First Impressions
Remember - you never have a second chance to make a first impression. Within a few moments, assumptions and judgements are made. You know it's true - we all do it. However hard you try to avoid doing so, you're likely to make an instant decision about someone because of the way they look, speak or what they wear.
Research says that when making an entrance:
- 55 per cent of the impression made is how you look - posture and what you wear
- 38 per cent is the energy and enthusiasm - body language and tone of voice
- only 7 per cent is what you actually say to a person.
Visual impressions, therefore, are more persuasive than oral messages.
If you get off to a good start, everything else you do afterwards will be just that much easier. A good beginning not only affects the business contact, it affects your confidence too. Confidence requires preparation and needs to be actively worked at to ensure you achieve the right impact.
Posture and Body Language
If you're serious about this and want to be like the professionals, ask your company to invest in some presentation training for you.
Some presentation trainers start by making a video of the way you walk, talk, stand and sit, and how you present yourself at meetings and corporate events. This is a fairly harsh way of finding out all your peccadilloes but it will help you to sort them out swiftly and effectively.
One tip from the experts is to imagine 'a golden thread' running from the top of your head to the ceiling. When you stand or sit, imagine this thread is pulling you upright. You will grow taller and instantly be more noticeable.
Eye Contact
Making the correct sort of eye contact in business negotiations is important. Usually you are dealing with someone you don't know very well so there are a number of things to remember.
It is quite natural to look at people from eye to eye and across the top of the nose. This is the safe area to which eye contact should be confined. With friends, in social situations, this area of vision increases to include both eyes but also downwards to the nose and mouth. If you're flirting with someone, the scope of this triangle increases - widening at the base to involve more of the body.
Getting a Head Start
If you want to stand out from your competitors and create the best impression for business purposes, use your head!
Keeping your head level both horizontally and vertically gives the impression of authority. A friendly gesture when listening to what your companion is saying is to tilt your head slightly to one side or the other.
Also remember that you were given two ears and only one mouth, so use them in that proportion. If you can spend twice as much time listening as talking, you will be creating a positive impression. People will regard you as a skilled communicator who knows how to initiate a conversation without dominating it.
