How to Make a Great First Impression

Ashira Prossack

Show confidence in your body language.

Your body language speaks volumes. It can help you or it can hinder you. When you’re nervous, it shows in the way you’re standing or what you’re doing with your hands. The same goes for when you’re confident. Standing tall and making eye contact shows confidence. Think about someone like Oprah – when she walks onto a stage or into a room she commands it. It’s not just because she’s a prominent and well known speaker, it’s because she goes on stage like she owns the place.

If you need a quick boost of confidence before a job interview, presentation, big meeting, or any time really, take a power pose. One great power pose is the wonder woman – your hands on your hips, legs out in a V shape, shoulders and back straight, and chin slightly up. Stay there for a few moments thinking about how confident you are. Try it out for yourself and you’ll see how quickly it impacts you.

Be aware of the way you speak.

Speak clearly and with an even tone. You don’t want to be too loud or too quiet, as you could come across as dominating or shy. We all have little language quirks, from regional slang to overusing filler words. Pay close attention to the way you speak, as these things can make a negative first impression. Slang in general should be avoided in professional settings when you’re dealing with someone in a position above yours. It’s fine among colleagues and in more relaxed settings like an office party or out of office retreat.

Using filler words such as ‘um’ or ‘so’ or filling in gaps with ‘like’ or ‘you know’ will make you seem less knowledgeable. Pay special attention to your usage of the word ‘like’. This is one word that has infiltrated our daily speech and we don’t realize how often we use it. If you need time to compose your thoughts, simply pause, or restate the question. If you’re asked, ‘Can you tell me about a time you solved a problem?’, you could reply with ‘One time I solved a problem well was…’ This gives you time to think without saying, ‘um, a problem was…’, and instantly makes you sound more professional.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashiraprossack1/2018/04/30/how-to-make-a-great-first-impresson/#3b457edb3398


How to Make a Great First Impression Ashira Prossack Show confidence in your body language. Your body language speaks volumes. It can help you or it can hinder you. When you’re nervous, it shows in the way you’re standing or what you’re doing with your hands. The same goes for when you’re confident. Standing tall and making eye contact shows confidence. Think about someone like Oprah – when she walks onto a stage or into a room she commands it. It’s not just because she’s a prominent and well known speaker, it’s because she goes on stage like she owns the place. If you need a quick boost of confidence before a job interview, presentation, big meeting, or any time really, take a power pose. One great power pose is the wonder woman – your hands on your hips, legs out in a V shape, shoulders and back straight, and chin slightly up. Stay there for a few moments thinking about how confident you are. Try it out for yourself and you’ll see how quickly it impacts you. Be aware of the way you speak. Speak clearly and with an even tone. You don’t want to be too loud or too quiet, as you could come across as dominating or shy. We all have little language quirks, from regional slang to overusing filler words. Pay close attention to the way you speak, as these things can make a negative first impression. Slang in general should be avoided in professional settings when you’re dealing with someone in a position above yours. It’s fine among colleagues and in more relaxed settings like an office party or out of office retreat. Using filler words such as ‘um’ or ‘so’ or filling in gaps with ‘like’ or ‘you know’ will make you seem less knowledgeable. Pay special attention to your usage of the word ‘like’. This is one word that has infiltrated our daily speech and we don’t realize how often we use it. If you need time to compose your thoughts, simply pause, or restate the question. If you’re asked, ‘Can you tell me about a time you solved a problem?’, you could reply with ‘One time I solved a problem well was…’ This gives you time to think without saying, ‘um, a problem was…’, and instantly makes you sound more professional. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashiraprossack1/2018/04/30/how-to-make-a-great-first-impresson/#3b457edb3398
Monday Connection - MONDAY CONNECTION: May 7, 2018