Everyone wants to know how to nail first impressions. Studies show that first impressions are formed within 3 seconds of meeting someone and most of a person’s opinion is determined by physical appearance.
Sounds shallow, but you can influence their perception by following these 10 tips:
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Dress for success.
Did you know that 55% of a person’s opinion is determined by physical appearance during a first impression.
You should dress to impress, keep it smart casual.
You want people to remember you not your clothes.
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Choose your words wisely.
10% of what we think of people is determined by the words they say. You want to come across as: informed, optimistic, confident, humble.
Try using words that align with those qualities.
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Strike the right tone.
38% of how we see people is determined by the tone of their voice. You want to come across as confident but not cocky, cool but not too available, calm but enthusiastic.
Find your natural tone.
Practice this so you can control how you are perceived.
Practice in front of a mirror to see yourself in action.
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Pay Attention to Your Body language.
93% of people's judgments of others are based on non-verbal input like body language.
Body language doesn’t lie.
Our body will position itself naturally along with how we’re feeling. Even if our words are different, it takes practice to get our body language down.
Next time you’re talking to someone in a social setting, pay attention to your body.
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Use someone's name often.
Personalizing marketing materials, or using someone’s name, increases the likelihood they’ll respond by 36%.
People like hearing their own name, it caters to their ego and will make them like you.
Next time you meet someone, get their name say it back to them during the conversation to help you remember their name and to make them feel singled out and special.
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Be on time.
Being on time is difficult, especially in a city like Los Angeles, where it’s carmageddon everyday, even so the Last thing you want to do is waste someone’s time.
“90% of success is showing up on time.”
Arrive early.
Spend a few minutes to feel cool, calm and collected and composed. This tactic also leaves time for getting lost or parking.
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Focus on the other person.
We love talking about ourselves… but this gets boring fast. Allow the other person to talk about themselves too and show genuine interest.
Eye contact,
A slight smile
Nod
Ask questions to make the other person feel understood, appreciated, and most importantly a good way to make a great first impression.
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Listen and never interrupt
Never interrupt it shows lack of self control and may be perceived as disrespectful.
Ask follow up questions; it will show you are engaged in the conversation and care about the subject matter.
9. Do your research
before going to an event or meeting people, whether it’s a networking mixer or job interview, you’ll be sure to leave a lasting impression if you sound well informed.
10. Relax and be yourself.
After practicing the aforementioned, make sure to also relax and have a calm energy without trying too hard. People can spot nervousness a mile away. It’s better to just chill and let some interactions have an organic element to them.
Conclusion:
These tips are great, but you also need to develop yourself and come from a positive self-sufficient frame of mind. For more confidence you’ll want to make sure you’re following through on exercise, nutrition, and positive habits. Life is a school, and will learn about yourself, including things you want to improve and refine about yourself.
