How Do I Introduce Myself Without Sounding Awkward

I share what one awkward hello taught him about how to actually introduce yourself, stay calm in the first five seconds, and sound confident without overthinking it.

The Moment Before Hello

I used to think the hardest part of any introduction was figuring out what to say. It’s not.
The hardest part is the three seconds before you say anything.

That tiny window where your brain tries to talk you out of it, where you can feel every ounce of energy in your body screaming, don’t mess this up.
That’s where confidence either shows up or gets hijacked by anxiety.

“It’s a skill that I am consistently working on and something that I think I will always be working on and learning going up to somebody in the art of introducing yourself because I think it is really hard.”

That’s where I was the night I met someone I really admired. I had something to say, I’d thought about it all day, and then the second I opened my mouth, I forgot all of it.

When Your Brain Blanks

If you’ve ever blacked out mid-introduction, you’re not broken. You’re human.

“When you do go up to the person, like there’s a chance that you black out and forget everything you wanted to say and your name and what you do and everything because like the nerves take over or the anxiety of the situation takes over and like you just black out.”

That’s exactly what happened to me. My whole plan evaporated.
I had prepped what I thought was the perfect opening, something confident, something natural, and instead I blurted out, “Yeah, cool. Excited. Bye.”

I walked away thinking, what just happened?

But here’s what I’ve learned: sounding confident doesn’t mean never stumbling. It means knowing how to reset when you do.

Have One Real Line Ready

I realized afterward that what threw me wasn’t the nerves. It was the emptiness.
I didn’t have a next line. Nothing to keep the conversation alive once it started.

“Hi, I’m Josh, I do this and I think what you do is really cool, nice to meet you. Like I didn’t have the, I would love to stay in touch.”

That’s the difference between a short, polite hello and an actual connection. You don’t need a full pitch or a monologue. You just need one real thing to add.

Something like:
“It was great talking, can I get your number?”
or
“I’d love to stay in touch, what’s the best way?”

“You can totally just say like, it was really nice to meet you. Can I get your number? It was really nice to meet you. I’d love to stay in touch or I’d love to continue this.”

That one follow-up line keeps the door open. It signals confidence without forcing it.

You Can’t Eliminate Awkwardness, You Can Own It

Every time I overthink the perfect opener, it backfires. Every time I just show up as myself, it lands.
Awkwardness is part of the process. It’s proof you’re trying.

And when you think about it, everyone remembers the person who made an effort more than the one who never said anything.

“It’s always better to try and to know that you gave it an effort and know that you decided to go do it and took a chance or took a chance on yourself to go say hi to this person because that is hard.”

That’s what I remind myself when I start overanalyzing.
Confidence isn’t about getting it perfect, it’s about giving it a shot.

Learning How to Talk About Yourself

The more I’ve practiced introducing myself, the more I realize it’s not about rehearsing a speech. It’s about knowing what story you’re actually telling.

“One of the best things that we can all learn in our 20s is just how to talk about ourselves, how to introduce ourselves, how to say hi to people, how to walk up to people, how to be confident enough to walk up to people.”

When you’re clear on that, when you know who you are, what you do, and what excites you, introductions become lighter.
They stop being tests and start being conversations.

If you need a next step after the introduction, read What to Say After ‘Hi’ When You Meet Someone New.

If You Remember One Thing

You don’t need a perfect line. You need a real one.

The best introductions aren’t flawless, they’re human.
They’re the ones that sound like you actually want to be there.

So don’t wait for the nerves to go away. Take the chance anyway.
That first five seconds is the only part that’s supposed to feel uncomfortable.

After that, you’re just talking.

Read More in Confidence

If this post hit home, check out the next ones in the series.

• What to Say After ‘Hi’ When You Meet Someone New – how to keep the energy going.

• How to Sound Confident Even If I’m Nervous – how to stay calm once you start talking.

• The Art of the Introduction (Episode Hub) – the full story behind it all.

FAQ

How do I introduce myself without sounding awkward?
Start with something simple and real. Don’t try to impress. Just lead with your name, one honest line about what you do, and a genuine reason for saying hi.

What should I say after introducing myself?
Ask a question. It’s the easiest way to keep a conversation going. “How did you get into that?” or “What’s been the highlight of your week?” works in any setting.

What if I freeze up?
It happens. Take a breath and laugh it off. Most people don’t remember the stumble, they remember your effort.

Notes from Josh

Every awkward hello makes the next one easier. You can’t get better at introducing yourself by thinking about it. You get better by trying, failing, laughing, and trying again.

Want to hear the full episode?
Listen to The Art of the Introduction on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.