First Impressions In The Real World
You make your best real-world first impression by being calm and confident yourself. Try to enjoy the nervous energy you are feeling. Have fun. Remember to smile. People are perceived as more attractive when they are having a good time.

People will form an immediate first (physical) impression of you, usually in under ten seconds, based on some combination of these attributes:
- posture
- walk
- body language
- attire
- physical characteristics
- smile/facial features
- handshake
- grooming
- scent/perfume
- eye contact
- perceived confidence
- perceived comfortableness

Qualities Leading To A Positive Impression:
- warmth
- sense of humor
- imagination
- confidence
- success
- fitness
- individuality
- body language
- conversational ability
- aspiration
- power
- creativity
- kindness

Qualities Leading To A Negative Impression:
- self-centered
- closed minded and judgmental
- lack of manners
- poor conversational ability
- negative life attitude
- immature
- indecisive/without an opinion
- lack of integrity
- whining and complaining
- shallowness
- only interested in themselves
- power games and manipulation
- materialistic

How Candidates Can Make A Good First Impression
One of the keys to an interview is making a [favorable] first impression, whether we like it or not. You don't get a second chance. Corporate staffing managers suggest that job seekers be on their best behavior before they enter and after they leave the interview room.

The Necessity of Making a Good First Impression
We all want people to like us, whether it's a job interviewer, a potential client or customer, fellow classmates or just a new acquaintance. Not only does their approval make us feel better about ourselves, the fact is, we may actually need their approval. They may well be the key to our financial, educational or relational success.

Even though we all want, need and perhaps even crave a positive assessment from those we have contact with, very few of us ask ourselves, "What kind of first impression" we make upon meeting someone for the first time. Many think, "So what's the big deal?" about a first impression? I'll have other chances. In fact, you may not.

A myriad of studies show that people make a judgment about you within four seconds! Since you can't say a whole lot in four seconds you are instantly judged on a dizzying array of fronts: appearance (height, weight, grooming, clothes) and body language (how you walk, stand, your eye contact, your hand shake, hand gestures, and other personal mannerisms) All of these communicate either competence, self confidence and charisma or insecurity, laxness and timidity. Even our overall energy level-effervescent or nondescript (read invisible) charismatic or timid, outgoing or withdrawn, will subconsciously register on the person you've met.

Everyone, including yourself, automatically screens people according to our largely unconscious "filters." For instance, if you're in your twenties looking for a "significant other" you normally won't even notice anyone over 30. If you're sizing up potential business colleagues or employees, those who lack an aura of confidence and professionalism won't register.

Many people feel "invisible," like no one really notices them. That's because they get "screened out" by almost everyone. Part of the problem may be an unappealing or nondescript appearance combined with a passionateless demeanor, this lack of personal attention can make you "invisible" to many.


Doctors marry Doctors & Celebs marry Celebs.
People are attracted (personally as well as professionally) to people who appear to be similar. Those who at least seem to share the same standards and values subconsciously resonate with us. Target someone who appears to share your own exuberance.

How can you enhance your chance of making a great first impression?
1. Figure out whom you're trying to impress. Determine the appropriate "look and feel" you want to project.

2. Look your best. This means hair, teeth, face, eyes, nails, and clothes. And yes, clothes do make the man or the woman.

3. Project confidence with direct eye contact and a firm (not crushing) handshake, erect posture and a graceful walk.

4. Turn up your energy level. Get committed and passionate about something. No one finds a zombie attractive.

5. If you want people to be interested in you, you need to be interested in them. Most people will perceive anyone interested in them to be interesting! It also helps in you're interesting in your own right. This may mean developing a new or wide variety of interests beyond your job, kids, TV, or a singular hobby.

Read widely-especially books on spiritual growth, self-improvement, psychology, religion and cultural issues. Be literate as well as informed. Read a daily newspaper and a weekly news magazine. Surf the net. Watch cable news or intelligent talk shows.

6. Most important of all, become self-aware. Know yourself and your purpose for being on the planet. Everyone respects someone who is clear and even passionate about their direction in life.

First Impressions in Business
· You need to look the part, always be well dressed and well groomed. If you follow this practice, it won’t matter if a client or potential client suddenly materializes unexpectedly.

· Your office telephone should be answered in a professional manner.

