Three simple ways to make a good impression
Meeting an English-speaking person for the first time is your opportunity to make a good impression. You hope that the person will think that you're polite and a person with whom he or she can do business. So what can you do (or say) to give that impression? If it's true that we form an opinion of a person in the first minute of meeting - and plenty of research seems to agree - these three tips will help you make a great impression in English-speaking business culture.
1. Shake the person's hand firmly and look them in the eye
A limp handshake signals weakness, but an over-firm handshake can hurt! Aim for something that is firm and decisive, and move your hand up and down a couple of times. Shake the hand of everyone you are introduced to, no matter where these people are in the hierarchy of the organisation. (Hugging and kissing is very rare, and a sign of personal - rather than corporate - friendship.)
When you are introduced to someone and you shake their hand, look the person in the eye. Looking away or down at your shoes gives a bad impression in Anglo-Saxon cultures, as if you can't be trusted.
2. Say "Pleased to meet you" and smile
There are a variety of ways to show you are happy to meet someone. If you're being introduced to a number of people at the same time, it's enough just to say "Pleased to meet you" quietly to each person you meet. You can also vary it: "Nice to meet you" or "Good to meet you" or even (in less formal circumstances) "Hello". If you're being introduced to one person in a formal context, you can say "How do you do". The response to this is also "How do you do", but as it's not a question, remember that your voice falls at the end.
Smiling is a good way to appear friendly and human. A relaxed smile is usually more appropriate than a toothy grin.
3. Remember the person's name
This is probably the most difficult thing to do, especially if you're meeting more than one person at the time. It helps if the introductions are made relatively slowly and if the person being introduced also says their first name. One trick to fix names in your memory is to repeat them silently in your head. If, however, you forget the name of the person you want to speak to, be honest and say something like "I'm really sorry, but I've forgotten your name." The person won't be offended.
