It’s your time to shine, so how do you make a good impression? Whether you’ve secured an interview for your dream job, or scheduled diary time with a new client, it’s important to make a good first (and lasting) impression to guarantee success. 

According to researchers, it takes just seven seconds to make a first impression on someone. A further statistic claims it takes only a tenth of a second to form an impression of someone from their face. That’s both interesting and terrifying, considering body language and non-verbal communication reportedly make up over 90% of how we communicate. 

When it comes to the impression we’re making, there are things we’re conscious of – what we choose to wear, what we say – but also things which happen more subconsciously and need you to tune in to influence them. To start you off on the right foot and help you stand out for all the right reasons, here are some top tips to help you consciously make the right decisions. 

How to make a good first impression 

• Do your research. Before your meeting, research the organisation or person to improve your knowledge and confidence. Social media is your best friend here; check LinkedIn and Twitter profiles: photos, interests, and experience. This will also help you build rapport with them, which we discuss later in this blog. 

• Use the art of body language. Everybody feels they’re an expert when it comes to body language, and people can be quick to judge your appearance, so be mindful of this. Your posture is extremely important; sitting forward, maintaining good eye contact and gesturing, are all ways to show you mean business. Remember that smiles are infectious and help to put people at ease, along with the offer of a firm handshake (or elbow bump – whatever goes post-COVID!). 

• Fight the frown. It’s difficult to be happy and confident when we’re nervous or have had a terrible morning, but a frown or look of anxiety can reflect badly on the impression you are trying to make. Observe your facial expressions in front of a mirror (it never lies) and practice smiling. You could also ask a trusted colleague to give you some feedback.  

• Use the magic of your voice. Speaking with good volume and using colour in your communication style through the power of pace and variation in tone – what we refer to as the music in your voice, are ways to show authority. If you find yourself speaking too quickly, ask for glass of water to slow you down and buy yourself time to think.

How to build rapport 

So, you’ve established a good first impression. How do you build on that momentum and develop great rapport?  

Rapport is all about being on the same wavelength as the other person. Here are some things to consider: 

• Body language. Maintaining eye contact is key for establishing rapport face-to-face, along with mirroring facial expressions and body gestures. When on the phone, try using verbal nods such as ‘uh huh’ and repeating back phrases to show you are listening – the verbal version of mirroring. More on active listening in our next blog.
   
• Energy. When someone is passionate about something, they tend to speak quicker and it’s important that you match this pace if possible. A lower tone of voice can be interpreted as boring and monotonous, so try to keep the energy upbeat. That said, be mindful if someone speaks slower and lower, it could mean they are being reflective.
   
• Content. When it comes to what you say, know your audience. This is where the research from the first part of this blog comes in. Don’t use jargon unless you can clearly explain it, or you could risk losing your audience.  

Explore using active listening and questioning techniques to build a good rapport here.

Cube Learning and Development delivers tailor-made training and development programmes for your teams along with personal coaching to help with effective communication and presentation. For a no-obligation chat about this and our other training, call Chris Burton on 07879 602002.    

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