Etiquette expert reveals the correct way to introduce yourself to new people – and how to avoid a common awkward faux pas
- London-based content creator Lucy Challenger makes TikTok etiquette videos
- The 38-year-old recently shared the correct way to formally introduce yourself
- She revealed her own top tip to avoid a common introductions faux pas
- Saying ‘nice to see you’ avoids awkwardness if you’ve met before but forgotten
An etiquette expert has revealed the proper way to introduce yourself to people within a formal setting.
Lucy Challenger, 38, who is based in London and Berkshire, is the founder and CEO of high-end Mayfair agency Polo and Tweed, which sources employees for uber-wealthy clients.
She is also a TikTok creator, and has garnered more than 8 million likes for her videos which teach Gen Z social media users the essential manners and etiquette they need to fit in with the upper echelons of society.
In a recent video, Lucy explained what is expected during formal introductions, as well as her top tip for avoiding a potentially awkward moment that could arise if you meet someone and it turns out you’ve met them before.
TikTokker and etiquette expert Lucy Challenger (pictured) has revealed the correct way to introduce yourself to others in formal settings
In the video, she says: ‘I’ve got a top tip for you on how to introduce yourself in a formal setting.
‘Firstly, you should ideally offer your hand, if you feel comfortable. Of course with Covid about nowadays, we don’t typically handshake.
People took to the video’s comments section to say the tip would be useful for them, as they often forgot whether they had met people before or not
‘But in a formal situation, one would be expected to handshake wherever appropriate.
‘I used to say “hello, nice to meet you, my name is Lucy, etc.’
How to introduce yourself: top tips
According to Lucy Challenger, there are several things to bear in mind when introducing yourself.
1. Always be polite, always smile, and always introduce yourself with your full name.
2. Remember to introduce those around you as well, which is proper etiquette when meeting in a formal setting.
3. If you say ‘it’s nice to see you’, when meeting people, you can avoid any awkwardness that may have arisen from saying ‘nice to meet you’ to someone you have met before, but forgotten about.
She then revealed her personal top tip, saying: ‘But, if you have ever met that person before and you have forgotten, then you have that awkward moment of them saying, “oh, but I met you six months ago, [or] I met you a year ago.
‘It’s very embarrassing.
‘My top tip is that you present your hand, and say, “hello, nice to see you”.
‘That means if you…haven’t met them before, there won’t be any awkwardness.
‘And if you have met them before and they say Oh, I was lovely to see you this one time, etcetera, you can go “yes, yes, yes…”.
‘Because often, I forget sometimes when I’ve met someone, because I meet a lot of people.
‘So this avoids any faux pas.’
Her final tips for when formally meeting people are to ‘always be polite, always smile, introduce yourself with your full name’.
She also noted: ‘And then you should ideally introduce those around you as that is polite etiquette when meeting in a formal environment.’
A number of the creator’s fans pointed out how useful the advice was.
One wrote: ‘Formal? I’ll be using this every day. I’m always forgetting I’ve met people before.’
Another agreed, writing: ‘Thank you!!! This is a simply genius solution.’
Meanwhile, a third wrote: ‘I hate when that happens, when they say I’ve actually met you before.’
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