A first impression is defined as a judgment that humans tend to form about others when meeting for the first time.
Within seven seconds of meeting, people will have a solid impression of who you are. Research conducted by Princeton psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todoro in 2006 suggests a tenth of a second is all it takes to start determining traits like trustworthiness. The Princeton researchers found this out by giving one group of university students 100 milliseconds to rate the attractiveness, competence, likability, aggressiveness, and trustworthiness of actors faces. Members of another group were able to take as long as they wanted. Surprisingly, their judgments were the same for most of the traits as the folks who had only a tenth of a second.
Since we are talking here about real life, there are no second acts, rehearsals or do-overs. That first impression people have of you and your business should at least be favorable and lasting.
So how can you make a best first impression?
Smile. Smile and the world smiles too! Heard this expression? It’s true. Smiling when greeting someone helps to put you and the other person at ease.
Be Yourself. The best way to create a good impression is by being your authentic self. Doing this will make you feel more confident, help you to build trust, and earn the respect and integrity from the people you meet.
Be Open and Confident. Use your body language to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall, smile (of course), turn toward the other person, make eye contact, greet with a firm handshake or elbow bump. It goes without saying that good manners and polite, attentive and courteous behavior help make a good first impression.
Almost everyone gets a little nervous when meeting someone for the first time. But this can lead to unwanted side effects, such as nervous laughter, fidgeting, the “jitters” or sweaty palms. By being aware of your nervous habits, you can try to keep them in check. And you’ll be able to adjust your body language to appear more positive, engaging and approachable.
Use Small Talk. Conversations are based on verbal give and take. Prepare some questions for the person you are meeting beforehand. Take a few minutes to learn something about them to determine if you have anything in common. Asking a thoughtful question or comment can be a great way to open the conversation and to keep it flowing.
Give Your Full Attention. Set aside distractions, for instance, by turning off your mobile phone so that you can give the person your full attention. Expressing interest and enthusiasm in what someone has to say can help boost your chances of making a good impression. After all, what kind of first impression would you create if you are more interested in talking to someone else? Your new acquaintance deserves 100 percent of your attention. Anything less and you’ll likely make them feel unimportant or even irritated.
