First impressions are so powerful that they can override what we subsequently learn about a person – as found in a study published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. That is, people are more likely to trust their own perceptions than facts shared with them by people with factual knowledge about a person or business – something that savvy business owners should take into account. First impressions in business cover a vast array of factors – everything from how employees are dressed to the cleanliness and tidiness of a business.
The Importance Of A Tidy Workplace
When clients walk into your office, they should not be overwhelmed by clutter, messy desks, or an overabundance of furniture and equipment. Rather, light, space, and optimal organization should predominate. Paint should be fresh, furniture good as new, and interior air clean and pure. Small and medium businesses should consider professional cleaning a must, since this type of clean leaves offices with a gleaming and professional look. To pay heed to sustainability, ask your cleaners to employ green cleaning techniques and products as far as possible. Professional steam cleaning, for instance, will leave floors and services clean and free of bacteria and viruses, and this method of cleaning does not require chemical products for effectiveness.
Determining Your Business’ Dress Code
Establishing a dress code at work will ensure that all employees do their share to uphold – and even improve – your brand. Dress codes vary greatly from industry to industry so one good place to start is with your competitors. For professions such as the law, economics, accounting, and finance, suits are usually the order of the day, while in creative fields such as the media, graphic design, and IT, more casual looks tend to prevail. Even if you work in a relatively informal office, it may be a good idea to think about the use of denim, sporty, or other clothing that may be more appropriate to social or sporting events.
Training Staff In Body Language
Body language is a key consideration taken into account when people meet one another for the first time. Having a body language expert visit your office to teach a brief workshop should be considered an excellent investment because staff can learn handy tips which are easy to adopt. Just a few tips they may learn include making eye contact when meeting someone new, keeping their arms and hands open (instead of crossing their arms over their chest, as this can look defensive), and avoiding fidgeting or touching their face.
Phone Manners Matter
All staff should know how to take a call correctly, identifying the business and themselves, and utilizing friendly, helpful language when dealing with clients. Staff should know how to attend to clients when the person they wish to speak to isn’t there as well. Instead of saying “I don’t know when the boss will be back,” for instance, they should let the client know, “I will let the boss know you’ve called as soon as I see her, and I will express the urgency.” Making an effort to smile while speaking also has a powerful effect, lending a friendly tone to your team’s voices.
First impressions matter greatly in both personal and business life. Businesses should ensure they make a fantastic first impression by keeping offices tidy and by ensuring staff look professional. They should also pay attention to body language, and make sure that clients are attended to well by phone.
