1 .
Confidence is the first obvious essential factor which you must master . Whether that be through speech , your body language or your appearance , as these speak louder than words . A simple but effective way to project appropriate confidence is to stand tall , be friendly , make eye contact and don ’ t forget that firm handshakeif your going for an interview of course . Similar rules apply for other first encounters too . These few steps will make you feel more comfortable with each other , after all , the last thing you want is to give an awkward first impression . I know everyone gets nervous when meeting someone for the first time , but try to keep them in check and take control of the situation .
Punctuality is another strength which is a must have ! There ’ s nothing worse than having to wait around for people . This person has agreed to give you a chance , so do not let them down by being late . If you are running late the person you ’ re meeting has no care for your excuses , so make sure you leave yourself plenty of time , even if it means you have to wait around for a bit . Arriving early is much better than arriving late . Consider it game over , if you are .
3 .
Smile ! There is nothing like a smile to create a first good impression . It shows you are happy to be there and promotes a positive attitude . If you smile , your positive mood will brush off onto the person you making an acquaintance with and will create a comfortable atmosphere to make you both feel at ease .
4 .
Show individuality . People look out for things that make you stand out , that little something that makes you special compared to others . You can express it anyway you want - through clothing , speech , body language etc . Find a quality about yourself and embrace it , express it appropriately according to the given situation . Be interesting , give them something good to talk about !
5 .
Small talk may sound easy but a lot of people struggle with it which leaves the conversation as awkward dead-end chit chat . The best thing to do is , a little bit of research so you know more about the person or new environment , but don ’ t go too mental . The research will help you select and target the perfect questions for example ‘ how was your summer ?’, it gives the other person something to talk about and gives you a chance to find some common grounds .
- which you may share helping to build the relationship . It is a great way to open a conversation and to keep it flowing . If you are able to hold a conversation , it ’ s even better !
6 . 2 . 7 .
Be positive , remember your attitude shines through in everything you do . Even if your nervous or you are receiving some bad criticism just stay positive and think about all the good things you have done or achieved . We all receive criticism , good and bad , but the best thing to do is to take it on the chin and see it as an opportunity to improve yourself . It is all about making mistakes and learning from them .
You must have good mannerisms and be attentive , anything less could potentially ruin the only chance you have to create an impression . An obvious prime example for manners would be to turn your phone off so they have your undivided attention , or to greet them with a smile and don ’ t forget the eye contact . Your potential acquaintance requires 100 % of your attention so you need to make sure you are there in the room and not off daydreaming . It is easy to tell if you have someones attention or not , based on how responsive they are . Also make sure you remember their name , it shows you ’ ve listened and that you are interested in the person .
8 .
Last but not least , in the society that we live in , it is becoming more and more apparent that we are an image-obsessed nation . The single greatest factor of someone ’ s first impression is physical appearance . The first thing they will notice is the way you have presented yourself . It ’ s the first thing they will see and it will give them an insight of your personality . Clothes , hair , facial hair , shoes , piercings are all types of ornamentation which people will take into account when making initial judgements : “ The devil is in the detail ”. The best way is to make sure you are prepared , plan an outfit which promotes your personality in a positive light . Make sure that what you ’ re wearing as well as your hair style says what you want it to say to the person / people you are meeting .
As unfair as it seems , people will form an lasting opinion about you within seconds after meeting you . Sometimes our first impressions don ’ t always go the way we hoped , due to whatever circumstances we were in at the time . It ’ s not just about what you say , but also everything you do . You can ensure your first impressions are positive by your appearance , body language , attitude and the way you interact with them . So think positive and be prepared for anything .