Tips for Making a Great Impression

Warm, healthy smile. There may be nothing more important than a warm, healthy and relaxed smile. You’ll feel happy, more comfortable and be well on your way to making a good first impression.

Eye contact. Just as important as a warm smile is eye contact. Engage people by looking into their eyes as you meet them, listen and converse. Of course, it’s open eyes with a smile and a nod (as opposed to a cold stare)!

Ask open-ended questions. When it comes to making good impressions, it’s not about you. Show genuine interest. Ask open-ended questions that begin with who, what, where, when and why. Avoid closed-ended questions that can be answered with a yes or no (i.e., questions that begin with “Are you …” and “Have you …”).

Stand tall with your hands to your sides. Healthy, confident and relaxed people tend to stand tall and display good posture. Avoid crossing your arms or holding your hands. Instead, let your arms and hands rest naturally at your sides. You’ll come across more friendly and relaxed.

Lower volume is better. A lower tone of voice tends to be received as warmer and friendlier. Loudness can cause discomfort and/or distrust.

Slow the pace; eliminate filler words. Filler words are words such as um, ah, well, you know and I don’t know. Although they are extremely common, they communicate uncertainty, nervousness and even lack of intellect. Slow down your rate of speech, take your time and cut out the filler words.

Make short statements, then wait for a response. We’re all turned off by run-on talkers. Don’t do it yourself. Make short, clear statements, or ask brief questions, and wait for the response with interest.

Say hello and extend your handshake. Why do politicians smile, say hello and shake a lot of hands? Because it makes a good impression and builds relationships. You should do it, too.

Be well-dressed and well-groomed. OK, this may sound like Wally Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver, but people judge books by their covers. Dress and groom as nicely as you can. The result, combined with the other tips herein, will ensure that your presence counts when you walk into a room.

Jana Christian provided her expertise for this article. You can reach her at miss_manners@sbcglobal.net.