No, we’re not talking about the kind of “impression” you get when Dr. Reed first molds your teeth for orthodontic treatment. We’re talking about another kind of “impression”: The kind you give when you first meet someone.
Studies have found that within the first few seconds of meeting someone, they already infer a lot about your personality, including your competence, trustworthiness, and likeability, to name just a few.
Maybe you’re getting ready for that big job interview or just going to a party. Regardless, the whole ordeal can be stressful if you want to make a positive first impression. But like most things in life, the key is to just be yourself. Here are four tips for doing just that, courtesy of The Everygirl:
1. Do your research
Who exactly are you hoping to impress? This is always a great place to start.
If you have people’s names ahead of time, use them! If you don’t have names, ask for more information from those you do know—like a mutual friend, a host, or even a LinkedIn connection.
Learn a little bit more about the people you’ll meet: what are their names, backgrounds, hobbies? You don’t have to learn everything about them, of course; that’s a little bit creepy and you can (and should) let some topics come up naturally in conversation.
But the more research you do, the more at ease you’ll feel when you finally do meet.
2. Prep & Practice
Put that research into practice and use it to come up with topics, questions, and relevant anecdotes from your own life that you can share in conversation!
There’s no need to memorize everything—you don’t want your first impression to be stiff and robotic, after all. You’re just practicing to feel comfortable; to be prepared should you find yourself nervous and grasping for something to say.
Even if you don’t know who you’re going to meet, you know you’ll meet someone. Prepare some talking points! Practice with a friend.
The key to feeling calm is being prepared. And the more calm you feel, the better impression you’ll make.
3. Look the Part
Wear something you feel good in; wear an outfit that is clean and fits you well. But, most importantly, be comfortable. (If you don’t usually wear jewelry or contact lenses, for instance, now is not the time to start!)
Making a good first impression starts with being comfortable and confident in your own skin. You just have to look good, whatever your definition of “looking good” may be.
4. Smile
It helps to make a good impression when those you meet believe that you’re a generally friendly and easy-to-get-along-with human being. Smiling helps with this.
A first impressions study conducted by Kelton confirmed that smiles were vital markers of a good first impression. According to the survey, one-third of Americans typically notice someone’s teeth first, and another 24% remember teeth more than any other physical feature after meeting someone new. And what’s more, three in four Americans trust someone with a great smile over someone with great clothes or an impressive job! So, if you have wanted to improve your smile for a while, ask Dr. Reed about Invisalign clear aligners; they will improve the way you feel about yourself and how others first perceive you.
Smiling also improves your overall attitude. And your attitude—whether you mean to consciously convey it or not—is also a big determinant of how people perceive you. It’s a lot harder to appear aloof, sullen, or rude when you have a smile plastered to your face.
It’s just science.
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