When was the last time you consciously set out to make a great first impression? We often think of first impressions as something we implement for job interviews and first dates, yet your path to excellence and success (no matter how you define success) is paved with conscious efforts to generate a series. of great impressions.
Recently, I was invited to speak with one of the largest and best performing real estate companies in Virginia. The audience was a mix of seasoned professionals and eager new representatives.
An exercise that I do frequently with most audiences is that I ask them to imagine that they are about to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. They are some of the best musicians in the world and they are about to perform a symphony to a sold out audience.
What do you think would happen if they went on stage wearing sportswear instead of formal wear? Would that affect the audience’s perception of them?
For tonight’s performance, we are summoning the legendary Frank Sinatra. I was honored to personally perform with Frank Sinatra, and one element the entire orchestra agreed on was that he intentionally set out to make a staggeringly amazing first impression.
Frank Sinatra came out on stage with a big smile on his face, standing tall and fit, wearing a black tuxedo that fit him perfectly. He made eye contact with his audience, making them feel like he was singing to them in his living room and they were guests of honor. The audience was hypnotized by Sinatra.
An example of success that everyone could use in their world today is simply smiling and dressing in clothes that fit well. Also, stand or sit upright, don’t slouch.
Take advantage of your internal “Wow”
I asked my audience to imagine that they had just sold a half million dollar property. (and earned a good commission since they are Realtors).
They all stood with their shoulders back, made direct eye contact, and spoke with clear enthusiasm.
The way you behave creates an image in people’s minds. Your prospects don’t know if you’ve sold everything you’ve touched in the last 72 hours or if you feel like you can’t close a ziplock bag right now … other than how you present yourself.
Learning from this example: Practice being confident.
Become a conscious compliment.
One of the best illustrations of the power of compliments came from Dr. George W. Crane’s psychology class at Northwestern University. Dr. Crane believed in applying his teachings, not just memorizing his lessons.
He created the Compliment club. Every day, his students had to pay an honest compliment to each of the three different people … for 30 consecutive days. He also had the students write their experiences in a journal.
Dr. Crane asked the students to write a thematic article about their experiences. I wanted them to notice the changes they noticed in the people around them, as well as how this experience altered their own perspective.
Students found that by consciously complimenting others, they also felt motivated, encouraged, and inspired. Dr. Crane believed that words of thanks are the most powerful force for good on earth.
Everyone in life needs positive encouragement to help them grow, inspire, and motivate them to be successful.
Takeaway: Congratulate 3 people every day for the next week and watch your life improve.
You will also notice that the more you praise, the better you will connect with others.
Everyone loves to talk about themselves. Asking the right questions of the people you meet on a daily basis will deepen your relationship with them and also help you uncover some “undercover clients.”
No matter what your job is, stay positive, think higher, dress well, congratulate someone every day, and write down what happens every day.
Training yourself to give honest compliments to others is a fabulous door opener for your success. By talking to people you might not otherwise talk to, you are expanding your circle and building new and stronger relationships.
