The Right Way to Introduce Two People Via Email

I've always loved connecting people. Many of my introductions have led to mentorship, jobs, and even marriages! I have a special place in my heart for connecting people I think would enjoy each other as friends. When you connect two people, you're saying, I believe in you and want good things for both of you. 

Here’s how the introduce two people via email—the right way:

Ask Permission to Connect

Earlier in my career, I would get so excited to introduce two people I knew would enjoy each other that I would write a thoughtfully personalized email introduction for two people and proudly send it out, waiting for the magic to happen–except sometimes it didn't. I might unintentionally surprise someone with my request, or there might be nuances I wasn't aware of related to the request. I learned the hard way that the most important rule of connecting two people is simple: Ask first. Asking permission gives people the option to accept or decline without making things awkward.

Let's say you're talking with a friend or colleague who is looking for an important connection to advance her career or business, and there's someone in your network who could be an influential contact for her. Go ahead and reach out to the more senior person or the one of whom you'll be asking a favor. Write to only that person and ask if they would be willing to meet with, connect with, or whatever it is that you're hoping for with your friend. Include a 2-3 sentence bio about the person, how you know them, and why you think they should be connected. You can further personalize this based on your relationship. The most important part: Give the recipient an out clause. This might sound like, "If this isn't the right connection for you or the right time, I certainly respect how much you have going on." Including a sentence like this gives the person on the receiving end the opportunity to decline without having to explain themselves, and this approach preserves your relationship with them.

Host the Connection

After you get permission, send an email introduction. You're the host of this connection, much like at a dinner party, so share something about each person to give the other a sense of who they're being connected to and why you're connecting them. You may include what makes them special, the things you admire about them, or how you first became acquainted. I take great pride in connecting people within my network, so I want my initial request to reflect that joy.

Template You Can Use to Connect Two People

Dear [Names of Person A and Person B]:

It’s my pleasure to introduce two terrific people, and I’ve copied you both on this email.

[2-3 sentence intro of Person A – can include title/how you know them/what you admire about them/mutual area of interest]

[2-3 sentence of Person B – can include title/how you know them/what you admire about them/mutual area of interest]

I thought to introduce both of you, because [reason why you’re connecting them/what the ask is] and I know [Person B] can learn a lot from you, [Person A].

I’ll leave it to you two to connect directly from here.

Best to you both.

[Your Name]

Follow Through on the Connection

You can differentiate yourself in the connection process by how you follow through.

Here’s something many people miss: Establishing who follows up first after the email introduction has been sent and when. If the connection is to ask for a favor for you or you're the more junior of the two people, you should reach out first–and promptly. It shows respect to the other person's time you're requesting and diligence to the host's effort.

Following the connection, graciously acknowledge the connector and move them to the BCC line. This lets them know you’ve followed up and saves their inbox. It's also always well received when you take time to send a note to this connector to let them know how much you enjoyed the conversation. You can let them know of any next steps or something you've learned. They'll remember this the next time you ask for a connection.

When following these steps, you’ll be seen as someone who understands the power of positive connections and how to add value to your network—which can also help you advance your career.

This piece is adapted from Shanna’s book, One Bold Move a Day, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and your favorite bookseller.