MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

Starting from your outfit to shaking hands and closing the deal, every detail can be critical to your success... or not. After we have spent months without face-to-face contact and virtual meetings, there is a tendency to think that everything can be informal. However, back to face-to-face meetings, lunch meetings, trade fairs, you need to focus on what can make you remembered. The world may evolve, but certain things will continue to be important. How do you and your team present yourself at an event? For men, suit and tie. You may even object, "no more formality is necessary". Believe me, the way you dress still makes all the difference. Take the test, wear casual clothes and go to a company to talk to the CEO. Wear an appropriate suit, tie, shoes and socks and return to the company with the same purpose. The way you will be received will be totally different. There is an implicit respect in dressing formally. For women, the same. What image do you want to convey? Professional, competent, an expert in the work you do, right? So your business card will be, first and foremost, the way you choose to dress yourself! Short skirts, tight pants and low-cut blouses are great, for the club, for a personal meeting. For a professional event, you must convey the image of what you are: the most competent professional that your client and your company could wish for. A well-cut skirt or pants, a shirt that is not see-through or low-cut too much, and a blazer, if necessary. Earrings suitable and not those for a samba school parade! Charm, discretion. You want to attract attention for your professional expertise and you don't need gimmicks to do so, or what parts of your body attract more attention than the product you are presenting. Don't pass the wrong image.

Going through the first visual impression test, let's talk about something that was commented on all social networks available in the world, referring to a certain president who "shakes" the hand of a certain prime minister for too long (and inappropriate intensity). Remembering that the handshake is an evolution of the "arm wrestling" used by the Romans, it's good that your handshake is firm, without exaggerating, leaving your thumb always on top. Did you know that there is a "dispute" in a simple handshake? Pay attention, hand steady, not squeezing, but not letting the other lead your thumb down. A handshake shouldn't last longer than 3 seconds (not those 20 seconds that poor prime minister had his hand squeezed!) Next week we're going to talk about HAPPY HOUR, LUNCH AND DINNER: how not to ruin a first good impression!