The Importance of the First Impression

When we meet someone for the first time,?

…our brains?frantically?scan and analyse every bit of data picked up by our senses, to help us build a fuller picture of who this new person is in front of us.

And ultimately help us answer the burning question,?can I trust them?

First impressions have gained a lot of attention over the years, we’ve all heard how important they are, that they’re incredibly hard to change and that we should be very careful to ensure we make the right impression.

‘To put our best foot forward’, so to speak.

But how many of us actually know what message we’re?giving off? Or even?what message we WANT to communicate?as our first impression?

How can we ensure we get the first impression right? Should we just be ourselves or should we adapt this depending on who we’re speaking to?

As business professionals,?we care deeply about our professional image, our reputation as individuals, we want people to like us and understand and value who we are.

Yet most of us do not invest in actively projecting the image that we want to be known for, often letting small details radically alter other people’s perception of us.

Where does that lead us?

Quite simply, it leads us to create an image that doesn’t truly reflect who we are or what we’re about, giving off a?distorted, potentially career-damaging?impression.

So how can we take control of our first impressions and?ensure that when we meet someone for the first time, they?see us for?who we really are, or what we?want to?be known or remembered for,?and ultimately, how we will be classified, categorised and characterised in their minds?

1. Develop a strong introduction

Keep your introduction short and simple. You can say something like "Hello, I’m...”

Or, if you want to adopt a more formal register,

“Can I introduce myself, my name is... ”?

A great tip is once you know a person’s name, use it immediately.

This will make the other person feel more comfortable in your presence. It will also make it easier for you to remember that person’s name the next time you meet them.

2. Get comfortable making small talk

In business, being able to make small talk comfortably and confidently is a key skill that can often lead to great opportunities in your career.

This is because small talk helps you build relationships with people, and often leads to longer and more important conversations.

Having some small talk topics 'up your sleeve' will help you feel more prepared. You can talk about the weather, news, food and drink, or sport.

3. Show your interest by asking open questions

Ask questions about the other person and what you perceive their interests and passions to be. The more the other person talks about what they are interested in, the more they will enjoy the conversation with you.?

The key is learning how to use questions to start a conversation, not control it. Don't ask too many questions and avoid those that sound too probing, personal, or direct.

The best questions are open questions. For example,

"Is everything ok?" is a closed question, eliciting just a yes or no answer.

On the other hand, “How are things going with you?” is an open question and requires a longer, more detailed response.

The truth is that your first impression matters and being comfortable making small talk can help you to get ahead in your career. People do business with people they know, like, and trust.

It is a skill needed in interviews, networking conferences, joining a new company, or when meeting a new client.

If you would like to learn more about how small talk can help you in your career, I am hosting my webinar 'The Power of Small Talk in Software Engineering."

It will take place tomorrow evening, 29th June, at 7pm, GMT.

Here is the link,

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-of-small-talk-in-software-engineering-tickets-367387916147

I hope to see you there.

Thanks,

Tom?