Making Good First Impressions
Posted Sep 20, 2019 09:46 AM
People always say that the first impression is the most important, and they're right. The first time you meet someone, you create your first frame of reference for that person. You begin to size them up, even subconsciously, and work them out from the few details and factoids you've picked up.For example, you arrange to meet someone for a business deal or potential investment. You're understandably nervous so you make sure you're dressed smart, you're clean and you smell good, because you want to come across well. But the person you're meeting hasn't thought the same way. They have unkempt hair, scruffy clothes, a sweaty handshake and bad breath. Instantly, your confidence in this person has plummeted, despite the fact they could be an absolute genius with the world's greatest money making ideas, because if they can't take good care of themselves, how can they take good care of business? You may meet this person again one day, looking smart and smelling good, but it's extremely likely in your mind that your mental image of them is forever tarnished by that first meeting and how they came across.
It's simple, and it's obvious, but the way the world now works means that everything is at a faster pace, and we don't always get the full time to prepare that we would like. I always strive to be and appear the best I can be when meeting someone for the first time, regardless of the situation or how little I may actually want to meet them, for the above reasons. However, there's been many times that I've been in a huge rush, met someone completely by chance, or been involved in some kind of situation that has knocked my confidence or made me appear not at my best, and I've had to meet someone for the first time. The pressure to make that good impression can be immense in those moments, but it's also when it's most important. Ensuring your hands are clean and dry when you meet someone is very important, nobody wants to shake or grasp a sweaty, dirty hand. Carrying a handkerchief if you're not going to be near a wash basin would be useful, to help dry those nervous and shaky palms. Having a small tester bottle or travel bottle of aftershave/perfume on you can be just what's needed to make you smell better, or to leave a pleasant and lingering scent that will always be associated with you. Sometimes even just having a comb on you to make your hair look more presentable can be the difference between looking like a rushed and unreliable mess, or a calm and put together person.
It's not fair when you think about it, but, as I said, it's how the world works. You want to be yourself, you want to feel comfortable, but sometimes we have to go out of our way to look as presentable as possible even if it means some level of discomfort, to ensure that we can make strong and lasting impressions that will benefit ourselves in the long run. Those moments of pressure, that social anxiety, and the seemingly unnecessary preening can be a lot at first, but knowing you've left a good impression on someone in the first few moments of meeting them is so much better than thinking or outright knowing that you've come across unprofessional or ill prepared. We don't have to go so far as to bring bottles of wine or cheeseboards everywhere we go to ingratiate ourselves to people, but it's certainly something to consider every time you go somewhere new or are to meet someone or anyone for the first time. It's something I still have to work on, as I get absentminded and so preoccupied with projects that I can neglect myself and my appearance, but investing that time and effort into it is worth its weight in gold.
So keep those above points in mind, and focus on being the best you that you can be when meeting someone for the first time. Practice your smile in the mirror, your opening remarks, how you would go to shake a hand, and you'll never have to worry about making a bad first impression again.
