common with them? If you want to take it to the next level, mention their name. People engage when they hear their name. 

4. Lacking specificity and focus 

“I’m a consultant,” “I work in finance,” or “I work at XYZ Corp.” So what? Sharing your industry, your function, and your employer is fine. But is it distinctive? Memorable? 

Try this instead: To start, unless your employer is a household name, provide a brief, clear explanation of what your firm does. I’ve noticed that many entrepreneurs miss the opportunity to briefly describe what they do.  

Whether or not your firm is well known, identify a unique, memorable element of your professional identity that you want to focus on. For example, it might be a specific technical expertise or leadership style. What’s the one thing you want them to remember about you? 

5. Forgetting the future 

When you introduce yourself, it’s easy to focus on who you are now and where you’ve been. When you skip the future step, your introduction feels static instead of dynamic. 

Try this instead: Ending your self-introduction is like the icing on the cake. Typically, it’s one sentence and ideally it highlights your enthusiasm about what’s to come with the people to whom you’re introducing yourself. “I look forward to working with all of you on this project and knocking it out of the park.” Adding one clear future-oriented line gives your audience a future direction to connect with you. 

It will take practice to avoid these five mistakes in your self-introduction. Instead of memorizing your elevator pitch, customize depending on the context. Instead of reciting your resume, use the present-past-future framework. Instead of making it all about you, focus on others. Instead of lacking specificity and focus, identify the unique and memorable thing you want people to know about you. Instead of forgetting the future, highlight what’s to come. 

As I mentioned at the beginning, you’ll likely have plenty of opportunities to practice. When you introduce yourself with intention, you signal credibility, and you reinforce your ideal professional identity. 

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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