· You should ensure that your website does not appear to have been developed by an amateur and that it is always up to date.

· Your business cards and stationery should also have a professional appearance. It’s worth investing a little bit more, to give the right look.

· If you are using any marketing brochures, make sure that they add to and not detract from your professional appearance.

· You should always rehearse what you are going to say about your business when you meet someone for the first time - "your 30 second personal commercial" or "elevator speech"

A great deal of time and effort goes into your exposure to clients and potential clients and the opportunities should not be squandered.

Make a Superb First Impression
It is extremely important that people have a good first impression of you. Either you make a good impression or you will suffer for it! It is going to affect how your contact views you for the rest of that conversation. It can affect how fast a friendship starts, or how fast business relationships get going. You have got to make a good first impression!

What is a "first impression"?
Simply it is the first thoughts a person has toward you after seeing you or listening to what you have to say. These are made during the first four seconds and then the first few minutes of a conversation. It has been said that a speaker has 5 minutes to convince the audience that he/she has something good to say. How you act, dress, and talk are all going to affect "the first impression". A customer's first impression of a salesmen will have an impact on whether the customer buys. The first impression a manager has of you will affect whether you are hired. How you act in the first moments of meeting your new neighbor will sharply affect his/her view of you. Yes, you need to make a good first impression! It can stop a sale, or it can help you make an instant friend!

How do you make a good impression?
When you meet someone (friend or new contact), greet them on the phone, or pass them on the street, act ENTHUSED to meet them!

·Give them a "winning" smile.

·Cheerfully greet them with "hello (name)". Let your voice show that you are glad to see them!

·Act like you are greeting a best friend who has been gone for awhile.

·If you walk into a group, greet or acknowledge every person. Look them in the eye. Either verbally greet them or at least make eye contact and acknowledge every single person.

·Greet your friends, contacts, and family the same way.

·When someone calls, say a professional "hello". When you find out who is calling, act glad to hear their voice.

What if you DO NOT feel like it?
Who cares! ACT enthusiastic to meet them and you will BE enthusiastic to meet them. They will feel important and will be glad to see YOU. You will make an excellent first impression. This technique alone will work wonders for you! You will stand out from the crowd. Customers will want to come back. When a customer sees that you are glad to have them buy from you, they will want to come back and buy MORE from YOU.

You have probably realized that puppies make friends very easily. When they greet a person they smile, wag their tail and are absolutely happy to see you. They want to be your friend. The result is that you in turn want to pet the puppy, and be the puppies friend. This same principal works with you social contacts. Be glad to see them and they will usually be glad to see you. You will make a good impression and they will like you. This is just one technique for making a good first impression. Apply it and it will work!

First impressions are the most lasting. At least that's what we've been told since the time we were children. One of the first and most lasting impressions new employees have of their employer is how they are greeted and treated on their first day of work. As employee communications professionals and human resources trainers know, employee orientation is perhaps the critical introduction to an organization for a new employee. Based on their experience during orientation, an employee often can tell how an organization truly views its work force. Most organizations, particularly large ones, have some type of mission or quality statement that affirms, "our employees are our greatest resource." In organizations where such statements are merely lip service, the employees often liken the affirmation to the story of the farmer and his three-legged pig.

You remember that story: A visitor to the farm keeps questioning the farmer about his three-legged pig, while the farmer keeps boasting of the spectacular feats performed by the pig. When pressed as to why the sow has only three legs, the farmer finally explains, "When you have a great pig like that, you don't eat it all at once." Part of the challenge for an organization that touts its employees as its greatest resource is walking that talk. And because many public and private enterprises in the United States were at least loosely patterned after archaic business models that emphasize employees blindly following a regimen of work, we see great conflicts between what organizations believe and how they behave.

The will to change may exist, but making the transition from the current behavior to desired behavior doesn't happen all at once. It often begins with small improvements that have lasting meaning.

First Impressions are made through the Voice
We learn a lot about a person in the first few minutes of a conversation by taking stock of two of the most telling human characteristics: facial appearance and voice quality.

While many of us spend a lot of time and money on improving our facial appearance through beauty and cleansing products, designer eyeglasses -- even elective cosmetic surgery -- we generally don't give as much thought to our voice. We often forget that attitude, emotional status and personality are conveyed in our voice, so it is an important piece of equipment to keep healthy.

