7 Things You Should Know to Make a Great Impression

http://persdevmadeeasy.com Get to know these seven tips you should be aware of to make a Superb First Impression

How Hugh Jackman Taught Me to Make a Lasting Impression

BY JEFF HADEN

A chance encounter on a New York City street offers a lesson in making the ideal first impression.

When you speak to another person, every moment is a key moment--so make sure to always act that way.

I was standing by myself between sessions at a huge conference in New York. (I'm pretty shy but with much practice I've mastered the ancient social art of Standing Alone While Appearing Confident and Secure.)

A very pleasant young lady strolled briskly over. "I'm Janice. You're Jeff, right?" she asked.

I admitted I was.

"Great!" she said. "Do you have a second? Bill Lumbergh would like to meet you." Bill (as fans of Office Space fans noticed, not his real name) was the CEO of the company holding the conference.

"Cool," I thought. I had no idea he knew I existed so the thought he wanted to meet me was flattering.

She ushered me into a small conference room. Bill sat at the end of the table, shuffling and signing papers.

"Bill," Jane said, "I'd like you to meet Jeff."

"Hi Bill," I said, walking forward to shake hands. Without looking up he waved his left hand towards a chair and said, "Be right with you."

As I angled towards the chair I glanced at Jane. She did the half-smile, slightly narrow eyes, gentle shoulder shrug nonverbal gesture that says, "I'm sorry, he's really busy but don't take it personally because deep down inside he's a good guy." In return I did the half-smile, slight head nod nonverbal gesture that says, "My guess is you have to apologize for him a lot so I feel for you, but you don't need to apologize because I know it's not your fault."

So I sat. Time passed while I contemplated the universe and my place within it. Finally he looked up. "We're glad you came to our humble little gathering," he said.

"It's my pleasure," I said. "This is a great event. I'm sure you're very proud."

We small-talked for a few minutes while I waited for him to get to the point. He had that distracted air of someone who wants to be somewhere else doing something else and I realized there might not be a point.

So I shifted forward in my seat and said, "Well, I'm sure you're really busy," to see if I was right.

"Thanks for understanding," he immediately said, half-standing to shake my hand. "Have a great time!"

Unfortunately I didn't have a great time, at least as not as great as I had been. I wasn't bothered by the fact he didn't seem interested in talking to me; after all, who am I? I was bothered by the fact he asked to talk to me... and then came across distracted and disinterested and glad to get rid of me.

"As the owner, you are your company" may be a cliché but it is no less true: After that I saw the conference--and his company and its products--in a different, less positive light.

Petty on my part? Maybe, but I couldn't help it.

Two days later I was cutting through Central Park on my way to meet a friend at his restaurant. As I exited the park I stopped for a second to decide if I had time to walk the rest of the way or I should take a cab.

A voice behind me said, "Lost?"

I turned and said, "I don't think so..." and then stopped.  Holy crap. Wolverine was standing in front of me.

He smiled, tilted his head, and raised his eyebrows in a nonverbal, "Need any help?"

I told him I was deciding whether to get a cab. He asked where I was from (my southern accent gave me away), what business brought me to New York (my briefcase providing a clue), and if my family was along for the trip (he noticed my wedding ring). He could not have been nicer. I didn't even get a chance to squeeze in a, "Loved you in..." compliment.

Finally he said, "Oh wait, I'm going to make you late. Where are you going?" I told him.

"Oh, that place is great!" he said. "Let's get you a taxi." He took a couple steps out onto Central Park West and raised his arm and flagged a cab. He opened the back door, shook my hand, said, "Great talking to you, mate," closed the door behind me and waved as I drove away.

In three minutes, Hugh Jackman turned me into a fan for life--but he didn't sell me. He didn't glad-hand me. He just gave me his full attention. He just acted as if, for those three minutes, I was the most important person in the world--even though he didn't know me and has certainly forgotten me.

Just like a CEO, as an entertainer he is his "company," and even though I'm sure it wasn't his intention, I now see his "products" in a different, more positive light.

Superficial on my part? Maybe, but I can't help it.

Sure, you may not be Wolverine but to your employees, you're a star. To your vendors, your suppliers, to people in your community who look up to you, you're a star. Act as if the next person you speak to is the most important person in the world and they won't be able to help thinking about you, your company, your products in a different, more positive light.

