Articles Tagged with: first impression
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February 8, 2018
Why Your Story Matters in Business

Many years ago Dave, my college instructor and mentor when I worked in the Correctional System, said, “Stories connect people.” This was 1984 and this mentor moment has become one of the foundations of my life and business.

I quickly learned in my first week of working on the violent offenders unit that everyone has a story. These stories give us insight into a person’s life and his/her choices and help us connect in a way that can transform lives and pave new futures.  

Jerry, an inmate who had spent more of his life on the inside of the bars than the outside, was an incredible artist. This inmate was verbally abusive and physically aggressive to staff and other inmates. Shifts on his cell block unit were ones I did not look forward to.

One afternoon, I noticed him sketching on the back of a napkin. His art was compelling, emotive, and told a story… a story that told a different side to Jerry. This drawing (and many others) became the door to building trust and respect with Jerry. It also became the outlet for him to deal with the issues that led to him spending half a lifetime in jail. It is a strange lesson that to learn peace he had to go to prison.

I kept that nugget about “stories connect people” front of mind many years later when I opened my own dispute resolution company.

As a mediator, I again discovered that stories help build understanding between people in conflict, and stories also became the bridge to some of the most difficult relationship building processes. Stories connected people. While they may see the world differently and their life experiences are nowhere close to similar, there are always touch points in stories where people connect.  

Fast forward to Raise a Dream, a business I co-founded with serial entrepreneur Rebecca Kirstein. Every day, we see in the work we do with entrepreneurs and our programs that stories connect the audience.

Stories are also what connect entrepreneurs to sponsors. When corporate sponsors are considering backing a project, it is the story behind why you do what you do that helps build a more meaningful (and often more immediate) connection with the sponsor.

As you meet people through your business, at networking events, etc. remember that stories connect people.  

Charmaine Hammond, Raise a Dream

www.raiseadream.com

November 4, 2014
5 Ways to Make a Great First Impression

by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor

It only takes a few seconds for someone to gain an initial impression of you. Studies show that your tone of voice and body language actually make a greater impact on someone than the words you choose.

Here are some things to think about if you want to make a great first impression

5 Ways to Make a Great First Impression

1. Smile.

It seems so simple, but the warmth you send in a smile generally comes back automatically in a return smile. What a great way to start a relationship!

2. Eye Contact.

Another no brainer, but it’s amazing how many people will shift their eyes around the room to see if there’s someone better to spend their time with. Your have a much greater impact on someone when you focus on her while speaking.

3. Lean In.

And not just because Sheryl Sandberg says so. Leaning in is a strong way to show your interest and attention.

4. Head Nod.

This is actually something that women are better at than men. Nodding sends the message that you’re on board with the comments the speaker is making.

5. Open Posture.

Keeping your arms uncrossed sends a message that you are open to their ideas, rather than being defensive.

July 29, 2014
5 Ways to Lose Points While Shaking Hands

by Mary Cantando, Founder of The Woman’s Advantage, Guest Contributor

Whether you realize it or not, a good handshake is the first impression you make in meeting someone. And when you don’t shake hands correctly, you send a message that you’re lacking social confidence. More women than you would guess don’t know how to shake hands appropriately. It’s a simple thing that can make a world of difference.

If you avoid the five approaches below, you’ll win points with every introduction.

5 Ways to Lose Points While Shaking Hands

1. The weak, “ladylike” handshake.

This is my personal pet peeve; I think of it, not as ladylike, but as a “dead hand.” Maybe she was taught by her Great Aunt Mildred that a serious handshake is not ladylike, but the limp handshake sends a strong message that she lacks self-confidence. This is a simple thing to correct and the ROI is off the charts.

2. The “pumper.”

I notice this more in men than women, as the person pumps my arm up and down continually, and I just want to end the connection. Certainly not the best way to introduce yourself.

3. Eyes Right (or Left).

It bothers me when I’m shaking hands with someone who doesn’t make eye contact. Maybe she lacks confidence, or sees someone on the other side of the room she’d rather be with than me. Either way, it doesn’t make me want to know her better.

4. The “fingertip” approach.

When someone only puts her fingertips into a handshake, it sends a signal that she moves through life in a half-hearted manner. It’s called a “handshake” not a “fingertip shake.”

5. Squeezing the life out of you.

The opposite of the “ladylike” or “fingertip” is the “crusher,” a handshake so tight that it makes me want to pull away before any bones are broken. Find a happy medium and it will make a difference in your business and your life.

Copyright Pamela Chatry 2017. All Rights Reserved