First impressions can make or break you. Now, you might be thinking, why does it matter what other people think of you? In some cases, like when you’re dancing at a party, you can go wild and not worry about the impression you’re making. But, say, for example, you’re at a job interview. Here, first impressions would matter, wouldn’t you agree?
So, how do you make a good impression? Yes, there’s smiling, making eye contact and all that, but what else can you do? Well, you’ll be surprised to know that the answers actually lie in psychology. In this article, we’ll give you some psychological tricks to help you make the best first impression possible!
Why are First Impressions Important?
Before we dive into the tips on how to make a good impression, let’s check why they’re so important in the first place. Well, for one, first impressions last. When you meet someone who makes a good impression on you, you’ll often associate them with that moment. This is why they’re so essential, especially in the business world.
They’ll also help you start on a positive note with people. First impressions develop a good opinion about you in the minds of others. In a business context, you might only have one opportunity to beat the competition. Making a good impression on a potential employer is a great way of giving yourself a competitive edge over others.
How to Set Good First Impressions Every Time
From the start, as soon as people lay eyes on you, they start forming an opinion about you. So, we want to start making a good impression by looking at every aspect of what others look for. Here are some tips on how to make good impressions:
Body Language Says it All
Here’s a situation that might be relatable. Have you ever seen a couple who’ve clearly just been in a fight? Their body language will say it all! Now, this is a pretty obvious example, but the same principle applies in every situation. When you’re meeting people for the first time, your body language will send them the message of being interested or uninterested.
Something as small as slouching when you meet a person for the first time can show them that you’re too chilled, laid back, and not overly interested in putting effort into the conversation.
Standing up straight and positioning yourself towards the person you’re talking to is a great way to show them that you’re fully invested in the conversation. So, pull your stomach in, put your chest out, put your shoulders back, and focus on the person you’re talking to.
Smile!
We touched on this already, but a welcoming smile can make a huge difference in a person’s opinion of you. Having a warm smile can make others feel welcome when talking to you. It’s also a great way to brighten up someone else’s day. If you want to take it up a notch, you can visit a dental professional, like this expert dentist in Vancouver WA, a few days before your meetup to get your teeth whitened.
Maintain Eye Contact
Keeping good eye contact when you’re talking to people ensures that you’re paying attention to what they say. By maintaining eye contact, we don’t mean you have to engage in an intense staring competition, though. You just need to show them that you’re invested in the conversation. Here’s how we’d say you should do it:
- Give them a solid handshake and look them in the eye
- Keep eye contact while you speak
- Mention their name
- Don’t talk too much about yourself
- Pay attention to your body language
Learn to Show Empathy
We know that showing empathy doesn’t come naturally to everyone. But thankfully, it’s like a muscle that can be strengthened, so you can learn to do it.
Showing empathy let’s the person you’re talking to know that you care about their situation and that you’re not simply entertaining the conversation to save face. Here’s how you can show empathy well to others if it doesn’t come easily to you:
- Listen intently to what they’re saying
- Listen to understand, not respond
- Avoid passing judgment or trying to solve their problems
- Put yourself in their shoes
Posture Yourself in a Similar Way to Them
This one might surprise you, but mirroring the body language of the person you’re talking to also adds to making a good impression. In fact, it’ll most likely make them feel more comfortable. Usually, we subconsciously copy the body language of the people around us. It just happens. But doing it on purpose can also help the process. Avoid making it obvious, though.
Always Remember Their Name
This is the golden rule of making a first impression! When you meet someone, make a mental note of their name and use it throughout the conversation. This will show them that you’re making an effort with them, and it’ll help you remember their name when you see them again in the future.
Remembering names also makes people feel like they’re valued the second time around. These day, not may people make the conscious effort to remember names, so, when you do it, the people you’re talking to feel special.
Learn What Makes People Tick
Finally, we suggest you learn how people tick. Take a psychology course—it doesn’t have to be a full degree; it can be a graduate diploma psychology course or even a certificate. This will equip you with the knowledge and skills to deal with people from different walks of life and help you make good first impressions of them.
Final Thoughts
First impressions can make or break a relationship. People start forming an opinion of you as soon as they see you, so its important to try do everything you can to make a good impression from the start as this is where it counts!