Making a First Impression

5 Things to Consider to Leave a Positive Impression

1. CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT

Any time we meet someone, we are looking for some common ground, something that ties us together so we can connect. Whether it be the same hobby, knowing the same people, or having lived in the same city, we want a connection.

Using pictures that portray some of the hobbies you do, or the places you like to visit, or the sports you follow make it easy to visually see you have common interests. People gravitate towards you and they find themselves wanting to know more.

Furthermore, when your pictures show you smiling or laughing or being engaged in something, it creates an intrinsic desire to be involved. People can see that you have a sense of humor or know how to have a good time. They see that you have hobbies and it signals to the world that you are interesting - you are worth getting to know.

It’s important that your pictures reflect a little bit about who you are. Perfectly edited selfies with filters are not going to do that job. Obviously, we want to pick out flattering photos that make us feel good, but if the picture is unrecognizable, it’s actually going to work against you in the long run.

2. DON’T TELL PEOPLE, SHOW PEOPLE

When trying to create space for a person to get to know you, it’s important that you don’t just tell people how it is, show them.

It’s important to be mindful not just of what we say but of how we say it. It’s the tone you put behind the words that will register with people when they read what you have to say.

Take this example:

“I’m sarcastic.”

This is easy to gloss over. Got it. Noted. Sarcastic. The reader will continue on. They may make a mental note that that is something they have in common, but it’s not guaranteed to hit home.

“Sarcasm is my first language.”

This wording has a bit more humor and a more specific tone. It creates personality and shows the reader that you have a sense of humor. It also provides space for the reader to laugh and think, “I speak saracasm, too.”

Show them your wit, your personality, and your charm. There is a reason your friends like to be around you.

3. WORD CHOICE MATTERS

It’s important to be mindful of the specific words you choose. Even if they have the same meaning, they can come across very differently.

When it comes to dating profiles, words that focus on physicalities like “sexy” or “hot” don’t get as much traction as you would think. “Physically fit” is actually a better, more successful term to use.

The words you choose show the reader what you value and is also a reflection of your intelligence. Dating profiles that have the highest success rates are dating profiles that actually use words like: funny, weakness, flaw, and ambitious.

Those words show a sense of vulnerability and authenticity. Those are the words that people will connect with and remember because it’s real.

4. LESS IS MORE

If you’re not sure if it is something to share, you’re probably best not saying it. For now. It’s easier to offer up information as a conversation progresses than it is to take something back.

Some people feel like they want to lay it all out on the table. They want to just stand firm in what they believe and have people “take it or leave it.” The rationale is understandable, but that’s just bad business. Providing too much information, especially if it’s based on strong beliefs, can actually put people off. Instead of sounding authentic and real, it can come across as harsh or unapproachable. There’s no room for a conversation to be had.

As a salesman, you would never do that. In a job interview, you would never do that. When meeting somebody’s parents, you would never do that. There’s no need to do that on a dating app or on LinkedIn either.

Your important beliefs and opinions deserve a real conversation. It then provides all parties to understand one another better. They are able to read facial expressions and pick up on body language. They can ask clarifying questions and it creates opportunities to learn more about one another and connect. We want to eliminate chances where we ourselves could be written off but also where we may write others off.

5. BE YOURSELF & OWN IT

Confidence is key. Confidence is power.

You have something that no one else has. You have your own life experiences that automatically make you worth knowing. Let people see you. Let people know you. Be authentic. There’s no fault in being vulnerable and honest (as long as that honesty is kind). If you take the first step in presenting yourself as authentic, it helps others put their guards down. It creates space for everyone to breathe a little bit and have real conversations. This is how we get to know each other. This is how we can truly find and build connections.

After all, any time we meet someone, we’re looking for some common ground that can tie us all together.