27/08/2010 by Marketing Team.

We’re forever hearing the phrase “never judge a book by it’s cover”, but often we do.

First impressions matter – whether it’s a business meeting, a first date or an interview. Those first few seconds when you walk through the door or into the bar can change the outcome of the meeting.

Here are 5 tips on how to make a good first impression

• Think about how you look and what it will say about you. You’ve (hopefully!) got your best bib and tucker on, you’ve made an effort and you feel good about yourself. But what are you carrying? There’s every possibility that you’ve got more with you than you actually need. If you’re going to a meeting, take the bare minimum. Carrying all your wordly possessions with you may make you look disorganised. And it’s never good when you have to juggle everything to shake hands with the person you’re meeting!
• How’re you feeling? Did you have a row with your housemate before you left the house? Get stuck in traffic on your way? Forget it. Don’t let your bad mood affect how you feel going in to your meeting. Take a couple of deep breaths and think about 2 or 3 specific situations where you felt on the top of the world, something that makes you feel good inside. Walk into the meeting holding on to that feeling!
• Listen, listen, listen! We all love to talk about ourselves – experiences, families, pets, children. We’ll talk about anything and everything to anyone who’ll listen. But don’t. Let your client do the talking, be interested and ask relevant questions – how else are you going to find out what they want from you!?
• It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it. Probably one of the best things I’ve learnt is how important pitch and tone is when you’re talking to someone. Telling someone they’ve won the lottery in a low, boring tone isn’t going to excite them! Match your tone to the message you’re delivering.
• Be yourself. Don’t lie and pretend. If you don’t know, say so. If you don’t understand, ask. People buy from people – build a relationship based on who you are, not who you think they want you to be.

You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it’s a good one.

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27/08/2010 by Marketing Team.

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