5 Universal Habits to Help You Make an Amazing First Impression
I don’t know about you, but communicating with others can sometimes be both confusing and frustrating.
First impressions, especially, are fickle and often appear impossibly difficult to master.
They come only once and often leave others with a lasting impression of us that can often contradict who we really are, affecting both our personal and professional life in an unpredictable fashion.
So, how are we supposed to leave a great first impression, no matter who we’re meeting, every time? If you can get this down, you’ll have a valuable interpersonal tool to utilize for the rest of your life.
Making a strong first impression is as important as ever, especially when meeting face-to-face.– Joseph Abboud
Fortunately, there are some universal traits that research has now discovered virtually always help make a better first impression, simple habits which anyone can utilize easily.
Here are five surprising habits that can help you make an amazing first impression.
1. Smiling
According to a recent survey conducted by Kelton Global for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 48 percent of Americans say that a smile is the most memorable feature when meeting someone.
The important thing to remember here, though, is that authenticity is important. You shouldn’t have a fake, plastic smile just to impress. Instead, give your best warm, honest smile to make a great impression.
2. Using the other person’s name
Think back to the last time you had a conversation with someone who used your first name, particularly someone who wasn’t a close friend or family member. The sound of your own name feels pretty good to you, doesn’t it?
Well, there’s now research to back this up as helping improve first impressions. "People like to hear you mention their name in conversation, and research shows it makes them feel validated," said psychologist Paulette Sherman in a recent interview with Bustle.
3. Mimicking behavior
One of the single most important things you can do to make a great first impression is to mimic the other person’s behavior. This comes down to two primary things: body language and vocabulary.
A New York University study found that subjects who subtly mimicked the behavior of others made a better first impression, from posture to facial expressions, a handshake, and other forms of body language.
In addition to this, research conducted by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Poland has confirmed that the "chameleon effect," the tendency for people to copy the behavior of those they meet, actually helps us make a better first impression by making the other person feel at ease.
Specifically, researchers studied what happens when we use the vocabulary of the other person we’re speaking with, suggesting that mimicking the other person’s words can help us make a better first impression.
4. Making little mistakes
Doesn’t it feel like most of the people you meet are being fake? In some small way, most of the people we encounter tend to be either covering up for some self-perceived flaw or hiding their real ambition behind a nice face or honorable cause.
Clearly, we notice it. However, we never think the other person does when we do it. This is a difficult thing to change and a whole other topic in itself, but helping this fact can be tough because most of us do it unconsciously due to insecurity.
That’s why humanizing ourselves is a great way to improve our first impression. We want to see that someone is human, flawed, like us, and that they’re not afraid of expressing that.
And that’s exactly what a recent study explored and suggested when it studied the way humans reacted to faulty and non-faulty robots, finding that the participants reacted far more positively to the faulty robots, which helped develop a stronger connection.
5. Asking for favors
Surprisingly, asking for (or simply receiving) a small, reasonable favor can be the perfect thing to help improve your first impression.
It might not sound logical, but it works as a sort of "trick" of the mind due to cognitive dissonance. According to the study authors, because we typically only perform favors for people we like or care about, when we do a favor– even something small like passing the salt, opening the door, or getting us a seat– for someone we’ve just met, our mind reconciles that we must like them to some degree if we were willing to perform the favor.
It might be a small thing but when it comes to making a great first impression, every little thing counts.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.