A fun way to make introductions a little more comfortable is to have some fun with them.
One good idea for facilitators is to break all the participants into small groups of 2-4 people. Have them them interview and introduce each other. For example, “I would like to introduce you to Jeff Rogers. He likes to kayak, ride bikes with his young sons, and eat ice cream as often as possible.”
Another fun game is Two Truths and a Lie. Each person in the class lists three things about themselves. Two things will be true, the third will be a lie, and the group gets to guess which is which. For example, “Hi, my name is Kim Jacobs. I own an RV, have 7 adopted children, and studied for a month in Paris last year.” The great thing about this game is that everyone listens very carefully. I will not forget Kim’s name because she’s the first person I ever met with 7 adopted children! One word of caution on that game: I’ve noticed that sometimes, a few weeks later, people remember the lie as the truth!
Finally, if the group is very large, it is still possible to enjoy the benefit of introductions. In this case you can simply form groups of 4 or 5 that introduce themselves to each other only and then as the workshop progresses within that same team.
The bottom line is that introductions in the classroom are very important. Our relational society thrives on knowing that person sitting next to us. So get comfortable with introducing yourself. Be sure to pick personal facts that are unique and interesting, but not divisive or uncomfortable to others. And if you can come up with a fun, new way to introduce people to each other, then do.
This is Lisa B. Marshall, The Public Speaker. Passionate about communication; your success is my business.