First impressions are important in most facets of daily life, but the consequences of making a poor first impression in a professional setting can be particularly damaging. Messing up a professional introduction can result in you losing out on job opportunities, business deals, potential customers, etc.

Professionally, it’s usually the case that your first impression is the only guaranteed impression you’re going to get. If you don’t put your best foot forward, you are very unlikely to get a second chance to smooth things over. That means there’s little-to-no room for improvement, as opposed to, say, impressions you make on people you’re likely going to see again.

But how do you make a good first impression in your work life?

First, let’s look at the different ways you may be leaving an impression before even meeting any new professional connections in person.

The Other Types of First Impressions

When we’re talking about professional introductions, we’re usually referencing things like job interviews, new client meetings, and so on. These are planned introductions that people can prepare for ahead of time. Hiring managers or potential business partners can reference materials such as resumes and social media accounts, which provide them with some surface-level impressions of you prior to meeting you.

Before you show up for any in-person meetings, you want to make sure that your resume, social media accounts, and references are a reflection of you at your best.

Assuming you’ve accomplished all that, here are some tips, based on actual behavioral science, for how to make a good first impression once you’re face to face with your new boss or colleague.

Tips on Making Great First Impressions

You’ve probably heard the statistic that it takes an average of only 7 seconds for a person to make an impression when meeting someone new. This obviously isn’t a lot of time, and in the context of something like a job interview, it means you have to be on your A-game the moment you walk through the door. Follow these tips to do just that!

1. Let them Introduce themselves

Research shows that most people enjoy talking about themselves and that being given a chance to do so can actually put people in a good mood. That’s why it’s a good idea to make a personal connection early on in the introduction and then give everyone else a chance to introduce themselves.

Remember, hiring managers and future colleagues aren’t the only people who can scan social media accounts. Try doing some research on the company and the people you’re going to meet ahead of time and be ready to ask them questions so they too can have a chance to speak and express themselves.

2. Demonstrate casual and friendly body language

As humans, we communicate a lot through our body language. Some research estimates that only 7% of our feelings and attitudes toward one another are communicated verbally. Additionally, 38% is transferred via tone of voice, and a whopping 55% of our communication comes from body language.

In order to make a good impression then, you want to make sure your body language matches what you’re saying. Exude confidence by not fidgeting, but don’t be so stiff that you’re limiting what would otherwise be natural gestures. Also, make sure to smile and maintain regular eye contact—especially when you are shaking someone’s hand or greeting them for the first time.

3. Be authentic but don’t overshare

One of the worst things you can do when trying to make a good first impression is get caught in a lie. That’s why it’s imperative in professional settings that you’re honest, particularly when asked direct questions.

That said, you also need to be wary of oversharing. Don’t be too open or too personal, and try not to dominate the conversation by going on and on about yourself.

4. Dress to Impress

Lastly, make sure you’re looking your best.

This tip might seem obvious, and we’re sure you’ve heard it before, but that’s because wearing the right clothes to professional introductions is very important. You see, dressing well doesn’t just affect how others perceive you, but it can also have an effect on how you perceive yourself.

There’s a concept called the ‘enclothed cognition effect’ that is based on the idea that your choice of clothing can significantly influence the way you think or act. One study even found that “individuals dressed professionally exhibit significantly greater measures of self-perception, compared to those in both casual attire and their own clothing.”