Just make sure it's not an act. Don't be manipulative or false. Be genuine, be sincere, be yourself--just make sure you are the best version of yourself you can possibly be.

Because that is the "you" that other people deserve--and will see as a star.

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/hugh-jackman-hails-me-a-cab.html

How to Charm a Complete Stranger

These techniques worked for an FBI agent charged with building rapport with spies and criminals, so surely they'll work on your customers and co-workers.

Vivian Chen/Flick

We all know the feeling: you want to meet someone -- maybe it’s that pretty person across the party, maybe it’s that big-time player in your industry -- but actually going up to him or her and moving from total stranger to warm connection just seems so stressful and awkward. As a result you sit on on the sidelines and let opportunity pass you by.  

Wouldn’t it be great if you could unlock the mysteries of charm and learn the secrets of building rapport so starting a relationship wouldn’t be so daunting?

That’s just what Robin Dreeke claims to be able to teach. A 15-year veteran of the FBI, Dreeke’s speciality was building relationships (often with rather unsavoury characters) and getting them to open up to him. In short, the federal government paid him to make fast friends with spies and criminals. Now he writes books sharing what he learned so you can connect not with villains, but with sales prospects, job candidates and perhaps even potential dates.

So what are his top rapport building-secrets? Consistently fascinating blog Farnam Street recently rounded them up, offering the top ten takeaways from Dreeke's book It’s Not All About Me. Some, like smiling, you’re probably doing already. Others are ninja-level charm techniques, such as:

Establishing Artificial Time Constraints. I suspect you’ve sat in a bar at one point or another and been approached by a stranger who tried to start a conversation. My guess is you felt awkward or possibly even uncomfortable. This is because you didn’t know when or if the conversation would end. "The first step in the process of developing great rapport and having great conversations is letting the other person know that there is an end in sight, and it is really close."

Ego Suspension. This may be the most rewarding and most difficult of all of Robin’s techniques. "Suspending your ego is nothing more complex than putting other individuals’ wants, needs, and perceptions of reality ahead of your own. Most times, when two individuals engage in a conversation, each patiently waits for the other person to be done with whatever story he or she is telling. Then, the other person tells his or her own story, usually on a related topic and often times in an attempt to have a better and more interesting story. Individuals practicing good ego suspension would continue to encourage the other individual to talk about his or her story, neglecting their own need to share what they think is a great story."
Ask … How? When? Why? It’s hard to answer these questions with a simple yes or no. "Once the individual being targeted in the conversation supplies more words and thought, a great conversationalist will utilize the content given and continue to ask open ended questions about the same content. The entire time, the individual being targeted is the one supplying the content of the conversation." This means suppressing your ego and listening to what people are saying. You’re not thinking about what you’re going to say next. You’re not thinking about how the person is wrong.

http://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/how-to-charm-a-stranger.html?nav=featured

How to Make a Good First Impression. Everything Counts!

When you first meet someone, he or she makes a judgment about you in about 4 seconds. This judgment is finalized within 30 seconds of the initial contact.

Suppose your self-image is one of radiant success. Furthermore, suppose you hold this image in your mind’s eye about yourself without one shred of doubt.

And suppose you “dress for success” as well. Suppose you “look like a million dollars!”

If this is the case, you have everything going for you. Your first impression will be a big success!

Enjoy the video from Brian Tracy and find out secrets how to make first impression....

14 Sweet Ways to Make a Good First Impression

Although first impressions can be totally deceiving, almost everyone judges you based on that first impression. This means you entire future relationship with anyone can depend on it (and often that first impression is just a few seconds).

Here are some great ways to make a good first impression:

Be Well-Groomed

Not everyone will admit it but most people allow someone's physical appearance to make a contribution to their first impression of that person. Sloppy personal hygiene can indicate lack of interest. The deduction (but not always the truth) from this is that if someone does not pay attention to their own body, why would they pay attention to you or their role towards you.

Dress Neatly

Some people are millionaires but dress in shorts and an old t-shirt because they don't care and it's comfortable. However, if you are dressed neatly or stylishly, you will often make a good impression on someone, A suit and tie are not necessary, as long as your clothes look good and match the occasion.

Be On Time

Being on time is very important for a first impression. If you have an appointment, a meeting or a date, it is always better to be 5 minutes early and have to wait than to be too late. Being on time shows that you have integrity and do as you promise and that you respect the other person's time. Like I said, very important!

