How to Leave a Good First Impression
Making a first impression is very important in a variety of situations, including at work, during meetings and when being introduced to new family members or in-laws. The impression you make when you first meet somebody will stay with them forever – especially if it’s particularly good or bad. Let’s consider some of the different ways that you can leave a great first impression whenever you meet somebody.
Make eye contact and smile
This is a standard way to make anybody feel like you’re happy to meet them. People who quickly glance over at another person and say a quick hello will always be remembered as somebody who doesn’t have a lot of time for other people. Make eye contact and smile as an absolute minimum in any social or professional situation when meeting somebody.
Remember a person’s name
Another common problem when meeting people for the first time is forgetting their name. It’s easily forgivable if you’re in a situation where you’re meeting several people at once for the first time, but if you’re only meeting one person, it doesn’t look great if you can’t remember their name later in the conversation or the next time you meet them. It can be difficult since nerves can get in the way when meeting new people and you might be concentrating on smiling, good body language and maintaining eye contact, but try to make a mental note of their name for next time.
Show an interest in them
If you’re introduced to somebody and the conversation starts flowing between you, don’t forget to show an interest in them while also talking about yourself. Nobody likes a person who can’t stop talking about themselves and everything they have achieved, so don’t forget to bear in mind that you could be boring the recipient of your conversation. Ask about their interests, why they are there, what made them choose their career, how they are finding the party, and whether they are there alone or with others.
Show off your personality
This can be tricky in some circumstances, for example, if you are meeting a professional senior person or meeting somebody in a difficult situation, but don’t forget that you’re entitled to let your personality shine through. Whether this is making a joke or dropping in a couple of references to your interests and passions, you’re much more likely to leave a good impression this way.