BLT #22 | Making great first impressions

We’ve all heard the phrase: “You never get a second chance as a first impression.” So in 2025, we want to make sure we’re all armed to make the strongest first impressions we can.

WE BELIEVE:

First impressions are the first priority.

In a world where folks snap to judgments more quickly than ever, first impressions really, really matter. And with so many people looking for new opportunities at work, you’re deeply incentivized to make your first impressions as strong as possible.

That said, many folks - especially through the rise of remote work - don’t feel like they make strong first impressions when meeting new people. If that sounds like you, don’t worry. Making a strong first impression is within your reach doesn’t have to be time-consuming, costly, or inauthentic. Read on!

SOMETHING WE LOVE:

Understanding our own biases.

If you’ve ever been in a situation where you’re been nervous about the impression you’ve made after meeting someone new, you may be suffering from the Liking Gap, a cognitive bias where people “systematically underestimated how much their conversation partners liked them and enjoyed their company.” But the good news is that most people like us more than we think, there are ways we can mitigate the bias over time. You can read the full report here or jump right to this resource with ideas about how you can close your own Liking Gap when meeting new people.

YOU SHOULD TRY:

Keep it simple.

Next time you meet someone new in real life or on Zoom, focus on two simple (but critical) things to up-level your first impressions: make eye contact and kindly smile when you say hello. You’ll be amazed how such a simple effort can immediately set a positive tone for the rest of the conversation.

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