We never get the second chance to make a good first impression! Here is a guide on how to create that great first impression.

According to a 2016 study, in less than one-tenth of a second (100 milliseconds) of seeing someone’s face for the first time, our brain makes quick conclusions about that person’s qualities, competencies, friendliness, morality, and honesty.

Although conclusions about you may sometimes be inaccurate and misleading at such an early stage, unfortunately, that brief encounter is 100 percent of what the other person knows about you.

So, here are some tips on how to make that great first impression;

1.  Sleep well at night

For me, this is an essential first step to creating that great first impression that you so desire.

As proven in several studies, losing sleep can make you look unhealthy, depressed, unconfident, and unattractive.

Depriving yourself of a good night’s sleep for whatever reason could reflect on your physical appearance.

You may develop pale skin and shadows under your eyes, both of which could make you look sick.  

For this reason, and other health-related reasons, it is essential to get 7-9 hours of sleep, at night, especially if you have an important meeting the next day. 

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2. Prepare ahead of time

Before meeting with someone for the first time, it is important to visualize how you wish for the meeting to go.

Be clear on what you wish to learn from the other person and what you want them to learn from you.

There is a need to be adequately prepared for a potential meeting as this reduces your anxiety (for meetings of high importance).

Preparing ahead of time gives you an edge over your competition (if any), making you come off as diligent, knowledgeable, and competent.

For example, if it is a meeting with a new client, you may need to research and study the needs of the client, to enable you to tailor your conversation with them accordingly.

So, learn as much as you can about the other person.

3. Find a common interest

Finding similar interests between you and the other person is a great way to develop rapport. And a good rapport with someone you are meeting for the first time is relevant for a good first impression.

Try to find a common interest that you both share, as this creates a connection between both parties.

Understand that the commonality shared does not have to be profound.

A shared interest could be as mild as figuring out that you both grew up in the same community, read the same books, or simply have a favorite mentor that you both follow passionately.

To find a common interest that you share with the other person, you may need to do some background research, especially if it is a meeting that you had to prepare for.

In this digital age, it is easy to go online, social media especially, and find some personal and valuable information about the other person.

You may be able to find some common interests which you both share.

4. Be an active listener

As humans, we have a variety of emotions. We also have an innate desire to be valued and appreciated.

In a research conducted by Harvard Neuroscientist Diana Tamir and Harvard colleague Jason Mitchell, it was discovered that talking about ourselves gives our brain the same pleasure as money or food.

According to an article on The Wall Street Journal, people are willing to forgo money to talk about themselves.

So, rather than talking about yourself, make a deliberate effort to appear interested in all that the other person has to say about themselves.

According to social psychologist, Amy Cuddy, one of the great ways to gain the confidence of others is by allowing them to do the talking.

In the book First Impression: What You Don’t Know About How Others See You, 4 emotional elements were identified to be at play when interacting with someone;

• How you feel about yourself
• How you feel about the other person
• How the other person feels about you
• How the other person feels about his/herself

The fourth element was considered by the authors Emma Ray and Valerie White to be the most important.

Be sure to listen as they share things about themselves. Because actively listening may be all you need to have a great conversation and make a great first impression.

By giving the other person your undivided attention and encouraging them to talk about themselves, you become memorable in their minds, even though you only shared little information about yourself.

5. Look your best

A study conducted by psychologists at the University of Texas at Austin and the Sonoma State University shows that physical appearance matters a lot when seeing someone for the first time.

As the popular saying goes, “dress the way you will like to be addressed.”

For many people, your appearance may be all that is needed to give a conclusive opinion about you.

People make a quick judgment about you merely by looking at you, even when none of these things have anything to do with your level of intelligence, your talent, or how good you are.

When you fail to look your best, you are likely not to be taken seriously.

Be sure to consider the occasion of the meeting before choosing your outfit.  You don’t want to wear sneakers and sweatshirts to a job interview in an organization that puts a premium on suits and ties.

Looking your best also applies to online meetings.

When preparing for that zoom meeting, it is equally important to give good attention to your looks.

Get your cloth well ironed, comb your hair, get a clean shave, and try to look your very best.

Looking your best does not require you to have some fancy clothes. Just be well dressed enough to let the other person know that you take pride in your appearance.

It is also essential to know that looking good isn’t just about your physical looks; it’s also about your mood, your house, or your car, etc.

According to Forbes, it is best to avoid meeting with someone for the first time when you are depressed or anxious as it may become evident in your body language, facial expression, and comments.

When you are in a bad mood is low, you are unlikely to be your best self.

6. Be engaging

According to Maria Avgitidis on WikiHow, being engaging involves greeting appropriately, smiling, communicating with your body language, actively listening, and keeping the other person interested.

Instead of trying to impress with your vast knowledge, you should focus on creating a memorable and engaging conversation with the other person.

Remember that people enjoy talking about themselves, so ensure that your questions are open-minded and focused on the other person.

As Dorie Clark, the author of Reinventing You, rightly stated that “the better you make the other person feel, the more they will be inclined to have a positive impression of you.”

Conclusion

When meeting someone for the first time, try to be the person that others remember for good.

This involves being on your best behavior and being cautious of the thing you do or say.

Apply the tips given above, and you will be well-positioned to make that good first impression.

Opinion

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