Introduce Yourself and Make Small Talk at Work

The first week at a new job, or the first minute in a meeting, you need to say who you are. Many learners know the grammar well, but feel nervous speaking. This lesson gives you ready phrases for introductions and for small talk, the light, friendly conversation that builds good working relationships. Small talk may feel unimportant, but in many workplaces it is how trust starts.

Greetings

Time of day       Greeting
Morning           Good morning.
Afternoon         Good afternoon.
Evening           Good evening.
Any time, friendly  Hello. / Hi.
Meeting someone   Nice to meet you. / Pleased to meet you.
Asking about the other person   How are you? / How is your day going?

A common habit in English is that How are you? is a greeting more than a real question. The normal answer is short: I am fine, thank you. And you? or Good, thanks. How about you? You do not need to describe your health. Smile and give a short answer.

Introduce yourself

Keep it short, and give your name, your role and one friendly detail.

Hello, I am Meena Iyer. I joined the accounts team this week.
Nice to meet you.

Hi, my name is Tunde. I work in the warehouse, on the evening shift.

Good morning, I am Grace Wanjiru from the sales team. I am
responsible for customers in the north.

• My name is... or I am... Both are fine. Say your name clearly. If your name is hard for others, say it slowly and spell it if needed.
• I work in / I work as... I work in logistics. I work as a technician.
• I joined this week / last month / in March.
• I am responsible for... or I look after... to describe your tasks.
• I am from... if you want to say where you come from.

Introduce another person

Priya, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is Priya.
Daniel works in IT. Priya is in HR.

Let me introduce you to my colleague, Hassan.
Have you met Aisha? She is our new designer.

When you introduce two people, say the name of the more senior or older person first in formal situations, or just say both. Add a small fact so the two have something to talk about.

Handshakes and greetings

Customs differ. In many workplaces a handshake is normal at a first meeting. In others people nod, say hello with a hand on the chest, or avoid touching. Some people prefer not to shake hands for personal or religious reasons. Watch what others do, and follow the lead of the other person. A smile and a clear greeting always work.

Remember and use names

People like to hear their own name. After you are introduced, use the name in the conversation: Nice to meet you, Daniel. If you forget a name, it is fine to say: I am sorry, could you tell me your name again? That is much better than guessing.

Small talk: safe topics

• Work and the day. How is your day going? Busy morning?
• The journey. Did you have a good trip? How was the traffic?
• Weather. It is very hot today, is it not? (This is a very common, easy topic.)
• Food and breaks. Have you had lunch? Do you know a good place nearby?
• The weekend. Did you have a good weekend? Any plans for the weekend?
• Sports, events and festivals, if you know they are of interest to the other person.
• The company and place. How long have you worked here? What do you like about this city?

Topics to be careful with

At work it is best to avoid topics that can offend or make people uncomfortable, at least until you know the person well. These include religion, politics, salary and personal money, age, weight and appearance, family problems, health details and any joke that makes fun of a group of people. Questions that seem friendly in one culture can feel too personal in another. For example, asking someone about marriage or children is normal in some places and private in others. Follow the other person's lead.

Keep a conversation going

A good small talk habit is: answer, then ask back. If someone asks, Did you have a good weekend?, do not only say Yes. Add one detail and ask a question.

A: Did you have a good weekend?
B: Yes, thank you. I visited my family. How about you?
A: I stayed at home and watched a cricket match. Did you go far?
B: No, just to my parents' house in the next town.

Use open questions that cannot be answered with Yes or No, starting with what, how or where. How do you find the new office? is better than Do you like the office?.

End a conversation politely

It was nice talking to you.
I should get back to work. See you later.
Good to meet you. I hope we can talk again soon.
Excuse me, I need to take a call.

When you do not understand

Sorry, could you say that again, please?
Could you speak a little more slowly?
Sorry, I did not catch that.
What does that word mean?

Asking is not a weakness. It shows that you want to understand, and it saves mistakes later. Lesson 11 covers listening in more detail.

Your task

1. Write and say aloud your introduction in three versions: for a new team, for a customer and for a friendly colleague.
2. Prepare three small talk questions and three answers about your weekend, your journey and your day.
3. Practise an end-of-conversation phrase and a phrase for asking someone to repeat.

How to check it worked

• Your introduction is under 20 seconds and includes your name, your role and one friendly detail.
• You can answer a small talk question and ask one back.
• You know at least three topics to avoid at work until you know people well.