All of
us have heard this caveat: “You never get a second chance to make a good first
impression.” It takes just a quick
glance, a few seconds, for someone to evaluate you and form an opinion. Right
or wrong, with each new encounter, you are evaluated and another opinion of you
is formed. An impression that is virtually impossible to change making it ever
so important to always have your best self on display. The course and the quality
of your social and professional relationships depend on it.
You may
be wondering how do you do it; how do you ensure that you are putting your best
foot forward at all times? When meeting new people a couple of things are
obvious like, be on time and dress appropriately. So I won’t spend a lot of time on these
topics. However; I don’t want to give
the impression that they are not extremely important. Being on time is the first and the simplest
way to leave a good lasting impression. It says that you are thoughtful, you value
others and their time, and you took the initiative to plan for the unexpected. And
of course, physical appearance matters.
It is the first picture or clue to who you are. So without saying a word you have spoken a
thousand words! A good rule of thumb is to always be neat and clean and dress
for the occasion and when in doubt, dress up instead of down. Appropriate
dressing and grooming help you feel “the part” thus helping you feel more calm
and confident.
This
brings me to what I believe are the three greatest secrets to making a positive
first impression when meeting new people.
1. Make a game plan! This is particularly important
before attending any big event like conferences, networking events, or parties.
A canned elevator speech is a must for your social life and your professional
life. In thirty seconds or less, you should be able to tell someone who you
are, what you do and why you do it, and how it benefits them. Your elevator speech in a nut shell sums up
who you are and what you are about. You will alleviate a lot of awkward moments
if you know your elevator speech as well as you know your name. Whether attending a special event or about
your daily routine, before leaving home think about your objective. What do you
want to accomplish? What kind of people do you want to meet? What type of
interactions do you want to have?
Knowing these things ahead of time will help you be more grounded,
focused, and relaxed.
2. Be confident! If you adhere to the first secret,
this one will be a piece of cake. Being prepared is half the battle. And being
prepared keeps you from feeling uncomfortable or on edge which helps the other
person feel at ease, thus further sealing the good impression you want to make.
When it comes to confidence, your body language says it all. It is a crucial
part of making a great first impression. Everything from your posture to how
you carry yourself to how you angle your body counts. Use your body language to
project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall, smile, make eye
contact, and greet with a firm handshake.
3. Be interested and interesting! Perhaps the
greatest way to make a positive first impression is to demonstrate immediately
that you are more interested in listening than being heard. Be genuine in your
interest and concentrate on getting the other person to talk about himself. If
possible, find a connection. Be sure to give
positive verbal and nonverbal clues. For instance, you may make eye contact
with a slight smile and using their name, say something like “that’s
interesting, tell me more.” And afterwards follow up with a great question or
comment or perhaps share something interesting of your own.
Again, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So make it count! It takes
only 30 seconds for a person to form an opinion of you. Those brief moments
define how you treat others or how you are treated by others. With so much at
stake in such a short period of time, you owe it to yourself to master these
three secrets to making a great first impression. When you do, you will find yourself with an
abundance of opportunities for jobs, friendships, networking and sales. Not only will you make a positive and lasting
impression, but you will have fun while doing it. And your first time acquaintances will be
eager to see you again.
