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Preparing to Make a First Impression

Discover how to prepare yourself for making a great first impression
Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 6 lessons.
Course: On-Demand
Beginner Provider Karen Chontofalsky  6 Lessons ·  13m  in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese 

Course Description

When preparing to meet someone new, it’s important to understand the context of the situation as well as who you’re meeting because, in business, the people you meet can have a big impact on your career. Even if you’re familiar with some of the people at an event or interview, you may meet new individuals, which is why it can be crucial to know what relationships you want to have with them and how you can behave to make a great first impression. This course will teach you to do quality background research before you enter a social situation. You’ll be able to discern topics that could make for meaningful and memorable conversation. Meeting someone for the first time can make anyone excited, and even the most experienced professional can come across challenging interactions, but you will be prepared to speak with new kinds of people. These lessons will show you ways to assess a social situation so you can behave appropriately.

This course discusses how to be ready for the unpredictable, like staying calm over sudden noises and distractions. You’ll be able to guide others’ attention back toward worthwhile conversation, and keep calm during tense moments to help put others at ease. We’ll also help you remain composed as you discuss information on topics you’re passionate about.

First impressions can include how you look and smell, so we’ll go over the keys to maintaining a clean and professional appearance for the occasion. You’ll identify the parts of your grooming that can benefit your overall style.

What You'll Learn

  • Ask the right questions before meeting new people
  • Conduct quality background research before entering a social situation
  • Assess a social situation so you can behave appropriately
  • Prepare to stay calm over sudden noises, distractions, and tense moments
  • Maintain a clean and professional appearance and grooming for the occasion
  • Guide others' attention back toward worthwhile conversation

Key Takeaways

  • In business, the people you meet can have a big impact on your career, so understanding the context of a situation and who you are meeting matters.
  • Doing quality background research before a social situation helps you discern topics that make for meaningful and memorable conversation.
  • Assessing a social situation lets you behave appropriately and prepare for the unpredictable, such as sudden noises and distractions.
  • Staying calm during tense moments helps put others at ease and keeps conversation on worthwhile topics.
  • First impressions include how you look and smell, so maintaining a clean and professional appearance supports your overall style.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will this course teach me to do?

It teaches you to do quality background research before entering a social situation, discern topics for meaningful conversation, assess a social situation so you can behave appropriately, stay calm during distractions and tense moments, and maintain a clean, professional appearance.

Who is this course for?

It is for people preparing to meet someone new in a business context, including experienced professionals who may face challenging interactions, so they can be prepared to speak with new kinds of people.

How do I prepare to make a great first impression according to this course?

By knowing what relationships you want with the people you meet and how to behave, doing background research beforehand, assessing the situation, staying composed during noises and tense moments, and maintaining a clean and professional appearance and grooming.

What topics or lessons does the course cover?

The lessons are Introduction, Assessing the Situation, Conducting Background Research, Preparing Well, Managing Appearance, and Test Your Knowledge.