8 Body Language Hacks To Utilize When Meeting Someone New

Body language plays an important role in making a good impression towards a prospective client or business partner. Being aware of the proper body language to use in the first meeting is vital to the outcome of the meeting. In this post, I shared with you 8 body language hacks to utilize when meeting someone new.

Meeting new people could be awkward for many of us. While some of us bask in the glory of meeting new people, it’s hard for many people to get out there and make a solid first impression. The way you present yourself in your first meet could potentially make or break your long-term relationship with that person.

In the business world itself, the first meeting can determine everything. If you’re pitching a client or looking for investors, how you behave and portray yourself during the 30 to 60 minutes you get is vital. One of the most undervalued things about making a good first impression is body language. Successful people are able to effectively tell people exactly what to think of them by controlling their body language and facial expressions. They use people’s instincts to their advantage.

Here are 8 body language hacks to utilize when meeting someone new:

1. Greet Them With Your Best Smile

A smile does work wonders during an initial meeting. A genuine smile delivered correctly signifies that you care for the person. A big and warm smile adds more richness and depth to the way a person perceives you.

A friendly smile has the ability to change a meeting from cold to warm really fast. People feel far more comfortable when they see that their counterpart is happy. Smiles are not only a great way to acknowledge someone, but it’s also a solid way to let the other person know that you’re enjoying their company. Cracking a smile in between conversations helps keep the mood just light enough.

2. Embrace The Power Of Touch

Gentle touches on the forearm or the shoulder of the other person while greeting them is another way to create a genuine and friendly approach. When first meeting someone, it’s all about doing little things to ease any possible tension that may be in the room.

You will understand how important a bit of touch plays in meeting and greeting a new person. A tap on the shoulder will also give away a feeling of warmth and friendliness. This shows that your care is genuine and it breaks down the barriers of communication, letting you get closer to this person.

3. Keep Your Posture Upright, Not Rigid

The secret to maintaining confidence while speaking is to have your spinal cord completely straight. A straight and firm back lets you articulate your thoughts correctly and gives you further confidence while speaking to someone new. Try to keep your body lose and your back straight without being rigid.

A Harvard study concluded that people who hold expansive poses and take up larger areas exhibit better levels of confidence as compared to those who don’t. Never shrink yourself in, because it may give out the impression that you lack confidence. Keep your chest out, back, straight and relax your body because these are all signs of a very confident person.

4. Point Your Feet Toward The Person You’re Talking To

In social settings, people pay the least amount of attention to their feet. I mean, why would you be thinking about your or someone else’s feet? You wouldn’t. That’s largely because the feet are furthest away from the eyes allowing nobody to see them (unless they blatantly look down).

However, since people don’t consciously pay attention to their feet, you can learn a lot about what someone is thinking subconsciously by looking at their feet. You can also improve your body language and first impression by paying attention to what your own feet are doing.

5. Make Your Neutral Face A Happy Face

Ever heard of ‘resting bitch face syndrome’? Some people claim their face at rest looks annoyed/angry, which makes people perceive them as unapproachable. You preferably wouldn’t talk to a person with that kind of an expression on their face or would be far less likely to approach them with a question.

It says nothing about the actual person though. However, it’s still a massive disadvantage to a person with that look in a business setting. Make sure that your face at rest (e.g. when you are working on a laptop) looks relaxed, if not happy. A simple trick is to have a look on your face like something is mildly amusing to you.

6. Don’t Break Eye Contact Instantly

People have a habit of looking away if they meet a person’s eyes. Try not to do this. Keep eye contact and smile. Often people will look away, though some people will hold your gaze.

–    Doing this has multiple effects:

–    People perceive you as more open

–     You will feel more confident

Please note that when you hold someone’s gaze, be sure to smile. Looking impassively can be perceived as very creepy.

7. Use A Firm But Gentle Handshake

Men are very judgmental when it comes to handshakes. A weak or ‘dead fish’ handshake will instantly cause another person to perceive that man to be lacking confidence or strength.

–    Don’t just ‘offer’ your hand; a handshake requires teamwork

–    Use the pressure you would use to grab the stick of a heavy pan

–    If a person is offering you a ‘dead fish’ handshake, don’t squeeze too hard (respect them)

8. Pivot Completely Towards Them

This is something that should be taken care of the most. In environments where multiple people meet and greet, your attention should be towards the one you want to make an impact upon. Once this person approaches you, try to pivot yourself towards that person completely and not just your face. Doing otherwise can convey a negative message that you don’t care enough about the person and are only conversing with him/her as a formality.

Give the person your undivided attention and completely turn towards them. To further improve it, try leaning in just slightly towards that person giving an impression that you are eager to listen to their thoughts. We only like people who respect us and show us that they really care for us by being attentive.

Conclusion

Body language plays an important role in making a good impression towards a prospective client or business partner. Being aware of the proper body language to use in the first meeting is vital to the outcome of the meeting. In this post, I shared with you 8 body language hacks to utilize when meeting someone new.