Ways to Recover After Making a Bad First Impression

With the holidays approaching, introductions to your significant other's family may be on the calendar. Yes, it can be a daunting experience but there are tricks to make meeting the parents less intimidating. Or in the business world you have had bad impressions.  Bad first impressions are a fact of life. The good news is, with hard work and consistency, you can recover and show the true you. Here's how.

perhaps you were late for an important meeting with a new contact and came across as unprepared. Or perhaps you unintentionally said something offensive or told a joke that was taken personally. Whatever the cause, apologize as soon as possible. You can do this in person immediately or send a short email afterward. Apologizing is direct and will be better than ignoring the mistake. But don't overdo it; you may unintentionally make a sensitive situation awkward. Once you've sincerely apologized, move on.

As a result of your nerves perhaps you didn't make as much eye contact as you could have. Or maybe you glanced at your cellphone expecting an important message to arrive. Whatever the case, don't beat yourself up over it. While the perceived mistake might be magnified in your mind, it might have barely registered in the mind of the person or group you're talking to. Take note of the situation and be mindful of it going forward; there's no need to draw attention to your actions. If you've learned from it, move on and let it go.

 It's OK to be honest and admit that you're trying to make a good impression or that you're a little nervous, but once that's said make sure the next time you meet, you act as yourself. This reassures your new contact that you were indeed being honest and are who you say you are. If you have a great sense of humor, let it shine through. If you're talkative, take a step back and listen attentively. (Related: These are subtle habits you have that make people trust you.)

We're hardwired to think other people see us the way we see ourselves but that just isn't the case. They're likely thinking the same thing we are and are focused on trying to make a good impression as well. If you've made an honest mistake, say, for instance, you're dressed casually for a business meeting, own it and feel confident in yourself. People will be less likely to pay attention to your mistake if you're comfortable and act like yourself.

If you have a trusted friend or colleague with you, ask them what they thought of the interaction. If they agree you made a bad impression, ask them to talk to the person on your behalf. Only do this if your friend or colleague knows your new contact well. The reason being, your friend or colleague's opinion is trusted and the contact is more likely to believe them when they say this situation isn't indicative of who you are. If successful, this approach could allow you to recover from your initial misstep.

To be continued...keeping reading.