How to Make a Lasting First Impression

You’ve been hearing it ever since you can remember: you never get a second time to make a first impression. Having a positive impact on someone at first sight is the key towards personal and professional evolution. However, you shouldn’t let yourself be intimidated by this concept every time you have to meet someone new. Learn to control your emotions and follow some simple rules that can help you build a lasting positive image among your friends and co-workers, right from your first meeting.

Being Yourself is The Best Attitude

Think about the words of Steve Jobs’ “our time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” Focus on being yourself. By keeping things natural, you’ll have a much higher chance of being trusted by people around you. No one likes someone pretending to be somebody else, so don’t be afraid to show who you really are, as long as you’re polite and respect social standards of course.

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Pay Attention to Details

Holding your shoulders high, giving a firm handshake and maintaining eye contact are all very important indicators of a person’s self-confidence and likeability. So is smiling, so remember to smile when you can (and where it’s appropriate) no matter how stressed you feel.

Physical details, such as healthy teeth and good shoes can also make a difference when you’re looking for positive reactions, so be aware of your personal grooming. Also if you’re in a meeting, turn off your phone. Looking too busy can ruin what could be a promising start.

If you’re meeting someone outside the office, use a wallet or money clip, to keep things ordered in your pockets. You don’t want to be remembered as the disorganized person with tickets and bills flying out of their pockets.

Try to Remember Names

There’s nothing more embarrassing than forgetting someone’s name while talking, so a skilled sociable person would steer a conversation to avoid a moment like this. However, if you want to make a lasting first impression, make an effort to learn the names of the people speaking. It shows that you’re listening and that you’re paying attention.

Remembering names is easy once you know some simple tricks. Use the “3 times rule”, which involves saying the name out loud three times. Do it naturally, when you shake hands, during conversation, or when you place the person’s card in your business card holder, or as you say goodbye.

Do More Listening Than Talking

Plenty of people think that the best way to make good impression is by saying witty things and leading the conversation. However, listening to what the other person has to say before launching into your speech can be proof of wisdom. With a little practice, you’ll be able to better understand the message in a conversation and develop new skills in working with people. You’ll always know the right words to say, the best voice tone to use and the correct gift to offer. Everybody likes a good listener, while many tend to avoid people who talk too much.