Growing up we read and wrote compositions on the famous proverb, ‘Do not judge a book by its cover’. However, we grow up and realize that people inherently form their opinions about others within the first few seconds of meeting them. This is based on several factors, including: their appearance, the attitude they exude and their behavior. It is often said that the first impression is the only impression; I’d therefore like to think that we’d all want to make a proper one. I gathered some pointers that I thought might be of help:
Be confident
Confidence has a way of drawing people; capturing and holding their attention, a confident person is not easily dismissed and this gives people the opportunity to want to know you better. Once confidence is evident in the way they speak, their posture, whether they maintain eye-contact or not. Speak audibly, do not slouch and, if in conversation, look the person in the eye.
Be Yourself
How you behave should be a true representation of who you are. Being comfortable with yourself, will put both you and the other person at ease, and make it easier to relate with you. An article I read especially insisted that one shouldn’t try to be funny if they are not as this often does not end well. Let your true personality shine through.
Be Positive
People can often tell someone who gives off negative energy and once they identify you as such a person, they’ll try distance themselves. Your attitude can be detected from your facial expression, body language and also your language; strive be courteous and polite.
Smile
Let it be genuine, do not smile and put on a straight face a few seconds later. The other person will know that though you smiled for their benefit you did not mean it. This might make them think of you as an insincere person. This is not how anyone would like to be perceived from the onset.
Finally, dress for the occasion and be on time!
