Learn to Make Introductions

It's recommended that you learn to make proper introductions in social and business settings.

This recommendation comes from the Emily Post Institute.

A roommate and I once took the bus to Salt Lake City for our church's general conference. We knew how to get there, but unfortunately we were 18 years old and for that reason didn't have sense enough to plan how to get home (the buses stop running before the conference would end). I remember saying, "we have credit cards, we'll figure something out!". I don't remember exactly how it happened, but we approached some people who were on the bus and we asked them how they were getting home. They said a friend was picking them up and offered us a ride. Awesome! So, we met up with them and headed back. They had to make a few stops along the way, but we didn't mind. We pulled up to someone's house, they walked in and went down to the basement while we waited upstairs. I could here them talking down there and not once did they even mention that they left complete strangers alone upstairs. I heard one of the residents coming up from the basement and I knew exactly what would happen. He was a little startled and stared at us wondering if he should make a run for his gun cabinet. We gave an awkward, "uhhh....so and so gave us a ride and told us to wait here" while so and so said, "oh yeah we're giving these guys a ride".

Why didn't he just introduce us when we got there? We felt just as uncomfortable as if we had broken into someone's home and were about to get caught. Anyway, that's the first story that popped into my head, but I'm sure there are plenty of times in my life where I've felt ignored and awkward due to a lack of introduction. Unfortunately, there's no doubt I've been guilty of the same offense. Since I know the feeling of standing there while two good friends catch up on old times and then as their conversation winds down, the stranger looks at me wondering why I'm standing so close to them and I have to say, "I'm Kyle", and wish I had never existed, that I should never put anyone else through the same experience.

The recommendation is to address the person you wish to honor first. Here's a handy chart from the Emily Post Institute showing who you should address first in different situations.

Speak to this person FIRST…	…and this person SECOND
Social Situations
Your grandparents, parents, or anyone older than you	Your contemporary (or younger)
Your friend	Another family member
An adult	A child
A woman	A man
Someone with a title: Senator, Mayor, Judge, Colonel, nobility, Bishop, Reverend, Professor, Doctor; anyone senior in rank to you (boss, CEO)	Your contemporary (or younger)
Your guest of honor	Others attending the event
Business Situations
A client	Anyone in your company, including your CEO
Your boss, or a higher-up	A person of lower rank in the company

Examples!

Colonel Sanders, this is my good friend Joe Schmoe.
Joe, this is Colonel Sanders. You would love his Fried Chicken, but don't ask for the recipe. It's a secret!

Mr. Boss Man, I'd like to introduce my wife Becca.
Becca, this is Mr. Boss Man. He's in charge of some important division in some important company or something like that.