Some believe in the “First impression is the last impression.” However, many thoroughly oppose it by believing in “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Both may be right based on their experiences. But, I’ll go with the earlier statement because first impressions do have a long-lasting impact on minds than otherwise. This is the reason why human nature persists in how to make a great first impression.
WHY IS A FIRST IMPRESSION IMPORTANT
No matter how strongly we negate the idea of not making a snap judgment about someone. But, we are always doing so. The shopkeepers go for psychological pricing strategies based on what their customers look like. Consider experimenting with a market to get this clear in your head. Dress up nicely one-day o shop in the same market. The seller will consider you rich and you will get high prices for the same thing you would buy wearing some average outfit.
The same happens everywhere in life. We, in our personal lives, make friends with polite people, have attractive body language, speak politely, show friendly gestures, etc. Or imagine walking in an interview wearing your tracksuit. Sound weird, Right? That is why we are always thinking about showing our best self to anyone we are meeting for the first time. So, I believe that negating this ideology is like lying to yourself. Because getting to know someone comes later but the first impressions give us a quick idea about the other.
HOW TO MAKE A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION
If a first impression is so important, so you must know how to make a great first impression. Here are some basic tips that you need to work on to make yourself better.
DRESS NICELY
Choose your outfit nicely when you expect to meet someone. Walking in a job interview, going on a date, meeting your clients, or going for an official meeting, you need to dress up properly. It is not about being fashionable or wearing stylish clothes, rather it is about looking decent to impress someone. Shabby clothes, worn-out shoes, mismatched socks, a three-piece dress at a casual beach party, or a pair of shorts and slippers at a business meeting is big NOs.
So, make sure that you dress up according to the formality of the event. You do not need to purchase expensive clothes but uplift the outfits that you already have. Add some accessories to add more impact. Keep your dress tidy and clean.
KEEP YOUR BODY LANGUAGE RIGHT
When meeting someone, standing up and doing a handshake is important. But there is more to add to your body language. Your body language should show signs of confidence. Keep your shoulders high and straight. Do not fidget.
Body language shows behaviour. Therefore, make sure that your posture or habits do not expose negative things about your behaviour.
Always make eye contact with the person you are talking to so they know that you are interested to talk. Do not touch your face a lot because that might show dishonesty. Respect someone’s bubble so keep a distance with the people. Use hand gestures and nods while talking so you do not look like a robot.
WATCH YOUR TONE
After your general appearance, what people focus the most is how you talk. Your speech includes your volume, pitch, tone, talking style, and choice of words. Speaks to others in a volume and tone in which you expect others to talk to you.
Speak in a volume that is neither too high nor too low. The other person should easily understand your words. Do not speak too fast nor speak too slowly to make the other person feel bored. Avoid adding fillers like um, hmm, etc. to avoid looking unconfident. Try to keep your tone light so you sound polite.
CHOOSE YOUR WORDS
Use words that are positive and make you and the listener comfortable to talk to. Use your words carefully not to harm someone’s sentiments. Never use a language that is difficult to understand. So, keep your words easy and simple so your audience could feel you.
This way you can be more likeable instead of looking like someone who flaunts his vocabulary in front of others.
LOOK INTERESTED
Never give impression to the other person that you are not interested in talking to them. If you are going somewhere, look interested. This is a crucial tip on how to make a great first impression. If in first meeting, you look like you really mean to talk, the other person will keep you in good books.
When you meet someone, lean in close to hear properly. Nod, hand gestures, and smile, are key components of a good conversation. Keep your phone away and stop doing anything that you are busy with. It makes you look interested in talking to someone.So they get more open with you.
