Sunday, May 24, 2009

To Make Good First Impression

n smile and lean toward others as they talk

n if standing, keep your body fully facing the people you’re speaking with

n ask questions and follow up on people’s remarks; and in doing so, focus on opinions and feelings, not just facts

n don’t interrupt

n compliment others

n try to find common experiences or interests

n mention some vulnerabilities and laugh at yourself

n draw others out and encourage people to join the conversation

n put energy in your voice

n at least at the start, focus on positive comments, not criticisms or complaints

n offer a variety of topics

n share observations about everyday life

n share your passions and interests

n don’t dwell on the minutiae of your life, especially annoyances

n remember: people give more weight to their early information (were you engaged, warm, distracted, pompous?) than to later information, so be your most charming at the beginning of the conversation

n remember: most people are more eager to be found interesting, funny, or insightful than to be interested, amused, or informed by you

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