Making Good Impressions

I was pleased with how the chapter on making good impressions came together and wanted to post a snippet here!

"Overcoming Obstacles With Spunk! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting" will be available next spring.

"So how does one go about making a good impression? If a first impression is critical and poor one difficult to overcome, how do we ensure a pleasant recollection in the minds of those we encounter? Let me outline a few simple rules you should follow:

· Offer a smile. Nothing conveys acceptance of friendliness quite like a genuine smile. It also reduces or eliminates your fear. You cannot smile and feel scared or worried at the same time!
· Maintain eye contact. This conveys respect for the person and belies a good self-image on your part.
· Use their name and often. You will convey courtesy and respect, not to mention remember their name by repeating it several times during the course of conversation.
· Focus on them. As we discussed earlier, do not dominate the conversation, but rather allow them to become the center of attention.

As with all people skills, there are no gimmicks, but there is a secret when it comes to impressions. One surefire way to make a good impression on someone is to let them know they are making one on you! If you follow the basic rules during the encounter, they will regard your behavior as a vote of confidence. They will conclude that you view them as important, valuable, and respectable. In their minds, they think, “Hey, he believes I’m really somebody!” Your consideration will in turn impress that person in a most meaningful manner."