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We all want to be successful in work and in life. Success is that which gives us happiness. It is an undeniable fact that a person’s success and his happiness depend on his way with people as much as that of the people around him. It is in the human nature to look for, if not appreciation, a reassurance about one’s work or personality, and this helps in considerable measure,  attainment of success. Creating positive feelings in the people around you or negative feelings depend a lot on how you approach them. Your approach leaves an impact in their minds. You create an impression.

“First impression is the best impression” is a hackneyed adage, but has lot of truth in it. You may want to impress your boss in your new job or you may want to impress your date.

You can be yourself and still impress people. First you must know how good you are in creating a good impression

Do you want to know how good you are at impressing people? Take the following test.

You will know where you lack.

Answer the following questions Yes or no.

Questions:

1.       You show outwardly your anxiety to give a good impression.

2.       You do not dress to impress.

3.       You dress to suit the occasion, though it may be casual at times.

4.       You are handsome and have unmistakable confidence in your personality.

5.       You try to show that you are rich and influential by your dress.

6.       You feel spontaneity is more important and do not prepare for the meeting.

7.       You feel you have a good reason, sometimes, and you fail to keep up an appointment or being punctual.

8.       You want to give an impression that you are better than what you really are.

9.       Sometimes you have to avoid eye contact because you feel the other person expects you to be different.

10.   You do not pay a lot of attention to your voice- as much as you care for what you say.

11.   You feel you are not an egoist and so do not like ego in others.

12.   You disguise certain flaws in you because you feel others may not like it.

13.   You always want to judge a person with your talk.

14.   You are better than the others and you want to show that.

15.   You are perfect and you expect others also to be so.

16.   You try to correct others mildly when you think they are making a mistake.

17.   You do not show appreciation even by your look when the other person impresses you.

18.   You try to please others by taking extra pains, rather than pleasing yourself by being your best.

19.   If you are criticized you show your resentment outwardly.

20.   You feel you deserve appreciation and if you are appreciated you say so.

21.   You feel having a sober countenance is better than sporting a smile always.

22.   You counter sarcastic remarks by being sarcastic.

23.   You are very much interested in what you say that you miss certain things others had to say.

24.   You say something is impossible when you feel so.

25.   You try to follow someone’s personality because he has impressed you.

26.   You do not want to be humble because people may take you for a person of low status.

27.   You like to say a lot about yourself.

28.   When others talk, you interrupt and ask questions, to show that you are greatly interested.

Certain points to remember:

Whatever be the occasion or whomever you want to meet, you must dress to impress.

You should be confident, but pride in handsome personality may give an impression that, you care more for your person than for other things.

Preparedness is important for any kind of meeting.

Do not try to curb the other’s ego. It will hurt because all of have ego; it differs only in degrees.

Tardiness never leaves a good impression, whatever the reason.

Voice should neither be too loud nor too low. It should be steady and confident. This can be achieved by practice.

It is always better that you are yourself, without disguises and change of personalities.

Have straight eye contact. This will show the honesty in you.

When you try to judge someone, the person can make out.

Even when you are perfect and better than the others, harping on it will not impress people. It may even have negative effects.

Be the best for your own pleasure and not for others.

The feelings over criticism and sarcasm should not be shown in words or expressions.

Approach everyone with a smile. Warmth and genuine goodwill will always be reciprocated.

Even when you feel something is not possible, do not bluntly say so.

Humility lends charm to a personality. It is not being servile. Be confident, yet humble.

Talking about yourself when you are not invited to and interrupting others will not impress people.

Your score:

Give yourself 1 mark for every “no” and 0 for every “yes”.

28 to 25                               you have an extremely impressive personality

25 to 20                              very good

20 to 18                              Good

18 to 15                              Moderate

Below 15                             You can improve by following the above tips.