Comments on: Making Great First Impressions…Networking 101

By: Your Belt Must Always Match Your Shoes

Your Belt Must Always Match Your Shoes — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:49:43 +0000

[...] [...]

By: “NetCRED”….. How Much BLING Do You REALLY Have? | Under30CEO

“NetCRED”….. How Much BLING Do You REALLY Have? | Under30CEO — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:26:06 +0000

[...] I talk about how to network in real life, Networking 101: What Do You Mean “It Only Lasted Ten Seconds!?”, I say you have about ten seconds to make a first impression. If you haven’t read the [...]

By: Beth McDonough

Beth McDonough — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:43:42 +0000

Hi Sam! Another great article! While I agree with you regarding the importance of not infinging on another's personal social space and maintaining good eye contact, it is important to note that that is unique to Western culture. There are cultures where people feel more comfortable conversing as close as twelve inches apart and those that deem looking downward as a sign of humility. We need to remember that when dealing with individuals from other cultures.

In regards to attire, people really ought to invest in a full-length mirror and check how they look before leaving for an event. Today, a person arrived at an event with a wrinkled suit and the jacket's hem had come undone. No matter how articulate the person was, the audience had already discredited them.

One thing you did not mention is to smile...and smile often! You want to appear warm and approachable and not aloof or robotic.

Keep up the great work!

By: Beth McDonough

Beth McDonough — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:43:42 +0000

By: Sam Diener

Sam Diener — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:07:29 +0000

Wendy. What a great point, and thank you for your comments.

I do not address that here, but I actually did write about it in my “Creative Networking” article.

If you click, related posts, above, a link to that article should pop up.