Starting a new business, a career, seeking out investors, partners or just networking all require certain principles but one thing that they all have in common is making a good first impression.
When you meet someone for the first time, the first things they notice are your clothing, mannerism and general approach to the matter.
You might have a good plan or great skills, but not set in the hearts of your spectators, a good first impression, can foil your plans and disqualify you even before you are given a chance.
Here are 7 ways on how to make a good first impression;
1. Dress the part
Remember that aside from your face, this is the first thing they will be seeing. Your dressing should make a statement. It should say how ready you are to do business. Putting little or no effort into how you look might send the wrong message that you are not taking the matter seriously. Your clothes should also exude confidence.
2. Arrive on time
Tardiness is a turn-off for most professionals. You do not want to be late for your first meeting. If possible, you should be there waiting for your guest to arrive. It is better to have beaten the traffic and have to wait for others than to explain how traffic was hectic and you had to come late.
3. Work those smile muscles
The fact that you are there to talk serious business doesn’t mean you shouldn’t show a receptive and endearing side. That is what a smile does. It makes you approachable and relatable and this is the impression you want to give them.
Top Flexxzone Picks
- 10 Books Elon Musk Says Shaped His Life
- The Ultimate Quiz For The Young Entrepreneur
- The She-Boss: Identify The Name Of Her Company If You Can
4. Do you
Making a good impression is not adopting someone else’s character. They need to understand who you are and not a made-up version that will eventually disappear. While being yourself should not be an excuse for bad behaviour, you want to show these folks that you are unique and different.
5. Be in the room
Don’t go there badgering them with your ideas alone. Listen to what they have to say also. Be in the room and be attentive to their discussions. This will show them that you are also interested in them and not just what they can do for you.
6. Be polite
While you do not want to agree with everything they say, seeing that you have a voice of your own, you do not want to be rude, with a different perspective to things. Arguing does not have to result in hurtful remarks. Know when to stop and how to agree to disagree.
7. Be confident
Make sure you’ve rehearsed your topic of discussion before setting off to the meeting so that you do not sound like an amateur. Speak with confidence and believe what you say or else it will be hard to convince others to believe.
Have you ever met someone who you had a bad first impression of?
Leave a Reply