Last night, after rushing from picking up my daughter at the train station to feeding my kids dinner, I traveled a half-hour during rush hour traffic to get to a networking event at EWN. I was a bit frazzled as I entered the lecture on networking etiquette, but I was not nervous at all. I walked in with confidence. Over the past year, I have gone from being anxious and a little nauseous to feeling at ease and comfortable with networking events. I owe that ease to the many skills I have learned along the way, the most important being, Just Do It. Feel the fear, but do it anyway. The more I do, the easier it gets.
Kelly Solway, CEO of One Etiquette Place, spoke about the skills necessary to bring confidence and poise to any networking situation. She engaged us in a lively discussion about body language, for example the effect of uncrossing your arms in order to invite people to get to know you. She gave helpful hints about what to do when someone corners you. And she emphasized the importance of a good first impression.
These same skills are useful in the dating world.
As I embark on my new career as a dating coach for people dating after divorce, here are a few tips to make a good first impression.
1) Smile
2) Put your best face forward. Dress to flatter your body. Feel your best.
3) Stay open. Uncross your arms and legs.
4) Make eye contact.
5) Stay curious. Ask questions. Use more “You”s than “I”s in conversation.
Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression. Give it all you got.
