You only ever get one chance to make a first impression, so it is important to make it a good one. Some people underestimate the power of first impressions and start their interactions on a bad foot which could have been avoided.
Here are 4 ways to make bad first impressions:
1. Arriving Late: Are you the type of person who shows up right as things start? This can stem from trying to fit in one last task before you head out, or maybe you just underestimate how long it will take you to arrive. There are many reasons and excuses for being late, but when making first impressions, lateness can leave a sour taste in 
someone’s mouth.
Most likely the person you’ve kept waiting will be annoyed, but they might also see your action as bad time management. Even worse, the person might get the impression that you don’t care about their time.
2. Not Preparing: If you meet up with someone while you are unprepared, there are three impressions that you will leave: 1) That you don’t think the person is important enough for you to prepare. 2) That you are lazy or don’t care. 3) You can’t manage your time well. None of these impressions would be good to leave. On top of this, if you come unprepared you are more likely to feel less confident or competent.
3. Not Being Present: Many people now have their smartphones attached to themselves constantly. That urge to multitask and check your email, Facebook or Twitter feeds can leave impressions that you are too important to give the person you’re meeting your full attention. If you can’t resist the temptation know you are giving a poor first impression.
4. Ignoring Your Appearance: How you look and what you wear sends different messages to the person you are meeting. Your close friends may not care that you have killer coffee breath and are wearing unprofessional clothing, but someone you just meet may not be as understanding.
First impressions are important and must be considered, so that a good professional connection can be made. Do you have any tips or tricks for nailing first impressions? Share below!
Special Offer: Complimentary Consultation
Three Girls Media, Inc. is a public relations and social media management agency with teams in
Silicon Valley and the Seattle area. We love working with small and emerging companies across
the nation to raise their brand awareness and name recognition. We offer a complimentary
30-minute phone consultation with our CEO and can answer your questions and discuss your
specific marketing needs.
Call 408-218-2391 or Contact us today to arrange yours!
Photo Credit: Stacie Larsen