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Thanks to Rene Siegel of High Tech Connect for providing such great raw material for this post.
We all know that we never have a second chance to make a first impression. And we have all probably tried to fight our way back after doing a bad job during a first meeting. It’s not fun, and it doesn’t always work. Trust me. I know.
So what do you need to know to make a great first impression?
As a writer, I’m pained to acknowledge that only 7% of what you say affects how people initially perceive you. They’re much more interested in how you say what you say. They glom onto your body movement, facial expression, and the placement of your arms. That stuff accounts for 55% of your impact. Your tone of voice, modulation, pauses, and so on account for the remaining 38%.
Rene counsels you to ask yourself (her words):
- Are you smiling with eye contact?
- Standing up straight?
- Wearing a colorful shirt that plays up your natural features?
- Keeping it classy?
That covers what people see. But how do they feel? Does your energy level and tone attract them? Are you positioned properly in relation to them? This second question is particularly interesting, because it speaks to proxemics, the study of how people and animals use space as a “specialized elaboration of culture.” Be careful of how close you stand when first meeting someone. As Rene observes, “no one likes a creeper.” (At least Americans typically don’t).
And even if words don’t appear to count for much, pay attention to what you’re saying. Keep your speech simple—not dumbed down—because people may not hear what you think you said.
To all of this great, harder-than-it-sounds advice, I’d add an injunction: If you’re feeling toxic, don’t go to that networking event. If you’re a touch tired or have come up against a few minor roadblocks during your day, go. You can usually rise to the occasion. It’s when you’re genuinely unhappy or bugged about something that you can do yourself the worst damage, particularly in an unfamiliar setting with a glass of wine firmly in your grip.
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