The Fundamentals of…Entering Any Room with Confidence

Your first impression happens the moment you walk into a room. Your entrance may matter more than you think. The way you enter a room can immediately signal confidence, purpose, and positivity to those who see you– and can set the tone for the rest of your business and social interactions.

Your first impression happens the moment you walk into a room. Your entrance may matter more than you think. The way you enter a room can immediately signal confidence, purpose, and positivity to those who see you– and can set the tone for the rest of your business and social interactions. So, how do you look confident the moment people see you and make a positive first impression?
I am going to share five tips for walking into a room with confidence:

Tip 1: Walk in With Purpose
The most important part of your entrance happens before you even walk into the room. The easiest way to signal confidence is to show purpose–purpose is a shortcut to confidence. The biggest mistake people make is they walk into a room purposeless. They wait to decide what they will do once they walk in. If you wait to decide what to do once you walk into a room, you will be more nervous and will exhibit nervousness.
Nervous behaviors are:
· Unsure eyes and footing
· Fidgeting
· Biting nails

Decide what you want to do before entering a room. Take time to do one or more of the following:
· Check your coat
· Greet the host or people/person doing check-in
· Get a drink
· Go to the bathroom

Tip 2: Relax and focus your gaze
When most people walk into a room, they start frantically searching–looking for someone they know, looking for food, trying to take everything in–that can make you look desperate.

Instead, relax and focus your gaze.
A relaxed gaze is a slow, methodical look around the room. Start it the moment you enter a room. This also gives you even more purpose–remember the most important part of your interaction.
As soon as you walk into a room, slowly sweep across the room until you find your goal. Then, make eye contact with your goal destination. You can use this technique whenever you enter a room to project confidence.
· When you need to cross the room to find a friend, use a relaxed gaze
· When you need to end a conversation, signal so by using a relaxed gaze
· On your way to the bathroom, use a relaxed gaze

Tip 3: Signal
When you enter a room, if you are unknown to them, people will sometimes assign a narrative to you. This is human instinct—we tend to size people up. When you enter a space, you want to exude confidence and put others at ease. You can do this by enacting a relaxed gaze, determining your focus and smiling.
When you identify your person or place of focus, give a nod and a smile, wave hello and confidently walk in your purpose.

Tip 4: Personal Greetings
Once you have taken in the space you’re entering with a relaxed gaze, offer warm and personal greetings to the people you encounter.
You can do this with people you know and do not know. You can offer hugs, a handshake (or COVID-friendly fist bump) to people you are comfortable with. Offer a genuine hello and pleased to meet you to new acquaintances. With each interaction, try to introduce a positive and personalized touch:
· (Name) it is so great to see you
· Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone
· A pleasure to meet you, (name)
· You look wonderful

Tip 5: Open with an interesting conversation starter
Your confident entrance will often flow into a conversation. You want to engage people with thought-provoking, interesting conversations. Try not to use the go-to, go nowhere topics, such as comments about the weather. These can deflate the air out of a great personal entrance and people will usually reply with a go-to, go nowhere response. Instead, use an engaging conversation starter like:
· This venue is great, have you been here before?
· That drink looks delicious; would you recommend it?
· I like your suit/dress/accessory, where did you get it?
· Great turnout! How long have you been here?
· I’ve never been here before, is this your first time?
· What a great group, how do you know each other?
· The food looks delicious. Have you tried anything yet?

So to recap, to maximize your confident entrance, make sure to:

Have a purpose when you walk into the room, use a relaxed gaze once you enter the space, if possible, greet someone with a smile when you enter a room, be personable, engage in meaningful conversation…and, lastly,
“Never dull your shine for somebody else.”
― Tyra Banks

I will be back soon with another “The Fundamentals of…”

I am going to share five tips for walking into a room with confidence:

Tip 1: Walk in With Purpose

The most important part of your entrance happens before you even walk into the room. The easiest way to signal confidence is to show purpose–purpose is a shortcut to confidence. The biggest mistake people make is they walk into a room purposeless. They wait to decide what they will do once they walk in.  If you wait to decide what to do once you walk into a room, you will be more nervous and will exhibit nervousness.

Nervous behaviors are:

·         Unsure eyes and footing

·         Fidgeting

·         Biting nails

Decide what you want to do before entering a room.  Take time to do one or more of the following:

·         Check your coat

·         Greet the host or people/person doing check-in

·         Get a drink

·         Go to the bathroom

Tip 2: Relax and focus your gaze

When most people walk into a room, they start frantically searching–looking for someone they know, looking for food, trying to take everything in–that can make you look desperate.

Instead, relax and focus your gaze.

A relaxed gaze is a slow, methodical look around the room. Start it the moment you enter a room. This also gives you even more purpose–remember the most important part of your interaction.

As soon as you walk into a room, slowly sweep across the room until you find your goal. Then, make eye contact with your goal destination. You can use this technique whenever you enter a room to project confidence.

·         When you need to cross the room to find a friend, use a relaxed gaze

·         When you need to end a conversation, signal so by using a relaxed gaze

·         On your way to the bathroom, use a relaxed gaze

Tip 3: Signal

When you enter a room, if you are unknown to them, people will sometimes assign a narrative to you. This is human instinct—we tend to size people up.  When you enter a space, you want to exude confidence and put others at ease.  You can do this by enacting a relaxed gaze, determining your focus and smiling.

When you identify your person or place of focus, give a nod and a smile, wave hello and confidently walk in your purpose. 

Tip 4: Personal Greetings

Once you have taken in the space you’re entering with a relaxed gaze, offer warm and personal greetings to the people you encounter.

You can do this with people you know and do not know.  You can offer hugs, a handshake (or COVID-friendly fist bump) to people you are comfortable with.  Offer a genuine hello and pleased to meet you to new acquaintances.  With each interaction, try to introduce a positive and personalized touch:

·         (Name) it is so great to see you

·         Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone

·         A pleasure to meet you, (name)

·         You look wonderful

Tip 5: Open with an interesting conversation starter

Your confident entrance will often flow into a conversation.  You want to engage people with thought-provoking, interesting conversations.  Try not to use the go-to, go nowhere topics, such as comments about the weather.  These can deflate the air out of a great personal entrance and people will usually reply with a go-to, go nowhere response.  Instead, use an engaging conversation starter like:

·         This venue is great, have you been here before?

·         That drink looks delicious; would you recommend it?

·         I like your suit/dress/accessory, where did you get it?

·         Great turnout! How long have you been here?

·         I’ve never been here before, is this your first time?

·         What a great group, how do you know each other?

·         The food looks delicious. Have you tried anything yet?

So to recap, to maximize your confident entrance, make sure to:

Have a purpose when you walk into the room, use a relaxed gaze once you enter the space, if possible, greet someone with a smile when you enter a room, be personable, engage in meaningful conversation…and, lastly,

“Never dull your shine for somebody else.”

― Tyra Banks

I will be back soon with another “The Fundamentals of…”