--- ---  # 5 Secrets to Always Making a Good First Impression ## 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 cafeGetty 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) 5 Secrets to Always Making a Good First Impression ```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":"2026-03-31T08:22:48.949Z","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"}}] ```