Friday, January 14, 2011

Four Tips for Making a Lasting Impression

A first impression can often be the determining factor in the course of a relationship, personal or professional, so why chance it? As professionals, we should be doing everything in our power to make sure that every first impression we make is nothing short of the best representation of ourselves. This is especially important when meeting someone in your industry whether they are a potential client, your stiffest competition or even a new employee. By establishing a shining first impression, you are laying the foundation for a solid relationship. Therefore, it is just as important to take care in fostering that impression and turning it into a promising connection.

1. The Handshake

Ask five people what the ingredients for a “perfect” handshake are, and you will most likely receive five different answers. Growing up, my father taught me that when meeting someone, you always look them square in the eyes and give them a solid, firm handshake. Of course this varies with different cultures, but typically in America this is a good rule to follow. By doing so, you are showing whomever you are meeting that you not only care, but respect them and want them to feel confident in meeting with you. I have found that it is off-putting to offer a weak handshake. To me, that says that you do not care enough about me or my time to even put in the effort to give me a good handshake. Again, it is all about first impressions, and you don’t want to start out at a disadvantage.

2. Meeting Etiquette

Countless books have been written on meeting etiquette and most likely say the same thing. The key thing to keep in mind is respect. Here are three tips I find most helpful when attending meetings.

  1. Be on time. “If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late” is a good rule to follow. Arriving at a meeting late will most likely leave the other attendees with a bad impression. Remember to allow for traffic in planning your travel time. This will save you from keeping others waiting.
  1. During the meeting, instead of formulating what you are going to say next, clear your mind and listen — don’t just hear — what others are saying. This will allow you to catch other details you may have missed when calculating your response.
  1. Fight the urge to bring your cell phone. Knowing it’s there will only tempt you to check it, which will only further distract you. Instead, leave it in your office or in your car. If it is necessary to have it on you, placing it on silent or vibrate will keep distractions at a minimum while you wait for your important call.

3. Business Cards

Don’t forget business cards! In a time of almost paperless communication, business cards still remain an important commodity amongst professionals. It is safe practice to make sure to have a stack with you at all times. It is important that your business card properly reflect you or your company. Business cards are so customizable, with literally thousands of options from the type of paper to fonts to creative cutouts, yet more often than not you will receive a standard rectangular cut out on white paper stock. If it is appropriate for your market, why not try mixing it up a little? For example, LeapFrog Solutions’ business cards have rounded corners and utilize both sides to stand out. Most people are surprised to find a green backing to our cards with our motto, Make Your Message Matter® inscribed. It also lists our GSA Certification for our government-based clients. Our cards reflect that we are a creative and fun marketing agency while also focusing on our serious business practices.

4. The Follow Up

Sending a follow-up message is something we are all taught to do, but how many of us actually do it? Five minutes of your time really goes a long way in terms of creating a lasting impression. It is simple to do and may even help to keep you top of mind with whomever you meet. For tips on email etiquette, see Carita Eleazar’s article in the November 2010 issue ofHop To It. However, to stand out and take it one step further, a handwritten note is almost unheard of in these times of 4G cell phone speeds but will surely get you noticed. Some stationery and a book of stamps could be one of the best investments you make in terms of making an impression. Thanking them for their time and suggesting next steps to take will keep the door open for future meetings.

A good first impression is an invaluable piece to developing a relationship, be it professional or personal. However, it is also a matter of what you do with that impression that builds that relationship. By starting out strong and continuing to foster a good bond with others, you are setting yourself up for success. Your handshake and meeting etiquette coupled with memorable business cards and follow-up communication are all relatively small gestures that can help you make a strong lasting impression with whomever you meet.

Abbi Boose graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and a minor in Tourism and Events Management.

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