Good Manners

Good manners go a long way in contributing to a good first impression. A good introduction, holding the door open for someone, being the last to sit and speaking with two words (yes Sir or yes Mam) are examples of good etiquette.

Be Polite

Being polite kind of falls in the same category as having good manners. Don't interrupt people while they are talking, ask them how they are doing, be polite to the people around that person who you are making a first impression on etc.

Be Authentic

You can usually tell the difference between someone who is fake and someone who is authentic within minutes of talking to them. People who are fake and who say and do things only to impress others are not liked by many. Strive to let all your actions and words be authentic. Mean what you say and do something because you believe in it and want to do it.

Smile

A smile goes a long way and is sometimes enough to brighten someone's entire day. Seeing someone smile often makes me want to smile and this is a great effect to have on other people. If you can make someone smile and laugh from the moment you meet them, you can count on it that you made a good first impression on them.

Give a Genuine Compliment

Try to notice something about someone that really stands out and give them a genuine compliment for it. Flattery always works, especially when it comes from the heart and you mean what you say.

Help Someone

Showing that you care about others and don't only think about yourself will definitely help you make a good first impression. It doesn't mean that you have to go out of your way to try to make that good impression. If someone happens to cross paths with you that could use some help and it won't cost you much, then help them out.

Take Initiative

People like people who take initiative. People who take initiative are often known as leaders, because they do not wait for other people to tell them what to do and when to do it. Leaders are respected, they make decisions and they take initiative.

Take Interest In The Other Person

Don't try to talk about yourself too much. Rather, take interest in the other person. Who are they, what are they all about? Get them to talk about themselves, most people love this. People want to feel important. The more personal stories you can get them to tell, the more likely it is that they will be impressed.

Be Humble

Even if you are very successful, have a lot of money or are really famous, try not to use it as a way to impress people. Someone will be a lot more impressed if they know these things about you but that you did not try to flaunt it in their face.

Body Language

90% of communication is non-verbal. This is exactly why it is so important to have correct body language. Here are a few tips:

-Sit up straight (don't slouch)
-Walk erect (shoulders back)
-Maintain Eye Contact (don't look away all the time)
-Relaxed (not fidgety or nervous)
-Confident Actions (do everything with intent and purpose)

Have Fun
This is probably one of the more important things to make a good first impression. Have fun with whatever you do and be positive. This conveys that you are not doing anything to make an impression, you are not there to take value from the other person. Instead you give value and your spread your positivity and enthusiasm.

http://EzineArticles.com/3972225      Pictures are courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Digital First Impressions: You Only Get One

It’s a fact that the world has dramatically changed, so whether you like it or not, your digital presence is out there and people can find your footprints.

Unless you’ve been living in some remote Amazonian backwater for the last 20 years there will be something hiding out there about you on the web. The reality is that we have all moved into the digital age and have accepted the internet as a way of life for communication. Information now travels instantly, network connections are made every day and first impressions are made without our knowledge.

It’s been said that you have 10 seconds to make a good impression, which is especially relevant if you are a user of any of the social media channels. Even if you don’t share all of your personal life online there still is a good chance that certain elements of your life can be traced. In simple terms this means that you either have to tighten up your privacy settings or behave yourself.

Privacy is limited

Just recently in the UK, a teenager was appointed as Britain’s first Youth and Crime Commissioner by Kent Police. Within a short, time the news of Paris Brown's position hit the headlines, but for all the wrong reasons. Tweets that she had sent from as young as 14 were plastered over the front pages of a National Newspaper. It was claimed that her past comments on Twitter were racist, homophobic and contained drug references. Kent Police then announced that they were investigating whether her comments amounted to a criminal offence.

When Kent Police recruited Paris to the role she was described as "an extraordinary young person with exceptional skills and a proven track record with working with young people." The initial first impressions were then destroyed by these past comments which came to published and cause a media storm for the Kent Police department.

A recent survey by jobvite.com they showed that 86% of potential employers may search and look into your social profiles history. This is something that Kent Police didn't take into consideration where they employed Miss Brown saying: "We used Kent Police's vetting procedures, which do not normally involve scrutiny of social networks for this grade of post."

First impressions count

Whether you are an individual or a large brand we all understand the need to create a good first impression. But as Miss Paris Brown found out the hard way, is what goes on the web, stays on the web for all to see. The safest way is to assume that everything you write online is public and could potentially come back to haunt you when you least expect it.

