Does the first impression matter in a social interaction? My experience as a communication coach is that it does matter quite a lot. The first impression creates certain expectations for a person about you and these expectations often act as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I believe that if you want an interaction with someone to go in the best way possible, then you want to make a good impression in those first minutes of interaction.
The first impression is created mostly by your look, your body-language and the style you use to start a conversation. These are the elements you want to work on, in order to make a good first impression.
Here are the most important things to keep in mind:
1. Dress to impress. The very first impression you create is through your look. Fortunately, you don’t have to look like a supermodel to impress. Clothes, accessories and grooming tend to be more relevant than your physical appearance.
Make sure you wear quality clothes that fit you well, make sure they match your physique and they create a harmonious look. Wear clothes and accessories that look stylish on you and make you stand out, and you’ll definitely catch peoples’ eyes.
2. Walk confidently. The way you approach a person says a lot about your emotional state. You want to exude confidence in yourself and send out a positive energy.
The first thing is to have a good posture: stand straight and walk straight. The second is to walk in a slow but determined manner. Take your time with each step and make each step without hesitation. This is how confident people walk.
3. Smile and make eye contact. A smile radiates positive energy and approaching a person with a smile on your face is a great way to make them feel good. This always turns in your favor.
Also, make sure you look at the other person when you’re talking to them and you make eye contact. People who avoid eye contact tend to come off as shy or dishonest, which doesn’t make much of a first impression.
4. Start a conversation in a smart way. If you want to make the best first impression, you don’t want to start a conversation in the same predictable way most people do. You want to use good conversation starters.
Ask an original question or make an interesting comment when you start a conversation. You’re bound to project positive traits and get the attention of the other person.
Put these ideas in practice and continuously improve your people skills, and you’ll see impressive results when you first interact with all sorts of people.
Why Liking Yourself Matters
Psychologists often say that liking yourself is one of the most important things in life. And it is true. But for many individuals, it isn’t really clear why this is so. And it’s very useful for them to get clear on this.
How Important Is a Good First Impression?
A lot of people wonder about the importance of the first impression. Understanding how much it really does matter is an excellent thing and can do wonders for your social success.
What Makes a Person Charismatic?
Charisma is a hard trait to pin down. As a result, it’s even harder to identify what makes a person charismatic. However, it is possible and it is the key to mastering charisma.
