--- title: 5 Secrets to Always Making a Good First Impression description: Research shows that first impressions are even more important than you think: The findings indicate that getting off on the wrong foot has devastating long-term... canonical: https://time.com/3831202/5-secrets-good-first-impression/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-04-23T04:01:30.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:49:34.707Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 5 Secrets to Always Making a Good First Impression og:description: That handshake matters og:url: https://time.com/3831202/5-secrets-good-first-impression/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74136ad9c2ec2f2c/6987ec51cd6848089a09da40/170219752-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=338&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 338 og:image:height: 190 og:image:alt: people-shaking-hands-cafe og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 5 Secrets to Always Making a Good First Impression twitter:description: That handshake matters twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74136ad9c2ec2f2c/6987ec51cd6848089a09da40/170219752-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=338&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 5 Secrets to Always Making a Good First Impression > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=24508df0-9263-4266-aeef-50e8afed663b&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Game Changer: Amy Cuddy, Power Poser [Watch (HLS stream): Game Changer: Amy Cuddy, Power Poser](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ZUGEf6U2.m3u8) (5:58)  _Published 2012-03-19. Using a few simple tweaks to body language, Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy discovers ways to help people become more powerful_ by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Apr 23, 2015 4:01 AM UTC  Business people shaking hands in cafe Business people shaking hands in cafe Getty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Apr 23, 2015 4:01 AM UTC Research shows that first impressions are [even more important than you think](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/03/are-first-impressions-really-that-big-a-deal/): --- > “” --- And once first impressions are set, they’re very hard to change. Via David McRaney’s [You Are Not So Smart:](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592406599/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1592406599) --- > “” --- Most important part of a job interview? Yup, [the first impression](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/02/whats-the-most-important-part-of-a-job-interv/): --- > “” --- So they’re really important. But don’t get too worried; there are a number of simple things you can do to make a great first impression. Let’s get to it. ## 1) Assume They Already Like You Be “socially optimistic.” Assume people already like you and [they probably will](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/07/a-quick-easy-trick-for-getting-people-to-like/): --- > “” --- (For more on how to get people to like you, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/).) Okay, let’s get slightly sneakier… ## 2) Drug Them I’m not talking about anything illegal or scandalous here. Be like a loving mom and drug them with _tasty food_. A cheeseburger can be a [powerful influence tool](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/09/is-a-cheeseburger-an-effective-persuasion-too/): --- > “” --- Neuroscience research shows that [two cheeseburgers is the pleasure equivalent of one orgasm](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/07/does-one-orgasm-equal-two-cheeseburgers/). Or just offer them some coffee. The smell of java makes us [nicer to one another](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/10/can-the-smell-of-cookies-make-us-nicer-to-eac/): --- > “” --- (For advice on how to best use caffeine — from a neuroscientist — click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/02/advice-on-how-to-best-use-caffeine-from-a-neu/).) And some ways to click with others are obvious, but even more critical than you think… ## 3) That Handshake Matters Definitely [shake their hand](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/10/simple-improve-impression/): --- > “” --- In fact, a firm handshake was correlated with [being hired after a job interview](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/01/how-much-does-a-firm-handshake-matter-during/): --- > “” --- (To learn what people can tell about you from your handshake, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/12/5-things-people-can-tell-about-you-from-your/).) So your handshake should be firm. Should you make yourself sound good or be modest? ## 4) Spin Things (Just A Bit) Speak positively about yourself. It’s actually [better than being modest](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/10/to-make-the-best-impression-should-you-be-tot/): --- > “” --- Frame the conversation with a few well-rehearsed sentences regarding how you want to be perceived. This will end up being the structure the other person forms their memories around. Via [Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416596178/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1416596178): --- > “” --- Sound shady? Not really. Research shows that putting your best self forward actually [reveals your true self more accurately](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/05/does-putting-your-best-self-forward-reveal-yo/): --- > “” --- (To learn a shortcut to bonding with a romantic partner, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/08/is-there-a-shortcut-to-bonding-with-a-romanti/).) Think you should be suave like [James Bond](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/10-ways-science-explains-why-james-bond-is-so/) when trying to make friends? Don’t do it… ## 5) Don’t Play It Cool You know who makes a better first impression than you do? People with racist beliefs. Seriously. You know why? Because they have to put in effort to not come across badly. Going the extra mile to come across well [has positive effects](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/06/do-racists-make-a-better-first-impressions-th/): --- > “” --- What’s the best way to make that effort? Simply show interest. Listen to what people have to say and [ask them to tell you more](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/01/how-to-easily-be-more-likable-and-make-people/): --- > “” --- (For more on how to be the kind of person people love to talk to, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/02/love-to-talk/).) Okay, we’ve got a number of good insights. Let’s round them up. ## Sum Up 5 research-backed tips on how to make a great first impression: 1. **Assume they already like you and they probably will.** 2. **Drug them! Meet over food or coffee, if possible.** 3. **Always shake their hand. It makes a big difference.** 4. **Being positive about yourself is better than being modest.** 5. **Don’t play it cool. Show interest and ask questions.** First impressions make a huge difference but improving them is quite simple. Even if social skills aren’t your strong suit, you can make a solid connection with people. As Oscar Wilde said: --- > “” --- **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2015/04/first-impression/)**_._** **Join over 180,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.