Many articles have been written about presenting yourself or your brand in the right light. This could be the use of professional looking profile photo or catchy logos or headers, but this is just creating an impression at a basic level. Of course, it’s important to get this part of your branding right, but the fact is that impressions on social media channels go a lot deeper than a happy smiley face in your profile box or a visual masterpiece of a logo.

Get the little things right

People search and find you, they take a look at you and think, ‘you look OK’, so let’s go further. Do they see that you are active on your pages? Do you share content that is inspiring, useful or valuable? If you don’t wow them at this point, they leave, and never to come back. They could have found boring content or endless quotes. They may have found the same old ‘funny’ cat pictures as everyone else or endless spammy sales messages. Even worse: have they spotted some potentially offensive updates?

When someone lands on your social feeds, their opinion about you will be made at that very moment. If you fail to make a good impression at this point, then you may have lost them forever. After all, there are plenty of other people out there that are worth finding out about, connecting with and forming a relationship. As an individual you may not care, but years down the line it could come back to bite you when a future employer makes a decision about you based on your past social comments.

From a business or brand point of view, how much passing traffic can you afford to lose because of the way you look? Gaining trust and loyalty from our networks and connections is the goal of every business. You may not like the fact that you are being judged, but it's a reality that has to be accepted in today's world.

In the real world you rarely get a second chance to make a good impression and it’s highly likely that in the world of social media, you probably won’t either.

http://socialmediatoday.com/asnood/1358026/social-media-first-impressions

Research discovers why first impressions are so persistent

New research by a team of psychologists from Canada, Belgium, and the United States shows there is more than a literal truth to the saying that 'you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The findings suggest that new experiences that contradict a first impression become‘bound’ to the context in which they were made.

As a result, the new experiences influence people’s reactions only in that particular context, whereas first impressions still dominate in other contexts. “Imagine you have a new colleague at work and your impression of that person is not very favourable” explains lead author Bertram Gawronski, Canada Research Chair at The University of Western Ontario. “A few weeks later, you meet your colleague at a party and you realize he is actually a very nice guy.

Although you know your first impression was wrong, your gut response to your new colleague will be influenced by your new experience only in contexts that are similar to the party. However, your first impression will still dominate in all other contexts.” According to Gawronski, our brain stores expectancy-violating experiences as exceptions-to-the-rule, such that the rule is treated as valid except for the specific context in which it has been violated.

To investigate the persistence of first impressions, Gawronski and his collaborators showed their study participants either positive or negative information about an unknown individual on a computer screen.

Later in the study, participants were presented with new information about the same individual, which was inconsistent with the initial information. To study the influence of contexts, the researchers subtly changed the background color of the computer screen while participants formed an impression of the target person.

When the researchers subsequently measured participants’ spontaneous reactions to an image of the target person, they found the new information influenced participants’ reactions only when the person was presented against the background in which the new information had been learned.

Otherwise, participants’ reactions were still dominated by the first information when the target person was presented against other backgrounds. Although these results support the common observation that first impressions are notoriously persistent, Gawronski notes they can sometimes be changed. “What is necessary is for the first impression to be challenged in multiple different contexts.

In that case, new experiences become decontextualized and the first impression will slowly lose its power. But, as long as a first impression is challenged only within the same context, you can do whatever you want.

The first impression will dominate regardless of how often it is contradicted by new experiences.” According to Gawronski, the research also has important implications for the treatment of clinical disorders. “If someone with phobic reactions to spiders is seeking help from a psychologist, the therapy will be much more successful if it occurs in multiple different contexts rather than just in the psychologist’s office.”

The research, co-authored with Robert Rydell, Bram Vervliet, and Jan De Houwer, is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

http://communications.uwo.ca/com/western_news/stories/research_discovers_why_first_impressions_are_so_persistent_20110118447278/

How to make a great first Impression

7 Seconds to Sell Yourself

Six Wrong Ways to Make a Right First Impression

Making a Great First Impression

Getting off to a Good Start

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With every new encounter, you are evaluated and yet another person's impression of you is formed. These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making those first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for all the relationships that follows.It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed.

So, whether they are in your career or social life, it's important to know how to create a good first impression. This article provides some useful tips to help you do this.

