More Ways to Make a Good First Impression

All you have is 7 seconds.

No pressure, right?

In all honesty, first impressions might not be the be-all and end-all of introductions. This is certainly true for relaxed, social situations.

However, in situations where quick, important decisions have to be made about a person, first impressions matter—a lot.

It could be a college entrance interview, a business development conference or a first-time meeting with your company’s CEO. If you want to climb the ladder of success, you have to get that first impression right.

Here’s how.

Offer A Proper Handshake

A handshake is a universally accepted part of business greetings. This polite sign of professionalism can demonstrate your level of confidence before you even open your mouth.

Keep it balanced between a firm grip and light hand pressure. To test your current handshake, ask people you trust for their opinion. Get feedback about how your handshake feels compared to others.

Use Clear Speech

It doesn’t matter what innovative business ideas you have; if you lack the confidence to deliver them in a clear, audible voice, it’s likely to be a wasted effort.

Portray yourself in such a light that the person you’re meeting can’t overlook you. Don’t get too loud, but talk in a calm, collected manner.

Use Non-Verbal Cues

We instinctively tend to mirror each other’s body language and other nonverbal cues. Whether it’s a smile or a yawn, they are likely to be contagious.

This means that when someone sees you smiling warmly, they may mirror your actions and smile in response. In the same way, when meeting new people, it’s important to keep a positive energy about you, as it may be reflected back.

Look the Part

You’ve probably been told to dress for the role you want to assume. Appearance can rival body language when it comes to making a good first impression.

Ensure that your attire is fitting for the event. This is especially true for interviews. We recommend dressing sharply; it’s better to be over-dressed than to look scruffy.

Make Eye Contact

When you make firm eye contact while introducing yourself, you show the other party that you’re interested in what they have to say.

Be careful, though; in most Western countries, eye contact conveys confidence and respect. However, in some parts of the world, it could be seen as a sign of arrogance or disrespect. So do your research about the greeting norms wherever you’re stationed.

 

Steve Rizzo is a popular motivational business speaker. Not only is he a professional inspirational keynote speaker for hire and a Hall of Fame Speaker, he is also the author of several acclaimed books like Motivate THIS! and Get Your SHIFT Together.

Contact Steve’s team for bookings.

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