10 ways of making first impressions..

First Impressions – 10 ways of making first impressions the lasting impressions

First date, first job interview, first public appearance, first big social gathering, first meeting with your would-be in-laws or basically a first meeting with absolutely anybody would leave us in jitters in all kinds. Deciding your wardrobe seems like the hardest question ever, and you always wonder what could be the plausible topic of conversation you could pick up.
The problem doesn’t end with the end of the meeting; instead, it starts with the meeting. After you bid farewell, you begin to wonder what impression you managed to leave on the other person, if they liked you well or not, if they would form a positive opinion about you and such things.

As the popular saying goes, “First Impression is the Last Impression”, it is, indeed, the first impression that counts the most.
While there’s no legit proof that first impression accounts for everything, there is, however, some truth behind the fact that people form an image of you by the kind of first impression you leave on them. It’s fairly simple actually- you meet them for the first time, they meet you for the first time, they will believe what you show them and eventually that picture would settle in their mind.
How, then, can you paint a rosy picture, or in other words, create a fine first impression?

Be on time

The first and foremost effort that anybody needs to make to create a good impression, in general, is to be punctual and on time. We’ve gotten into a very bad habit of being “fashionably late” to every gathering, that too very conveniently. However, as fashionable as this may seem, this does not account for good etiquette at all.
A person who cannot be punctual and on time cannot be relied upon by anyone- this is precisely the kind of impression being late casts upon people.

So the first step is to always be on time. Just in case you are unable to show up on time, etiquettes demand that you inform that person about your delay, well in advance.

Be confident

Yes, I know preaching about confidence during first meetings is easier said than done. But this is an important requirement.

Projecting yourself as a confident person makes you appear to be a very self-assured person. Walking and talking confidently, confident gestures, confident body language makes the other person automatically more comfortable in talking to you.

Focus on others

When you talk to someone, be it for the first or for the fifteenth time, it is very importance to give them due attention and due importance. Talking about your-self all the time does not create a suitable impression. It makes you sound narcissistic and arrogant. Let’s not forget the pride that will come along!
Keep in mind that it is equally important to patiently listen to the view of other people and as a well-mannered person, you are supposed to wait for the other person to express their argument before you counter-argue.

Two key elements: Politeness and Smile

A polite behaviour leaves a very lasting, very fine impression on everyone you talk to. If you were feeling nervous about your job interview, would it not leave you relaxed if your interviewer was a cheerful, pleasant person with a smile on his face? It would automatically release your anxiety and would reduce the impending tension in the air.
When you talk with a smile on your place, it automatically makes your argument appear less negative (even if, in actuality, it is negative in content) and makes you seem open to different perspectives.

Moreover, it makes the other person feel more comfortable in your company. It is important to remember that if you are meeting a person for the first time, that person, too, is meeting you for the first time. You should also try to make the other person feel comfortable and calm.

Dress appropriately

To leave a good, long lasting impression on somebody, it is important to dress according to the occasion. Being over-dressed or under dressed is not generally acceptable. Too flashy attire is also a big no, too.

It has also been a well-established fact that when looking to impress people, it is important to foremost be comfortable with yourself, therefore, it is important to dress in what you would feel comfortable in.

Avoid too much perfume or cologne

This is an important point to remember, but this is also something we are most likely to forget.
Application of too much perfume or too much cologne makes you seem pretentious and self-insecure.

Avoid bragging about yourself

Modesty is a good skill to possess. Just as important it is to not brag about yourself, it is also appreciable to not defame anybody in the process of creating your fine impression.

Gather all relevant information before hand:

When you are going to an event of professionals, for a job interview or to a gathering where you seek to converse with and impress some specific personality, it is always a good idea to conduct due research on the relevant topic on which you could hold a prim and proper conversation, without getting your facts wrong!

Don’t stop complimenting

This is probably the oldest trick in the book. Never, and I mean never cease complimenting people, it will always make them happy, and will put you in their good books, definitely! However, it is important to maintain the very faint distinction that always exists between complimenting someone and buttering someone!

There are never a limited number of do’s and don’ts’s on how to create a first impression. Your list probably won’t even be halfway through, whereas this one has come to an end. It is always a good time to learn, especially from all the other people who converse with you. Observe their behaviour, and know what to adapt and what to avoid!

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