Sudden Impact: Creating a great first impression

SUDDEN IMPACT: MAKING A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION

By Michael Rice

                Will Rogers said, ”You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”   This quote is amazingly true.  It does not matter whether you are going on an interview, making a new acquaintance, showing up for court or presenting at community or business meetings, your first impression is a lasting one.

Let’s face it, we all want to make a good first impression.  They say that people make decisions about you based upon their impression of you in the first few seconds of meeting you.  Your clothes, body language, walk, demeanor and mannerism add up the person’s initial opinion of you. 

The good news is if your first impression is positive it can lead to a job, acceptance, respect and more.  The bad news is if it’s negative, it’s lasting and sometimes impossible to be undone.

         After attending hundreds of meetings and networking events, I have developed some helpful tips that helped me be more successful in my personal urban networking. 

I think back to the early days of being intimidated by the rooms full of successful professionals. This was before I learned how to identify my personal assets, qualities and talents that made me an unique individual and someone who anyone would want to know and respect. Once I learned how to articulate my personal qualities, I focused on opening conversations with confidence. Eventfully, I developed strategies for developing successful mutually beneficial relationships.   

                 In this E-blast, you will learn some techniques for creating a high impact first impression. You will learn how questions can open up new contacts and aid in creating rapport.

One of the key elements in Urban Networking is making a good first impression. Your opening statements should be high impact and memorable.  Once you have opened conversation, use key questions to extend the communications and deepen rapport.  Just as important is how you end your conversation with your new contact.  A strong closing conversation will extend your good impression and have a strong and memorable impact.

VALIDATION

                 One key technique in an opening conversation with a new contact is paying them an honest compliment. An appeal to a person’s ego goes a long way of opening the door establishing rapport and possible future collaborations.

Whether you are a youth or an adult, there is a child inside each one of us seeking approval and validation.  Your compliments touch the child  within and give your new contact a sense of well being. It is almost magical how compliments create resourceful states that can lead to the development of successful relationships.

KEY QUESTIONS OPEN THE DOOR

         The compliment can be in the form of a question regarding their expertise, profession, clothing, jewelry, experience, etc. The idea is stimulate interest and the need to respond from your prospect. Nothing

will  bring that out more than by talking about something of their

interest.

Some examples include:

 How long you been doing community work?  I know you have some interesting stories.

• That’s an interesting tie, where did you get it?

• Great suit, is it from Boyd’s? (Macey's, Lord and Taylor's, etc.)

• I have always been interested in the stock market.  How did you

happen to get involved in the markets? 

• Everyone is interested in the housing market. I bet you have some

real insight into how it works?

• So you’re a nurse? Is that what you wanted to be when you grew

up?

• You’re a teacher.   I bet you have some interesting stories

regarding your kids.

         The secret of this technique is to keep the conversation on what your prospect is interested in and not what you are interested in. Keep in mind that you are also gathering information to be used when you do your follow up phone call and subsequent conversations.    

         If you know nothing about a person’s background, focus on their appearance. Comment on their shoes, dress, purse, tie, scarf or jewelry. You will be remembered as an interesting conversationist and a great person.

Other tips for a good first impression are:

• Dress for Success- How you dress says who you are.

• Hygiene – This  is extremely importance  and this includes deodorant, breath odor, general cleanliness.

• Grooming – Fresh haircuts, salon styled hairdos and manured nails states your game is tight.

• Style – This is how you put yourself together based upon your own self image.  Tattoos and piercings distract people from your true self.

• Your smile – Key to presenting yourself as a positive, open and friendly individual.

• Confidence – Your ability to express yourself, express your personality and interact with high value with others.

• Positive Attitude-  If you initially make negative statements, people will think you are basically a negative person.

• Etiquette-  Your manners, courtesy and social skills are outward expressions of your core self.

LEARN THE URBAN NETWORKING PROCESS

         Want to learn more?  Sign up for the upcoming Urban Networking 106:  Creating a Successful Networking Encounter, workshop on September 25, 2012 from 6-8 pm at 440 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA.   Register at www.theconnectornetwork.com/urbanleadership

Or all 215-387-2734. 

         Check for upcoming events through www.theconnectornetwork.com [1]

• Be on Time -  Punctuality  is paramount.