** Related posts: [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/) [The 8 Things The Happiest People Do Every Day](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/happiest-people/) [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/) _Read next:_ [_How to Be Cool: 5 Research-Backed Tips_](http://time.com/82905/how-to-be-cool-5-research-backed-tips/%20?iid=time%5Freadnext) [_Listen to the most important stories of the day._](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/autoplay/?xid=spl-fullbrief-article) ## Transcript Power is expressed through these highly specific, evolved, nonverbal displays. [ MUSIC ] I think it's interesting to look at images of Obama where he will be leaning back with his feet up on his desk, and, you know, really spread out, when he's sort of in his own space. Powerlessness, on the other hand, is expressed through the very opposite nonverbal displays. When that comes to mind is an image of Michelle Obama on the cover of Vogue where she's all sort of crossed up in making herself really small, which to me doesn't even fit her, it doesn't suit her. [ MUSIC ] I'm Amy Cuddy and I'm a social psychologist and Professor Harvard Business School. [ MUSIC ] My main collaborator in this research, Dana Carney, and I we're having a conversation after teaching MBA students at two different schools. One of the things that we noticed was that the students who were participating a lot had different body language from the students who were not participating a lot. Who intended to be women and non- white men. What we were really interested in knowing was whether or not you could change their body language and actually change the way they felt and behaved. Testosterone is known as the dominance hormone. It's associated with confidence and assertiveness. Cortisol, on the other hand, is known as the stress hormone, and that's associated with an inability to adapt in highly stressful situations. [ MUSIC ] People looking at primate hierarchies notice that of one member of the hierarchy becomes more powerful. Within a short period of time that members testosterone level rises and his cortisol level drops. So, we started wondering if you pose as if you have power, will your body and your mind change in a way that looks as if you have power? So in short we're really asking, you know, can you fake it till you make it. So to test the predictions, we had people come into the lab we took a saliva sample to get their baseline hormone levels. After that we randomly assigned them to one of two conditions. [ MUSIC ] It was a high- power- pose condition or a low- power- pose condition. So what we found was that after just two minutes of high- power posing or low- power posing. You get these changes in testosterone, cortisol, and risk- taking behavior in ways that are consistent With actually having power in the real world. [ SOUND ] The lab is set up for psychophysiologicall studies. So we're measuring things like heart and respiratory rate in addition to the hormone measures. [ SOUND ] What we know is that sitting or standing in these high power poses causes these changes that are consistent with having power. What we want to know now is how far does that go outside the lab? You know, what can you do with that? Where can you take that? Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. What we were interested in is not turning Gordon Gekkos into bigger Gordon Gekkos. What we were interested in. Were these students who are sitting quietly? Even if they were really smart but lacking the confidence to really get in there. And we knew that would be a problem for them, not only in the classroom but after they leave school in job interviews, leading team meeting, just sort of in life in general. [ MUSIC ] If you think about what people are doing before a job interview, what you picture, probably, is somebody sitting in the chair and they're sort of hunching over their iPhone or their BlackBerry. And they're making themselves small. What we're finding so far, and this is ongoing research, is that the people who sit. [ MUSIC ] Or stand in these high powered poses for just a couple minutes. They're evaluated more positively overall. And they're more likely to get the job. So you can go ahead and put your hands behind your head like this. People st, started asking us, are you recommending that we just, you know, put our feet up on our desk and our hands behind our heads, and we're in a job interview? We weren't recommending any of those things. You know, this was not about what you do during the interaction, this is what you do before the interaction. They should be finding a space, even if it's a bathroom stall, to expand and make themselves as big as possible. Walk up and down the hallways swinging your arms, stand on your toes. [ SOUND ]. I've heard from a World- Class Violinist, who now power- poses before he performs and he says it's dramatically improved his performances. [ MUSIC ] I've heard from an older person, a retiree who uses power poses before she goes into talk to her doctor. I, I can't believe the range of applications. I'm learning so much. [ MUSIC ] When I was 19, I was in a really bad car accident and had a very serious brain injury. I had doctors telling me, you probably aren't gonna finish college. [ MUSIC ] The neuropsy testing was sort of suggesting the same thing, that I had lost IQ points, you know, significant percentage of my IQ points. And I finally decided that the doctors were just wrong I didn't have to accept things as they appeared to be. So I think it's that same irrational and stubborn optimist in me that led me to belive that you could make this kind of change This is a really tiny tweak. This is something so small that you can change and get a pretty big effect. I mean we don't know how long it lasts, but it's a big effect. What are the other tiny tweaks that you can make that can change and improve your life, and other people's lives? ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3831202/5-secrets-good-first-impression/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3831202/5-secrets-good-first-impression/"},"headline":"5 Secrets to Always Making a Good First Impression","datePublished":"2015-04-23T04:01:30.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:49:34.707Z","description":"Research shows that first impressions are even more important than you think: The findings indicate that getting off on the wrong foot has devastating long-term...","url":"https://time.com/3831202/5-secrets-good-first-impression/","keywords":["Psychology","Careers & Workplace","Business topic","job interview"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74136ad9c2ec2f2c/6987ec51cd6848089a09da40/170219752-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt74136ad9c2ec2f2c/6987ec51cd6848089a09da40/170219752-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"people-shaking-hands-cafe","caption":"people-shaking-hands-cafe","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3831202/5-secrets-good-first-impression/","name":"5 Secrets to Always Making a Good First Impression"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Game Changer: Amy Cuddy, Power Poser","description":"Using a few simple tweaks to body language, Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy discovers ways to help people become more powerful","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/ZUGEf6U2/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2012-03-19T13:26:52.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ZUGEf6U2.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3831202/5-secrets-good-first-impression/","duration":"PT5M58S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3831202/5-secrets-good-first-impression/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```