First Impressions – blink

I am reading the book “blink” by Malcolm Gladwell and he starts by talking about how people draw conclusions about other people in the first few moments of meeting.

First impressions, we’ve heard it all before: be ready, be prepared, this is a lasting impression, etc. But how can how be proactive about how you project your first impression? Think first. How you act is how you think. Before you meet that person for the first time think about how you feel about that person (it should be positive if you are trying to make a sale), think about what you would like from the encounter (good dialogue, agreement to negotiate, etc.), and think through the process. When you actually meet this person it may or may not go as you constructed in your head, but your attitude will shine through as they draw a conclusion about you in these first few moments.

Use this technique for any first meeting – how you act is how you think – what are you thinking about the people you are meeting?