First impressions matter

                Everyone is nervous about meeting new people because getting them to like you can be really hard. If you are going to meet a potential new lover or friend, your lover’s parents or even a new coworker it’s really important to be yourself. If you try to pretend that you are someone else you will only make it harder for yourself because from that moment on you will be forced to act that way whenever you are around that person. Still, if you really need to make a good impression on this first meeting you might find some of the following tips very useful.

• ·        Dress appropriately. If you are going to the movies, to someone’s place or just for a drink it’s okay to be casual, but it’s really important to appear very neat and take care of yourself. Still, if you are going to a business meeting or to a fancy restaurant you should be really elegant. Of course, extravagant outfits are out of the question because you need to know a person better before showing them the “unique” side of your personality.
• ·        Start with shaking hands. This is the best way to greet someone you’ve never met before, because hugging is too awkward and just saying “hi” will give the other person the impression that you are not really interested in them. Still, if you’re way younger than the other person, don’t make the first step raising your hand to shake theirs, because it’s not polite.
• ·        Don’t talk too much. This will make you appear a bit mysterious so the other person will want to meet you again and again in a desperate attempt to figure you out. It will also prevent saying something really stupid and making a complete fool out of yourself.
• ·        Don’t give too much information about yourself. If the other person asks you something, don’t just go on telling them everything there is to know. Talking too much about yourself will make the other person want to escape that boring conversation.
• ·        Let them do most of the talking. People love to talk about themselves and if you pretend to listen they will appreciate your interest in their life story.
• ·        Let them chose the place and time and then give your opinion on what they chose. Letting them chose will make you appear really easy going, but telling them what you think about their idea will show that you still have a strong personality.
• ·        Give reasons for your statements. If you like their choice just compliment them saying what you like about the place they picked, but if you don’t, just tell them in a polite way, but also give reasons. Explaining why you like or hate something will show that you have your feet on the ground and that you’re pretty grown up. Only a childish person will say “Let’s not go there, because I don’t want to. I don’t know why, but I just hate that place.”
• ·        Avoid too many gestures. You don’t want to give them the impression that you have ADD. Still, it’s okay to use your hands when you try to explain something because that captures the other person’s attention.
• ·        Smile as often as possible. Of course, you can’t smile if you’re talking about children dying in Africa, but you should smile whenever you’re talking about something interesting and pleasant in order to let the other person know that you are enjoying their company and that you are having a good time.
• ·        Laugh at their jokes even if you only do it out of politeness. People feel more confident and comfortable around someone who understands their sense of humour. Laughing is the best way to make the meeting less awkward.
• ·        If you ask them something that appears to bother them, you will soon notice a different voice and a different manner of talking. They will probably avoid the subject, so just drop it and pretend to be interested in the painting on the wall.
• ·        If they ask you something that you do not wish to talk about, just make a joke about it. Giving them a short answer will make you appear really uncomfortable, so just laugh about it. For example if the person asks you about your relationship and you do not want to tell them how you’re always fighting with your girlfriend, just say something like: “It’s good, but you know how girls are… can’t live with them, can’t live without them.”