6.5 Meeting Someone New

Maybe you’ve heard it before: When meeting someone new, the first few seconds are crucial. This is because people often make character judgments at first sight.  Here are some tips to help you make a good first impression. 

First, hold eye contact a second or two longer than you normally would. By doing this, your eyes show that you are interested in the other person. Second, your arms shouldn’t be crossed and your shoulders should be relaxed. This shows the other person that you are not defensive. Rather, you are open and friendly. Third, remember that people who appear calm and confident are more likely to make a good impression on others. Therefore, avoid looking nervous or uncomfortable. Check any bad habits that you might have, such as playing with your hair, biting your nails, etc. and try not to do them. Finally, while it’s true that others cannot read your mind, they can read your feelings; so fake smiles are never a good idea. People can quickly tell the difference between true and false smiles. So before you walk up to someone new, put a real smile on your face!