First impressions are powerful and lasting and people even say that you never get a second chance to make a first good impression. A lot of studies have shown that this can be true, but sometimes, despite all your efforts, something goes wrong. Whether you are too anxious or your jokes fall flat, you might not make the good first impression that you wanted, but the good news is that you can get a second chance. There are still a few ways to save the day and fix that bad first impression. If you want to be successful, then you must be aware of the importance of building and maintaining good working relationships. Here are a few lifesaving tips that’ll fix a bad first impression:
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1. Decide Whether It’s Worth Fixing
Before you decide to address a bad first impression, try to evaluate the situation and decide whether it’s really worth saving. This depends upon the situation and the importance of it. You can’t please every person you meet no matter how hard you try. If the relationship is not important to your personal or professional life, then it’s better to just let it go. For example, if you created a bad first impression to a random person at a party, then just leave it like this if you won’t see them again. However, if that person is your future boss, then you should do everything in your power to fix it.
2. Take Swift Action and Apologize Immediately
First impressions are formed quickly, even faster than most of us realize. If you made a bad first impression and you are trying to fix it, then you need to take action. Apologize immediately in order to minimize the damage you made the first time. An apology is not a sign of weakness; it’s just a tool for preserving and extending your relationship.
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3. Admit Your Mistake but Don’t Dwell on It
We are all human and we all make mistakes. If you made a bad first impression, just admit your mistake but don’t dwell on it. Admitting you are not perfect is the first step to correcting your mistake. Try not to become obsessed by it because you might not notice the solution to your problem.
4. Don’t over-apologize
It's okay to apologize if you made a bad first impression but try not to over-apologize. If you overdo it, you might create another uncomfortable situation since it puts the other person in the uncomfortable position of having to constantly reassure you.
5. Don’t Let Your Imagination Run Away with You
Usually, what people imagine is far worse than what really happened, so try to tame your imagination and correctly evaluate that situation. Did you really screw up? Did you offend or hurt the other person when you first met them?
6. Pivot
If a straight apology is not all it takes to fix the situation, then you should try to show off a more favorable and different side of your personality. Try to demonstrate compassion, sincerity, kindness or professionalism. If you are shy, try to smile more and initiate conversation. On the other hand, if you are too outgoing, take a step back and listen.
7. Ask for Advice
This tip comes from persuasion guru Robert Cialdini, who says that when someone dislikes you, the best way to put the relationship on a fresh footing is to ask that person for advice. Not only it will be flattering to them, but it will also offer you the opportunity for future positive interactions.
If you want to fix a bad first impression, you should try to be persistent and stable in your subsequent behavior, because if you want to win someone over, your future behavior should be consistent with how you want to be perceived. Have you ever made a bad first impression? How did you fix it? Do you know any other lifesaving tips on how to fix a bad first impression? Please share your tips with us in the comments section!
Sources:
inc.com
artofmanliness.com
dumblittleman.com
Comments
peony: The apology situation is very true. If you drag it on and apologise much later it makes things harder and awkward. Brilliant post.
M3g: When I had a very critical boss, I just took the direct approach and asked her what her expectations were of me and how I could improve more to her liking. Sometimes, you just have to swallow your pride and take one for the team.
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