You can’t get very far in your career without taking new jobs, joining
new organizations, transferring to new locations, and meeting and
building relationships with new contacts. But surprisingly, many
professionals stumble in these situations because they haven’t mastered
three basic yet critical getting-to-know-you skills: introducing
themselves, remembering names, and asking questions. Fortunately, it’s
fairly easy to get better at them. In this article, a Babson professor
who has spent 20 years counseling executives and MBAs offers tactics
that will help you navigate new situations more confidently. For
instance, introductions tend to go more smoothly if you’ve practiced
your opening lines—and you know how to make the other person feel
valued. Names are easier to remember if you repeat and rehearse them and
link them to vivid mental images. And you’re more likely to get the
answers you need if you figure out the right person to approach—and the
right time—and ask short, to-the-point questions. By paying attention
and applying simple but practical strategies like these, you can set
yourself up for success with new challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]