Unfortunately for many of us, the first time we notice our voice is when we lose it. Have you experienced hoarseness for days after shouting your support for your favorite sports team?

Voice production may be affected by a problem in the lungs or in the physical condition of the vocal folds, which require smooth vibration for a clear voice. Common causes of hoarseness include the formation of nodules, polyps, cysts and generalized swelling on the vocal folds after a period of vocal overuse or exposure to irritants (acid reflux, air pollution, allergies, smoke, etc).

Hoarseness may also result from weakness (paralysis) of the vocal fold after a common cold. If our lungs are in poor health and unable to generate a strong breath, or if our breathing technique is not well coordinated with our speaking efforts, inefficient voicing occurs.

This change can be subtle over time and, like any other bad habit we develop, becomes second nature in the bustle of our daily lives until someone notices how strained our voice has become. Treatment of these voice disorders typically involves use of medications, voice therapy and possibly surgery.

The good news is that you don't have to wait until something goes wrong with your voice in order to strengthen and care for this important piece of your "first impression equipment." In fact, there are many simple steps you can take to maintain a healthy, strong voice.

First, most us do not drink enough fluids. Dehydration severely affects the lining (mucosa) of the throat and vocal folds, decreasing their ease of vibration. If you're drinking enough noncaffeinated fluids to make your urine a pale color (instead of bright yellow), then you're drinking adequately.

Secondly, many medications excessively dry mucous membranes. Lastly, good technique cannot be overlooked. Proper posture, synchronized deep breathing and relaxed neck muscles are all components of an optimized voice. We all have stress in our life and many of us "hold" this stress in our voice, neck and facial muscles which can result in a gravelly, soft or strained voice.

It is important to note that the tips noted above are intended for preventive maintenance. If you are already experiencing chronic hoarseness (more than two weeks), sudden loss of voice, pain, difficulty swallowing, or loss of range in singing, you may be experiencing a condition that requires medical attention. An otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat physician) can help.

It has been said that there is no greater index of character so sure as the voice. Our voice is, in essence, a reflection of who we are as individuals. While the voice is not a reflection that we can see in the mirror, it deserves at least the same attention that we give to our outward appearance. After all, you only have one chance to make a great first impression.

Tips To Make A Strong First Impression
Psychologists, writers, and seminar leaders caution that we only have from seven to seventeen seconds of interacting with strangers before they form an opinion of us.

With this widely acknowledged pressure to "make our case" instantly, here are my seven tips for making your first impression strongly positive.

The greatest way to make a positive first impression is to demonstrate immediately that the other person, not you, is the center of action and conversation. Illustrate that the spotlight is on you only, and you'll miss opportunities for friendships, jobs, love relationships, networking, and sales. Show that you are other-centered, and first-time acquaintances will be eager to see you again.

I applaud this definition of a bore: "Somebody who talks about himself so much that you don't get to talk about yourself."

Closely related: You'll make a superb initial impression when you demonstrate good listening skills. Give positive verbal cues: "Hmmm... interesting!" "Tell me more, please." "What did you do next?" Just as actors benefit from prompts, your conversational partner will welcome your assistance in keeping the exchange going.

Nonverbally, you show you're a skilled listener by maintaining steady eye contact. Remember how you respond to the social gadabout who appears to be looking over your shoulder for the next person he wants to corner. Remember, and avoid that habit.

Use the name of a new acquaintance frequently. You show that you have paid attention from the start, catching the name during the introduction. Equally as important, you'll make conversations more personal by including the listener's name several times.

Never confront when you just met. Confrontations with somebody you've just met will destroy rapport before you even start building it. Wait until you have established credibility before you challenge another's statements.

Appearance counts. Dress the way you want to be treated. Dress professional to be treated professional. This motto will aid in your future dressing choices - "I don't dress for the job I have now, I dress for the job I want to have."

As a communication specialist, I have to point out that an individual's speaking style impacts the first impression, maybe more than we wish. Listeners judge our intelligence, our cultural level, our education, even our leadership ability by the words we select--and by how we say them. Think of Professor Henry Higgins of "My Fair Lady," who changed a "guttersnipe" into a lady by teaching her to speak skillfully. While none of us occupies the lowly level of Eliza Doolittle, we can keep her example in mind. Rather than mumble, speak so you're easily heard. Enunciate clearly. Alter your pitch, to avoid the dullness of a monotone. Display animation in both voice and facial expression. Gesture naturally, without "canning" your movements.

