How to Introduce Yourself Without Sounding Awkward
We all overthink it. Here’s how to stop freezing, stop faking it, and start introducing yourself with real confidence.
By
Josh Felgoise
Nov 11, 2025
The Wolf Of Wall Street
Here are the answers (or at least advice) to one of biggest questions guys have: how do you introduce yourself without sounding awkward?
Let’s be honest. Introductions are awkward for everyone.
Even confident people overthink what to say. You see someone you want to talk to, start the mental pep talk, and then freeze. That’s exactly what happened to me.
I walked up to someone I admired, completely blanked, and turned what could’ve been a great conversation into a cringe story. But that one moment taught me more about confidence than anything else.
Let’s break down what actually works when it comes to introductions. No fake scripts, no social hacks, just the stuff that makes real interactions stick.
Q: Why do introductions always feel so uncomfortable?
Because they’re personal. You’re putting yourself out there and asking someone to accept your energy in real time.
“It’s a skill that I am consistently working on and something that I think I will always be working on, the art of introducing yourself.”
That’s the truth. This isn’t something you master once. It’s a lifelong skill. The discomfort doesn’t mean you’re bad at it. It means you care about how you come across.
The goal isn’t to get rid of the nerves. It’s to learn how to move anyway.
If that part of confidence hits home, you’ll connect with How to Build Confidence from Scratch.
Q: So how do you start a conversation without sounding weird?
Start with something you actually mean.
“If I had a little bit more of a fallback or something really prepared, maybe that would have helped me.”
A natural opener beats a perfect one. You don’t need to come up with a clever line. You need one honest reason to say hi.
Something like:
“Hey, I’ve been meaning to introduce myself.”
“I wanted to meet you.”
“I liked what you said earlier.”
These are simple, human, and disarming. The less you try to impress, the more confident you sound.
Q: What should I say after the hello?
This is where most people lose it. You say hi, and then your brain screams now what?
The key is to have one small question or thought ready before you start. It doesn’t have to be deep. It just gives your brain a track to follow when nerves hit.
If it’s someone in your industry, ask about their work or a project you genuinely like. If it’s social, make a small observation.
You don’t need to steer the conversation. You just need to keep it moving.
“I just kept picking up the ball and dropping it again and again.”
That’s what happens when you don’t know where to go next. Preparation gives you something to fall back on so you can stay present.
For a deeper dive on this mindset, check out How to Talk to Girls Without Overthinking It.
Q: What if I feel awkward in the moment?
You will. Everyone does.
Even the most confident people have off days. The difference is how they handle it.
If you feel awkward, acknowledge it to yourself, smile, and keep going. People don’t notice your nerves as much as you think they do.
“I really am happy I did that because I now learned that I have a lot to improve on in terms of introducing myself.”
Awkward moments are practice. You don’t grow by avoiding them. You grow by living through them and realizing you’re still fine.
Q: How do I recover if it goes badly?
You follow up.
Most people think one awkward moment ruins everything. It doesn’t.
“It’s never better to stay wondering. I’d always rather at least try and then build from there.”
Send a message later. Reintroduce yourself next time. The fact that you show up again is what makes you stand out.
Confidence isn’t built in perfect moments. It’s built in recoveries.
If you want to dig deeper into that mindset, What to Do When You Feel Behind in Your 20s dives into how to keep moving forward when you feel off-track.
Q: What are the biggest mistakes guys make when introducing themselves?
Trying too hard to be interesting. People feel it when you’re performing.
Talking too much about yourself. Ask questions instead. It makes you more memorable.
Forgetting to listen. Confidence isn’t loud, it’s intentional.
Not knowing how to end it. Don’t vanish. Say “It was great meeting you” or “Let’s stay in touch.”
“No one teaches you how to really present yourself or pitch yourself or ask for something.”
That’s the gap most of us fall into. No one ever shows you what real confidence actually looks like.
Q: What’s one thing that instantly makes you more confident?
Clarity.
Knowing who you are and what you want to say. That’s it.
If you’re clear on your intent, the words follow naturally. You don’t have to be funny or flawless. You just have to be honest and present.
That’s what makes an introduction stick.
Final Takeaway
You can’t avoid awkward moments, but you can own them.
Confidence isn’t about never feeling nervous. It’s about acting anyway. Every time you say hi when it’s easier not to, you build something real.
The art of the introduction isn’t about charm. It’s about effort. And that’s what people remember.
Want to hear the full story?
Listen to The Art of the Introduction on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Then check out:
👉 Feature Article: The Art of the Introduction
👉 7 Lessons I Learned About Confidence
👉 Episode Landing Page
