Meeting new clients, colleagues or associates is an integral part of daily business life. Follow these rules to help ensure that those critical initial encounters will be the start of profitable relationships.
A day in the life of every businessperson is made up of a series of meetings and
greetings.
Whether you are making the initial contact with a client or a colleague, you want to
get off on the right foot. Doing so will make the first encounter and subsequent ones
go smoothly and easily.
Getting off on the wrong foot can make for a difficult recovery. Save your energy for
later and use these simple strategies for a successful start
1. Stand up when you meet someone
This allows you to engage the person on an equal level - eye to eye. By remaining
seated, you send a message that you don't think the other person is important
enough to warrant the effort it takes to stand.
If you find yourself in a position where you can't stand up (such as being trapped behind a potted plant) offer an apology and an explanation. You might say something like,
"Please excuse me for not getting up. I can't seem to get around the foliage."
2. Smile
Your facial expression says more than your words. Look as if you are pleased to meet
the other person regardless of what is on your mind. Put a smile on your face for the
person standing before you.
3. Make eye contact
Looking at the people you meet says you are focused and interested in them. If you
are staring off somewhere else, you may appear to be looking for someone more to
your liking to come along.
4. Introduce yourself immediately
As soon as you approach people you don't know or are approached by them, say who
you are. Don't stand around as if someone else is in charge of introductions.
5. Include a statement about who you are when necessary
It is not always enough to say, "Hello, I'm Mary Jones." Give more information. "Hello, I'm Mary Jones. I work for XYZ Corporation."
6. Offer a firm handshake
Extend your hand as you give your greeting. The person who puts a hand out first
comes across as confident and at ease.
Make sure that this physical part of your greeting is professional. Don’t offer
bone-crushing grips or wimpy limp-wristed shakes.
If you are confused about men and women shaking hands, don't be. There once was a time when women didn't shake hands with men. We are past that. Everyone in
business shakes hands with everyone else.
7. Learn how to make smooth introductions
In business you always introduce less important people to more important people. The way to do this is to say the name of the more important person first, followed by the
words "I'd like to introduce..." and then give the other person's name.
Be sure to add something about each person so they will know why they are being
introduced and will have some information with which to start a conversation.
8. Know who the more important person is
The client or the business prospect is more important than your boss. Just hope your
boss agrees.
9. Pay attention to names when you meet people
It is all too common to be thinking about what you are going to say next and not focus on the other person. If you concentrate and repeat the name as soon as you hear it,
you stand a better chance of remembering it later.
10. Use first names of people whom you have just met only after they give you
permission
Not everyone wants to be addressed informally on the initial encounter. It is better to
err on the side of formality than to offend the other person right off the bat.
Your goal within the first few minutes of meeting other people is to make them feel
comfortable and to put them ease so they will want to do business with you.
When you are confident of the rules for those critical initial encounters, you will have a
solid start for long-term profitable relationships.
A day in the life of every businessperson is made up of a series of meetings and
greetings.
Whether you are making the initial contact with a client or a colleague, you want to
get off on the right foot. Doing so will make the first encounter and subsequent ones
go smoothly and easily.
Getting off on the wrong foot can make for a difficult recovery. Save your energy for
later and use these simple strategies for a successful start
1. Stand up when you meet someone
This allows you to engage the person on an equal level - eye to eye. By remaining
seated, you send a message that you don't think the other person is important
enough to warrant the effort it takes to stand.
If you find yourself in a position where you can't stand up (such as being trapped behind a potted plant) offer an apology and an explanation. You might say something like,
"Please excuse me for not getting up. I can't seem to get around the foliage."
2. Smile
Your facial expression says more than your words. Look as if you are pleased to meet
the other person regardless of what is on your mind. Put a smile on your face for the
person standing before you.
3. Make eye contact
Looking at the people you meet says you are focused and interested in them. If you
are staring off somewhere else, you may appear to be looking for someone more to
your liking to come along.
4. Introduce yourself immediately
As soon as you approach people you don't know or are approached by them, say who
you are. Don't stand around as if someone else is in charge of introductions.
5. Include a statement about who you are when necessary
It is not always enough to say, "Hello, I'm Mary Jones." Give more information. "Hello, I'm Mary Jones. I work for XYZ Corporation."
6. Offer a firm handshake
Extend your hand as you give your greeting. The person who puts a hand out first
comes across as confident and at ease.
Make sure that this physical part of your greeting is professional. Don’t offer
bone-crushing grips or wimpy limp-wristed shakes.
If you are confused about men and women shaking hands, don't be. There once was a time when women didn't shake hands with men. We are past that. Everyone in
business shakes hands with everyone else.
7. Learn how to make smooth introductions
In business you always introduce less important people to more important people. The way to do this is to say the name of the more important person first, followed by the
words "I'd like to introduce..." and then give the other person's name.
Be sure to add something about each person so they will know why they are being
introduced and will have some information with which to start a conversation.
8. Know who the more important person is
The client or the business prospect is more important than your boss. Just hope your
boss agrees.
9. Pay attention to names when you meet people
It is all too common to be thinking about what you are going to say next and not focus on the other person. If you concentrate and repeat the name as soon as you hear it,
you stand a better chance of remembering it later.
10. Use first names of people whom you have just met only after they give you
permission
Not everyone wants to be addressed informally on the initial encounter. It is better to
err on the side of formality than to offend the other person right off the bat.
Your goal within the first few minutes of meeting other people is to make them feel
comfortable and to put them ease so they will want to do business with you.
When you are confident of the rules for those critical initial encounters, you will have a
solid start for long-term profitable relationships.
