[Song Eun-young's Respected Role Model Leadership] The 1-Minute Self-Intr...

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[Columnist Song Eun-young, Korea Lecturer News] How many times a year does a leader have to introduce themselves? If you consider large and small gatherings, breakfast meetings, forums, events, and conferences, the number is not as small as you might think. The question is, are we truly delivering a satisfactory self-introduction each time?

The allotted time for self-introductions is not merely a formality. It is a golden opportunity to naturally introduce the values ​​of not only oneself but also the organization, business, or institution one leads, and to build trust. However, when I travel across the country giving lectures to CEOs or leaders and ask, "Has anyone prepared a self-introduction in advance?", only two or three out of a hundred people raise their hands.

Most leaders thoroughly prepare for important announcements or presentations, yet they often improvise during the self-introduction they face most frequently. However, a leader's image is largely determined in these brief moments. Therefore, a one-minute self-introduction is not merely "small words" to be prepared, but leadership content that must be strategically designed.

The starting point of persuasion is not 'what is said,' but 'who says it.' There is a classic that is never omitted when discussing the essence of persuasion: Aristotle's *Rhetoric*. He explained the elements of persuasion as three: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos.

Logos: Logical Persuasion

Pathos: Emotional Persuasion

Ethos: Persuasion of Trust

What is interesting is the weight of these three elements. Aristotle assigned a weight of 10% to Logos, 30% to Pathos, and 60% to Ethos. This means that no matter how logically one speaks or how emotionally one appeals, persuasion cannot be established if one does not inspire trust.

In modern terms, the expression "falling in an instant" fits perfectly. While this ethos includes the speaker's expertise and morality, there is an element that operates even more immediately. It is the "image that instantly puts you in a good mood and inspires trust"—in other words, an attractive impression and presence. Therefore, when preparing a one-minute self-introduction, you must examine the ethos before the structure of your speech.

Prepare your one-minute self-introduction in the order of 'Ethos → Pathos → Logos.' An effective self-introduction follows a specific sequence. It is advisable to prepare the Ethos, which carries the most weight, first, followed by Pathos, and finally Logos.

First, Ethos: Who am I? What is my unique expertise? What distinguishes me from others or other organizations? And what are my unique charms and strengths? If the answers to these questions are not organized, your self-introduction will always become verbose or, conversely, excessively ordinary.

Second, Pathos: How to gain empathy? People respond to stories and questions. A short example, a sentence that evokes empathy, or even a single question directed at the audience can change the atmosphere.

Third, Logos: What structure should be used? The most common structure in a self-introduction is the flow of time. You simply need to organize it clearly in the order of past, present, and future.

The shorter the words, the harder it is. That is why a one-minute self-introduction is a strategy, not an improvisation. One thing you must do before introducing yourself is to "define yourself in a single sentence." Before preparing a one-minute self-introduction, there is an assignment I highly recommend to leaders: try defining yourself in a single sentence. The moment you define what kind of person you are, your identity becomes clear, and the self-introduction becomes much easier. When I introduce myself, I define myself in this way.

I am Song Eun-young, Doctor of the Face No. 1, who illuminates your impressions and your life.

This single sentence encapsulates expertise, vision, and mission.

It encapsulates over 30 years of experience as a facial image expert, a history of teaching makeup, special effects makeup, and image making at universities, and a desire to "brighten people's impressions and help them steer their lives in a successful direction." It is also important to manage one's facial expressions, attire, attitude, and manners in accordance with definition. Ethos is perfected when words and image align.

Empathic sentences are effective for bringing out pathos.

For example, if there are many female audience members, you can start with the sentence, “There is a Western proverb that says, ‘Men age in their hearts, while women age in their faces.’” Alternatively, a question like, “Everyone, you want to cultivate a good impression, don’t you?” is also good. Or, speaking through a relatable story is very effective.

Subsequently, reflecting Logos, it can be structured as follows in the order of Past-Present-Future (Wind).

“Hello, I am Song Eun-young. Everyone, I want to cultivate a good impression, don't you? I am the 'Face Doctor' who brightens the impressions and lives of those I meet. For the past 34 years, I have dedicated myself to transforming the facial images of countless people and have lectured on makeup, special effects makeup, and image making at universities. Currently, I am active under the title 'Face Doctor No. 1,' bestowed upon me by media organizations, and I am training the next generation at the Department of Image Management, Soongsil University Graduate School of Business. If you are concerned about your appearance, please contact me. I will be happy to help you. I hope this gathering today will be a meaningful and beneficial time for you.”

You just need to adjust this basic framework to suit the situation and audience. A one-minute self-introduction is not an 'advertisement,' but a 'declaration of existence.'

Of course, there are also things to be careful about.

One must be careful to ensure that one's self-introduction does not sound overly like an advertisement or come across as arrogance. The key is not to "reveal oneself," but to "convey value." Preparing a one-minute self-introduction reduces pressure and increases self-efficacy and satisfaction. Above all, a leader's presence and trust are built up step by step through these small moments. I hope that this year, wherever leaders go, they will be able to introduce themselves confidently, attractively, and clearly whenever they face the moment of self-introduction. This is because the one-minute self-introduction is the beginning of leadership and the first impression of trust.

Columnist Profile

Columnist Song Eun-young is an adjunct professor in the Department of Image Management at Soongsil University Graduate School of Business. She is Korea's first "Doctor of Face" and a professional image consultant specializing in leaders, including presidential candidates, members of the National Assembly, and CEOs of various companies. She also works as a corporate lecturer and broadcaster.

Professor Song emphasizes that everyone is born with their own unique charm and brand, and that knowing how to find and appeal to the world with that charm is akin to giving wings to success. Professor Song, who considers lecturing her calling, is currently serializing a column titled “Song Eun-young’s Respected Role Model Leadership” in the Korea Lecturer Newspaper.

He has delivered special TV lectures on various broadcasters, including KBS1's *Morning Plaza* and SBS's *Good Morning*. He is currently teaching the course *Survival Strategies for Office Workers: Attractive Self-Branding to Increase Your Market Value* on Class101, and his published works include the bestsellers *Brand Your Charm*, *If Your Impression Changes, Your Life Changes*, and *Everything Connects Through the Face*.

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