In every place, we go and every person we meet, we usually want to make a good impression. The first impression that you make on a person is very important as it can determine how they behave with you and how your relationship with that person be. The first impression is especially important in professional settings. According to science, the first impression is made within the first seven seconds of meeting a person. Here are some effective tips which can help you to make a good first impression on anyone:
Be on time: If you are meeting someone for the first time and the time and place have already been decided, make sure that you reach there on time or a few minutes earlier. The other person may have set other plans for the day, arriving on time shows that you respect their time. Arriving early is much better than arriving late. Arriving late in the first meeting with someone may give the impression of being irresponsible and unreliable.
Smile: Many people say that a smile is the most memorable feature after the first meeting. A warm and confident smile will help you appeal as friendly and approachable. It will also put both you and the other person at ease. Meeting someone for the first time may be stressful for you too, so keep smiling as it also helps to reduce your stress level. But don’t go overboard, smiling too much can come off as creepy, insincere, arrogant or nervous.
Body language: There are neurons in the human brain that recognizes faces and reads facial expressions. Non-verbal cues affect how you make the other person feel. Our body language shows how we really feel or think and another person can pick up on those cues creating a positive or negative impression. Smirks, eye rolls and looking another way when someone is speaking to you can be perceived as disinterested or impatience.
Dress/ Outfit: In the first meeting, the other person doesn’t know you, so he only has your appearance as the first clue to your personality. You don’t need to look like a model for a magazine to make a good first impression but you need to dress according to the situation. The appropriate dress also varies according to countries and culture, so you need to pay particular attention to it. If you are going on an interview, you may want to dress in a suit. You may also choose your outfit according to what the person you are meeting is likely to ware.
Be yourself: To make a good first impression you might have to fit into some degree to other persons’ expectation but it doesn’t mean you need to fake your personality. Being authentic will boost your self confidence and help you to build trust. If you are a funny person, you might incorporate some level of humor. You can also share your interest, hobbies or ideology when they are relevant to the conversation. This way, the other person may relate to you creating a positive impression.
