The "introduction" that makes everyone cringe

I write weekly about the strategies, habits, and tactics around cultivating the connections that matter to you.

A mutual contact reaches out: "I want to introduce you to someone - thought you two should meet". You agree, schedule a call, and five minutes in you realize you're being pitched. You're on someone's prospect list.

That sick feeling? You just got hit with a fake introduction.

This isn't connecting two people who should know each other. This is a sales lead disguised as a favor. The mutual contact just burned their trust with you to generate business for someone else.

Here's what makes these so obvious:

The mutual contact never asked what you need or what you're working on. They just know someone selling something.

There's no real reason you should meet beyond "you both work in tech." Good introductions have specific reasoning.

The person is oddly eager to connect despite knowing nothing about your business.

The fix is simple:

Mutual connections are actually great for generating business. Warm introductions convert better than cold outreach every time. But make your intention clear upfront. Tell people it's a business opportunity, not a casual meetup.

When you disguise sales as introductions, you burn trust. Give people an easy out if they're not interested. Most will respect the transparency and some will still take the meeting.

What good introductions look like:

Know what both people actually need. Listen to real problems, not just job titles.

Make the connection clear: "Sarah, you mentioned needing designers who understand SaaS. John just redesigned three platforms."

Use double opt-in. Ask permission before connecting people.

Follow up to see if it was helpful.

The bottom line:

Good introductions feel like gifts. Bad ones feel like tricks. The difference is whether you understand what people need and care enough to be honest about it.

Stop disguising sales as relationship building. Your network will thank you.

Until next week, Zvi

P.S. Want to check your intros? Ask yourself: “Would both people actually thank me for this?” If yes, send it. If no, rethink it.

On YouTube: Stop Boring People in Networking Meetings! It’s So Simple!

Tired of networking meetings that feel like a bad dentist appointment? In this video, I’ll show you how to turn awkward coffee chats into real, memorable connections that actually matter.

What we cover:

• Why most networking meetings are painfully boring (and how to fix that)

• The one question that instantly shifts the energy in any conversation

• How to ask questions that actually spark connection

• The underrated power of listening (for real, not bobblehead style)

• Simple ways to leave the meeting with trust — and a next step

You can see all my videos and interviews on my channel! If you find these helpful, I’d appreciate a like, subscribe, and share with a friend, colleague, or enemy.

If you found this valuable, you might love Relatable. It’s the CRM built from the ground up to help you grow your network, not your business pipeline (but it does that too).