Photo by Avenue-Photo.com
by Danielle Andrews Sunkel
Here are some tips to use Body Language to your advantage during Intial Meetings with potential clients.
Give a Confident Handshake
A handshake can give the impression of a strong, confident and capable person or a meek, nervous one. You of course, want to give the impression of confidence and competence. A finger shake or wimpy, weak handshake doesn’t cut it in professional situations.
Strong eye contact, warm smile, firm handshake
Look the client in the eye, and put the web between your thumb and forefinger into the web of their thumb and forefinger. Your palms should be pressed together. Smile nicely and apply as much pressure as they do.
Warm Smile
Smile too big and you could look creepy, disingenuous and mistrustful, no smile and you are unfriendly.
Strike a balance in between with curved lips, little to no teeth and as Tyra would say “Smize!” Make sure your smile reaches your eyes.
Keep Your Body Open
Crossing your arms makes you look closed off, guarded, and even disinterested. Keeping your arms open makes you seem more approachable and open to their ideas.
This planner looks friendly, confident and approachable
Another tip is to keep your hands at waist level, straight at your sides can make you look disinterested and if you put your hands too high, you seem way too intense.
How You Sit
Sitting directly across from the couple, is a power situation and could subconsciously turn the couple off.
The Wedding Planner seems more reserved and formal.
Instead, try angling your body to the side, that subtle shift says, we are a team, I am on your side.
The wedding planner seems much more at ease and approachable.
Don’t check your phone
It is like broadcasting, “You are not the most important client to me!”
Hide that phone!
Give potential clients your full attention so that they know you will be attentive to you when they are your client.
So true! Great suggestions! It’s amazing how much people relax when you just smile a little!
It makes a world of difference Amanda!
These are great suggestions! I’m shocked by how many ppl still do not put away the cellphone when in a business meeting!
Crazy isn’t it Jennifer?
I do most of these without even thinking – smiling because I am so happy to be hearing about their plans, phone off because they are very important to me at that moment. I am always conscious of staying open – not crossing my arms, etc. However I didn’t think about how I sit, thanks WPIC, now I will keep that in mind too!
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