Keep these tips in mind. They will reduce your fear of business and social encounters with unfamiliar faces. More positively, you'll start enjoying poise and success that you thought were beyond your reach.

Make a Good First Impression, and Then Live Up to it
You know it's polite to say "thank you" when someone opens a door for you or gives you a gift. And you know it's not nice to talk with your mouth full or play loud music that disrupts others. Behaving appropriately and politely is also known as having good manners.

Showing good manners is about making others comfortable and showing them consideration and respect. Good manners are necessary for success in your career no matter what kind of job you have. Proper manners will help you get and keep good jobs and earn promotions.

Bad manners, on the other hand, will set you apart as someone to be avoided – personally and professionally.

When you meet someone for the first time, including a potential boss or someone who makes hiring decisions, make a good first impression, but don't stop there. Live up to that first impression every day.

After You are Hired
Prove to your new boss that hiring you was the right thing to do by...
Being prepared for the job and willing to learn
Taking initiative
Making yourself invaluable
Being reliable
Being a team player – work well with others
Being helpful
Being respectful to everyone
Being neat and safe
Managing your emotions
Continuing to try when things get difficult

My work as a coach is geared at ensuring my clients present themselves in a confident assured manner and "perform" at their best. So here's five tips I trust you'll find invaluable to help the inner you shine through, whatever your adventure and make your all-important first impression a memorable one - for all the right reasons.

1. Look Good
My career has taught me to appreciate the power of that initial split-second walk through the door and I've been even more surprised at how many people simply don't grasp the idea of basic grooming. If you want to create a great first impression it's imperative you look cared for.

Before an important meeting choose your wardrobe at least a day in advance. Don't leave it to the last minute or you'll only drive yourself crazy.

If you look great: you will ooze more confidence, you'll feel comfortable and proud to be you and will automatically transmit a positive message. If you show you care, you convey an air of respect and you'll attract respect. What a great start!

2. Relax
Trust me, getting over-anxious about a meeting only serves to weaken your position. Regardless of whom it is you need to impress, get comfortable with yourself.

Remind yourself why you want that job/date/client and remind yourself why they should find you irresistible. Give yourself permission to get excited. So, before you leave your home/office look in the mirror, mentally run through your forthcoming meeting. Close your eyes and imagine yourself and the person you are about to meet & imagine that the meeting will be a terrific success for you.

3. Never moan
Have you ever met someone for the first time who constantly moans about their ex boss/employee/partner/flatmate? Ask yourself what was your first impression of them? Exactly. Just don't go there, even if the conversation is tempting you down that road take a u-turn fast.

So, if you are clinging to excess baggage leave it firmly outside the door, there's absolutely no room for it if you want to make a good first impression!

4. Be generous
Conversation is a two way street, so don't talk at someone. Nervous chatter is an obvious symptom of being nervous. So listen up! Share the conversation as if you were sharing a precious gift with someone special.

If you want someone to be interested in you, be interesting. What have you done lately that makes you interesting? Bring it to the fore. Be proud. Always prepare in advance what I call my "mini me". A short summary of myself with a witty anecdote. This will stop you running off at the mouth in the wrong direction.

Make sure you're having the "right" conversation at the "right" moment! You'll come across as an open, confident person who's comfortable to be around!

5. Enjoy yourself
Have fun. Be in the moment. There's something quite irresistible about a person who appears relaxed, happy and enjoying every moment. It spells "zest for life" and shows people you're comfortable in your own skin. Who wouldn't be impressed with someone like that!

Even if you sense 101 every day distractions clambering for prime position in your mind, just take a moment to yourself and breathe deeply and calmly. Slow down, take your time and enjoy!

Good luck!!

Apply the Seven P’s - Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance.

This is your last chance to make a great first impression.

Remember - First impressions last. Strive to make lasting impressions.

You get only 7- 17 seconds to make a First Impression.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

- Compiled by Savio DSilva. Make terrific first impressions everytime by joining our Public Speaking Classes.