We also went over greeting people and making introductions.

For practice this week, practice making introductions using the following scenarios:

1. Introduce your best friend and your grandmother.
2. Introduce your father and your favorite teacher.
3. Introduce your new friend, Alex, to your friends… Jordan, Peyton, Jaden, and Dakota.

Here are just a few more points about meeting and greeting people in a more formal situation…

• If you are sitting behind a table or desk when meeting someone, move from behind the table or desk before continuing with your introductions.
• If you are inside, gentlemen, remove your hats.
• If possible, remove sunglasses during introductions so the other person can see your eyes.

If you run into someone later and have forgotten his or her name, chances are that he or she has forgotten yours as well.  If you offer your name (e.g. “It’s good to see you again.  I’m Pomegranate.”), then they will probably give you their name in return (e.g. “Yes, it is good to see you again, too.  I’m Peaches.”)

If someone is introducing you and seems to have forgotten your name, jump right in and offer it yourself.   We all have a brain-freeze now and again.

We have gone over many guidelines for introducing yourself and others.  While it is great to remember these guidelines, the most important point is to meet and greet people with genuineness and sincerity.

First, let’s summarize this week’s lessons.

When you meet someone for the first time, make sure you have a good attitude. Then make your greeting…

1. Face the person
2. Eye contact
3. Smile
4. Greeting – “Hello” or “Hi”
5. Handshake or nod
6. Lean

After the initial greeting, maintain open body language by having an open stance, maintaining eye contact, with your arms uncrossed and your hands open.

We will go over formal introductions in another lesson. For now, concentrate on your greeting.

Here are a few scenarios for practice…

• You are meeting your friend’s Aunt Gertrude.
• You are meeting your mom’s friend, Mrs. Hunkleberry.
• You are meeting Bob, the world’s first talking elephant.

See if you can come up with a few more.

Try these movements while facing a partner…

• Stand facing your partner with your feet slightly apart – shoulder width or less
• Arms uncrossed and hanging relaxed at your side
• Hands are open
• Establish eye contact
• All of your facial muscles are relaxed with maybe a hit of a smile. No smirking, though!
• Lean forward just a very little bit. Minus 10 points if you fall on top of the other person!

This is open body language that tells the other person you are interested and engaged in what they are saying.

Now let’s try some closed body language…

What do you think closed body language looks like?

Strike a pose!

How many of these did you incorporate?

• Body turned away
• Arms crossed
• Hands clenched
• Avoid eye contact
• Eyebrows furrowed, looking angry, bored, agitated, or just plain uninterested
• Fidget – shift from foot to foot, making excessive movements like you are ready to flee

Did you come up with any movements that weren’t on the list?

The closed body language says, “I am uncomfortable, agitated, or uninterested.”

If you are trying to make a first impression, which should you use? Hint – It is not the second one.

Try this same exercise sitting down.

Open body language would include leaning a little forward while sitting straight in the seat or sitting forward toward the edge of your seat. Closed body language would include slouching, leaning to the side, or leaning back.

Actually, if you are meeting someone for the first time, stand while you are doing your introductions and use your open body language.

1. Face the person you are meeting. Meeting with your heart area exposed shows that you are warm and open. Make sure your attitude reflects this also!
2. Make eye contact. Be relaxed, though. It’s not a staring contest.
3. Smile. Not a big, toothy, scary smile, either! But a casual, gentle smile.
4. Say some form of greeting. “Hi” or “Hello” will usually do it. “Nice to meet you” is good in formal situations. Stay away from “Yo!” If you say the other person’s name in the greeting, you get bonus points!
5. Accompany your greeting with a handshake or a small nod of your head. Use a handshake in formal situations or if you really want to impress the adults. A small nod of your head is sufficient in casual situations.
6. Lean forward a little as you give your greeting. Leaning forward shows interest. Don’t fall into the person, but just a slight lean will let the other person feel you are interested in meeting him or her.

It is as simple as that!

It looks like there are so many things to do, but all of these steps happen within 2 seconds. But they are a very important two seconds when making that first impression.

When you follow these steps, the person you are meeting will feel warm and welcome. Isn’t that how you want to feel when you meet new people? There is that Golden Rule!

To summarize those steps:

1. Face the person
2. Eye contact
3. Smile
4. Greeting
5. Handshake or nod
6. Lean

The answer is maybe.

It all depends on you.

If you want to change your attitude, then you can. If you don’t want to change your attitude, then you won’t.

If you do want to change your attitude, then here are a few things you can try.

Is there something in particular that is causing your bad mood? If so, is there anything you can do about it? Do you need to talk to someone about it or do something to clear up the issue? If so, get it done.

If you are just in a bad mood, then get your body moving.

If you have some time, take a walk. Walking helps dissipate that negative mood energy and replace it with the energy from the walk.

Jump up and down. Make silly noises. Spin around in a circle. Stamp your feet. Make gigantic lion roars. Wave your arms. Imagine the negative mood draining out of your body, through your feet, arms, and mouth.

Of course, you may want to do all of this in a private place. A jumping, stomping, spinning, waiving, silly noise making, roaring person usually doesn’t make the best first impression.

Can you tell when your mom is in a bad mood, even if she doesn’t say anything?

Can you tell you’re your dad is in a joking mood and when he is not?

Many times we can pick up on how people are feeling, without them saying a word. It has to do with the different energy that we put out. Everyone puts out this energy without thinking about it, and it matches our moods and attitudes. Other people can automatically pick up on this energy and can often tell your mood or attitude.

In this way, our attitude can show itself before you do anything.

So what does this mean when we meet people?

When you meet someone new, you have just a few seconds to make a first impression. That first impression will last a long time in the other person’s mind. Having a good attitude goes a long way in making a favorable first impression.

You could have the biggest smile and say all the right words, but if your attitude doesn’t match, the other person will probably pick up on it and think…”Something isn’t quite right here.” This does not lead to a good first impression.

And your attitude will automatically be reflected in your voice and body language.

So when meeting someone new for the first time, check your attitude first.