Be on Time

Someone you are meeting for the first time is not interested in your "good excuse" for running late. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. And allow flexibility for possible delays in traffic or taking a wrong turn. Arriving early is much better that arriving late, hands down, and is the first step in creating a great first impression.

Be Yourself, Be at Ease

If you are feeling uncomfortable and on edge, this can make the other person ill at ease and that's a sure way to create the wrong impression. If you are calm and confident, so the other person will feel more at ease, and so have a solid foundation for making that first impression a good one. See our section on relaxation techniques to find out how to calm that adrenaline!

Present Yourself Appropriately

Of course physical appearance matters. The person you are meeting for the first time does not know you and your appearance is usually the first clue he or she has to go on.

But it certainly does not mean you need to look like a model to create a strong and positive first impression. (Unless you are interviewing with your local model agency, of course!)

No. The key to a good impression is to present yourself appropriately.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and so the "picture" you first present says much about you to the person you are meeting. Is your appearance saying the right things to help create the right first impression?

Start with the way you dress. What is the appropriate dress for the meeting or occasion? In a business setting, what is the appropriate business attire? Suit, blazer, casual? And ask yourself what the person you'll be meeting is likely to wear – if your contact is in advertising or the music industry, a pinstripe business suit may not strike the right note!

For business and social meetings, appropriate dress also varies between countries and cultures, so it's something that you should pay particular attention to when in an unfamiliar setting or country. Make sure you know the traditions and norms.

And what about your grooming? Clean and tidy appearance is appropriate for most business and social occasions. A good haircut or shave. Clean and tidy clothes. Neat and tidy make up. Make sure your grooming is appropriate and helps make you feel "the part".

Appropriate dressing and grooming help make a good first impression and also help you feel "the part," and so feel more calm and confident. Add all of this up and you are well on your way to creating a good first impression.

A Word About Individuality

The good news is you can usually create a good impression without total conformity or losing your individuality. Yes, to make a good first impression you do need to "fit in" to some degree. But it all goes back to being appropriate for the situation. If in a business setting, wear appropriate business attire. If at a formal evening social event, wear appropriate evening attire. And express your individuality appropriately within that context.

A Winning Smile!

As the saying goes, "Smile and the world smiles too." So there's nothing like a smile to create a good first impression. A warm and confident smile will put both you and the other person at ease. So smiling is a winner when it comes to great first impressions. But don't go overboard with this – people who take this too far can seem insincere and smarmy, or can be seen to be "lightweights".

Be Open and Confident

When it comes to making the first impression, body language as well as appearance speaks much louder than words.

Use your body language to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall, smile (of course), make eye contact, greet with a firm handshake. All of this will help you project confidence and encourage both you and the other person to feel better at ease.

Almost everyone gets a little nervous when meeting someone for the first time, which can lead to nervous habits or sweaty palms. By being aware of your nervous habits, you can try to keep them in check. And controlling a nervous jitter or a nervous laugh will give you confidence and help the other person feel at ease. Again, see our section on relaxation techniques for help with this.

Small Talk Goes a Long Way

Conversations are based on verbal give and take. It may help you to prepare questions you have for the person you are meeting for the first time beforehand. Or, take a few minutes to learn something about the person you meet for the first time before you get together. For instance, does he play golf? Does she work with a local charitable foundation?

Is there anything that you know of that you have in common with the person you are meeting? If so, this can be a great way to open the conversation and to keep it flowing.

Be Positive

Your attitude shows through in everything you do. Project a positive attitude, even in the face of criticism or in the case of nervousness. Strive to learn from your meeting and to contribute appropriately, maintaining an upbeat manner and a smile.

Be Courteous and Attentive

It goes without saying that good manners and polite, attentive and courteous behavior help make a good first impression. In fact, anything less can ruin the one chance you have at making that first impression. So be on your best behavior!

One modern manner worth mentioning is "turn off your mobile phone." What first impression will you create if you are already speaking to someone other than the person you are meeting for the first time? Your new acquaintance deserves 100 percent of your attention. Anything less and you'll create a less than good first impression.

http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/FirstImpressions.htm

Key Points

You have just a few seconds to make a good first impression and it's almost impossible ever to change it. So it's worth giving each new encounter your best shot.

Much of what you need to do to make a good impression is common sense. But with a little extra thought and preparation, you can hone your intuitive style and make every first impression not just good but great.