For those of you who read my blog daily you have noticed I have missed a few days.  All I can say is this has been a hectic week.  My topic today is about the things we learn about new people we meet by the way they are introduced to us.

 

Meeting new people for the first time is an event that happens to me consistently each day.  Sometimes I have to make an introduction myself and in other instances someone else makes the introduction.  If you listen and watch carefully along with the words used, the inflection of the voice and body language can tell you about the level of cohesion of the two people involved.

 

Here are two examples.

 

I met an employee and her husband in the cafeteria at the hospital today.  I had never met the husband before.  I was introduced by the spouse as, “This is our wonderful Chaplain Chuck.”  She was smiling as she said the words and her voice light and happy in tone.  It immediately put the husband at ease when he realized his spouse and I were friends.

 

I entered a patient room and was told my one family member, “This is my mother’s husband.”  The tone and the lack of smile on his face told me that as son he was being dutiful by making an introduction but there was obvious emotional distance between him and the man his mother chose to marry.

 

This got me to thinking what types of subtle messages do I send when I introduce others?  Do I project confidence and trust in the other person?  Do I let any apprehensions I have about the other person be visible?  How does my introduction facilitate or hinder the growing of the relationship between the two people I am introducing?  I have found these are good questions to think about and I hope they help you as you make new introductions throughout the week.