How to Welcome New People

Co-authored by Nicolette Tura, MA

Last Updated: September 10, 2022 References

First Impressions

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Being Inclusive

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Avoiding Common Mistakes

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Q&A

Welcoming new people into a group can add to its overall diversity and strength. Perhaps you are a member of an organization, club or office and you're looking to add new members to your team. You might also just be looking to expand your circle of friends and invite new people into the fold. Whatever your situation may be, you can welcome new people by creating a friendly and inclusive environment, inviting them to join you, and avoiding overwhelming or ignoring them.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

First Impressions

1
Smile. Remember that first impressions are difficult to undo. If you will be the first person greeting new people, put on a smile for them when they arrive. Smiles indicate warmth and friendliness and can make people feel more comfortable.^{[1]
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- If your guest is greeted with a happy gesture, they are more likely to feel happy.
- Encourage other members of your group or office to greet these new people with a smile, as well.
2
Introduce yourself. Try exchanging simple introductions. Simply approach the newcomer and tell them your name and title if you are on the job or at an organization's meeting.
- You might say something like “Hi, my name is Rebekah and I'm the Treasurer of this organization. What's your name?”
- Try to get to any newcomers as quickly as possible so they are not walking around aimlessly with no one to talk to.
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3
Ask them about themselves. After your brief introduction, you will want to find out more about your guest. In general, people enjoy speaking about themselves, so allow your guest to do so.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Nicolette Tura, MA
Authentic Living Expert
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} Ask them their name, what they do, how they heard about your organization, and any other questions you might find pertinent.^{[3]
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- You might say something like “So what's your name?” and when they reply ask “How did you hear about our organization?”
4
Provide a space for introverts. During this welcoming process, be mindful that not all people are equipped to be social constantly. Many introverts need some time to themselves to recharge. Provide a space that has games, puzzles, or pamphlets so that these guests and others can take a breather.^{[4]
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- Choose games that most people enjoy and that are quick and easy to play.
- Make sure any and all pamphlets that you have are up to date.
5
Give them your contact info. Let them know that you are available if they have any questions at all or just want to talk. If you have a listserv that announces any upcoming dates in your organization or office, see if they would like to be added to that so they can stay informed.
- You can also tell them to reach out to you on social media.
6
Make current information easily accessible. If your organization has a website, make sure that this information is updated regularly so that newcomers can stay up to date. Having misinformation on your site can make you look disorganized and it can deter new membership.^{[5]
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- Ensure that you have one concise website rather than multiple. The same goes for social media, as well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Being Inclusive

1
Find out what they enjoy and what they're good at. Everyone wants to feel that they have something to contribute.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Nicolette Tura, MA
Authentic Living Expert
Expert Interview. 28 January 2020.} Begin asking them questions about their interests as it relates to your organization or office. You do not need to probe them too hard, but finding out some basic information early can be helpful in providing them with a quality experience.^{[7]
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- If they are at your organization's meeting, you might ask “So what brings you to us today? What are you hoping to gain from this experience?”
- If they are new to your office or friend group you could ask “What kinds of things are you interested in either professionally or personally?”
2
Introduce them to others. When the newcomer arrives, after introducing yourself and getting to know them a bit better, introduce them to others as well. Asking those basic questions like “what are your interests?” can help you identify which people in your organization or office to introduce them to first.^{[8]
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- You might say something like “Hey Karen, I wanted to introduce you to Jorge. This is his first meeting. Jorge tells me that he's an attorney, too.”
3
Include them in conversations. Once you have successfully introduced your new guest to others, don't leave it at that. Work to actively engage them in any group conversations that you might be in. Oftentimes, you and your group may have inside jokes that your guest may not understand. Try to avoid those during this new time.^{[9]
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- You might say something like “Yeah, speaking of technology, Ada just showed me her new phone. It's definitely one of the coolest I've seen.”
4
Provide activities for them to participate in. Activities like games allow for new people to blend into a group with a bit more ease than does having a conversation. Provide some space for activities during this time of welcoming guests so that they can feel on equal footing with others. Try not to play something that you have already played often so that you don't have an unfair advantage.^{[10]
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- Perhaps you want to do a fun icebreaker or play a card game.
5
Acknowledge their contributions. If they should make any contribution of value during this first gathering, be sure to acknowledge that. People enjoy being recognized for their input and will be more likely to return if they feel valued and productive.^{[11]
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- Say something like “Mary, thank you so much for coming tonight. And thanks again for that fundraising idea. I would never have thought of that!”
6
Invite them to other events. Once the event is over, invite them to come back for your next event or to something unrelated to the group. For instance, you might have an upcoming social event that they might be interested in or perhaps you are going to the movies soon. Invite them and ask if they would like to bring a friend.
7
Ask them their thoughts. After the meeting or event is over, find out their thoughts. See if there was anything that they enjoyed or that they did not like in particular. Find out if they feel that any information was missing.^{[12]
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- A more formal way of collecting this information from newcomers is to do an assessment and have them fill it out. It can have questions like “On a scale of 1 to 10, how much did you enjoy tonight's event?” Make these surveys confidential.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Common Mistakes

1
Don't crowd them. Make sure that you are giving your new guests some breathing room. Do not hold their hand or attempt to babysit them from the time they walk in until they leave. Be friendly and inviting and connect them with others but do not feel that it is your total responsibility to watch over them.^{[13]
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- Don't try to make them stay if they have decided to go. Don't try to sign them up for anything that they are not interested in.
- Don't make them talk, especially if they are shy.
2
Avoid giving responsibilities too early. People can be off-put if they are given too much too soon. Though they can certainly volunteer for whatever they want, avoid assigning them any task during their first meeting.
3
Avoid being clique-ish. Though it can be easy to relegate yourself to your pre-established friend groups, avoid being clique-ish in general, but especially when new members are present. If you see others doing so, remind them that you have guests and encourage them to introduce themselves.^{[14]
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Community Q&A

Question

What should I do if they do not respond?

Abigail Edwards

Community Answer

They might be shy; let them have alone time, or try to see what interests you share with them.
Question

What can I say to make people feel welcome?

Community Answer

You could say "Welcome" or simply start with a greeting, like "Hello".