The title of this article suggests that you might be standing in front of a crowd of 300 and introducing yourself. Not really. You just met one guy who looks like he might be nice to talk with at this party you both are enjoying. But -- did you realize when you said hello that you just met everyone he knows too? Well, you did.
When someone meets us for the first time, they are physically standing near us, looking at our face, hearing our voice, interpreting our words but . . . they are making an impression on us that we will likely share with anyone in our personal network of friends and family. If you decide that you don't like the way he wears his clothes, or that he is not friendly and someone you know mentions his name to you, you will respond with your opinion about him. Be is good or bad, he has just been introduced in absentia to your friend. This is a scenario played out over and over again until it may come back to you directly. Has anyone ever said to you, "Oh, yes, I have heard a lot about you."? What have they heard and from whom did they hear it? Who knows?
Sometimes your first introduction to someone is by phone. Impressions you make this way come from just your tone of voice and words. Body language is not available to solidify your message. The other person is most likely going to be in an office with others and inevitably able to render an immediate criticism of you to a coworker when hanging up. You are not there to defend or change their opinion. Therefore, being appropriate with your language, friendly in your tone and kind in your voice can make a great impression on their 300.
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