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Secrets to Winning a Great First Impression: Part II

By Administration | November 18, 2007

You have smiled, made great eye contact, and mirrored the attitude of the person you are meeting. So far, you are successfully making a great first impression. Now, in order to achieve your goals from the encounter (be it a business meeting or a social introduction), it is important that you use the right psychology to seal the deal of first impressions.

Saying “yes” to a good impression

Feedback is an important part of the congruence process, which helps the other person’s subconscious believe that you are similarly likable. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who did not verbally or physically acknowledge your statements? It feels like a one-sided conversation, with the other person not truly understanding what you are saying. Responding and providing feedback in a conversation means that you are paying attention, which all people love. And when you make people feel special, they will like you and thus remember you.

People like your attitude – not necessarily you

In order to make a deep impression, you must know what you want out of that meeting. How do you want someone to remember you? How can you persuade someone to like you? The most outstanding characteristic that people remember is attitude. In business, the three most useful attitudes are enthusiasm, curiosity, and humility. If you express a good attitude, it is contagious, and people will like you.

 

Talking your way to a positive impression

Contributing to our overall image is the vocabulary you use. Human brains can only process positive language. Can you think of yourself not feeling something, not doing something, not seeing something? For example, if we hear, “don’t kick the dog,” our brain only knows how to think of the actual activity, and then negating it. However, that negative image has already gone through our minds. As a result, speaking in the positives gives off an impression of enthusiasm and optimism.

“Because” will get your further in life

In addition to speaking in the positives, our brains also love the process “because.” Harvard University research indicated that people will respond automatically when given the stimulus “because.” There was a 94% success rate when someone went to the front of the copy line and said, “Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the copy machine because I am in a rush?” There was only a 60% success rate when the word because was not used: “Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the copy machine?” Five minutes later, the success rate show up to 93% when the person gave a mundane answer, but used the word because: “Excuse me, I have five pages. May I use the copy machine because I have to make these copies?” Even without a good reason, using the word “because” allowed the experimenter to be incredibly effective.

Securing that great impression!

When you implement the tips from this series of making a great first impression, you will certainly make lasting impressions that can help you with all your endeavors, whether business or social. Projecting a positive attitude, consciously or subconsciously, will in turn bring positive successes your way. Happy meetings!

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