Most people don’t realize that others form an impression of them within the first 7 seconds of meeting them.
7 seconds.
Before you explain your personality, your intelligence, your ambitions, or your achievements, people have already made assumptions about you.
On top of that, 93% of our communication is non-verbal.
At first, this may sound unfair. But here’s the thing: it is actually empowering. You only need to succeed in making a good impression within those few seconds!
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Imagine if you had to maintain a perfect impression for an entire hour. That would feel exhausting!
Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time studying etiquette, elegance, and social behavior. Living in Switzerland, I also regularly observe how truly elegant and wealthy people carry themselves in everyday life — and it is rarely loud or performative.
So today, I want to share seven etiquette-based habits that can help you make an elegant, refined and memorable first impression — regardless of the circumstances.
1. Never Turn Your Back When Entering the Room
Would you ever think that there are etiquette rules for how to enter a room elegantly? It seems like such a trivial task, but mind you—the way you enter a room counts toward your first impression!
There should be a fine balance between appearing confident and approachable, but not snobbish or narcissistic. On the other hand, we don’t necessarily want to look timid or out of place.
So, how do you enter a room correctly?
Never turn your back to the guests in the room.
Open the door with your right hand, step gracefully into the room, and close the door with your left hand. This ensures that you are always facing the people inside the room.
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2. Maintain a Friendly and Open Facial Expression
When people meet you for the first time, they are quick to observe your face. But what exactly are they looking at?
They are mainly looking at your eyes and mouth. And here’s the thing: if you want to make a great first impression, those parts of your face should appear open and welcoming.
This means that your mouth should be curved into a beautiful smile, and your eyes should be open and engaged, looking into the other person’s eyes. This creates an impression of friendliness, openness, and that you are inviting others to approach you safely.
If your eyes are narrowed or you are frowning, people will usually be less inclined to approach you, or they may approach you with hesitation. That is not what we want!
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3. Maintain Eye Contact
Most people have a problem with this one: maintaining eye contact during a conversation. And yet, it is such a chic and elegant thing to do! It signals that you are fully present, attentive, and interested in what the other person is saying.
This puts your conversation partner at ease and makes him or her feel respected—exactly what we want to achieve through etiquette and good manners.
So, how do you maintain eye contact without making it awkward?
- Look at one of the person’s eyes or at the point on the nose between their eyes.
- Try not to let your gaze drift to other parts of their face, as this may come across as awkward.
- Keep nodding occasionally when the other person is speaking to show interest—but don’t overdo it, as it can look bizarre!
- When you are speaking, maintain eye contact as well. However, glance to the side or look up every now and then, as if you were thinking deeply about the topic you are discussing. This also helps make your conversation partner feel less uncomfortable.
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4. Elegant and Chic Personal Presentation – Down to the Smallest Detail
So, how should you dress for whatever occasion you are attending? A chic dress, or something more casual? I would say:
Dress in a way that reflects how you want to be perceived and addressed.
For example, if you are attending a professional meeting and aspire to become a manager or earn a promotion, dress as if you were already the manager. People will notice your professionalism and managerial attitude through your personal presentation.
This actually touches on the concept of “be–do–have” and even the law of attraction.
Attention To Details
But here’s a very important thing to remember: the smallest details matter. If you want to appear elegant and refined, you shouldn’t overlook any details that could ruin your carefully planned presentation.
Which details am I talking about?
Imagine that you are dressed in a beautiful navy skirt suit with a crisp white shirt, perfectly tailored to your figure. You have spent time creating a natural and elegant makeup look and a chic yet professional hairstyle. Your shoes are clean and polished. Your handbag is well cared for.
Great!
But… your nail polish is chipped, and your cuticles are dry, red, and neglected. On top of that, there is a small stain on your skirt and a few loose threads. Then you take out your notebook, which has torn pages, along with a chewed-up pencil.
Suddenly, the elegant impression that you spent hours creating has dissolved in seconds!
That is why every detail matters.
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5. Posture Etiquette
What I love about having great posture and following etiquette is that it elevates your presence and makes your aura feel expensive. You can genuinely look like a multi-millionaire using a tool that is completely free.
Not to mention the health benefits!
Posture deserves an entire blog post of its own, but I will share a few important tips here:
- Keep your chin parallel to the floor.
- Roll your shoulders back.
- Engage your core muscles and gently pull in your stomach.
- Straighten your back.
- Keep your knees mostly together if you are a woman.
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6. Friendly and Welcoming Voice
As I mentioned before: 93% of our communication is non-verbal. 38% of how people perceive you is through your voice and the general sounds you make.
How can you improve your voice? How do you make sure that you sound good when speaking? There are four areas that you should work on:
- pitch
- pace
- rhythm
- how enthusiastic you sound
You should speak not too loudly, but also not too softly, and aim for a pleasant, natural intonation. Try not to raise your pitch at the end of a sentence unless it is a question.
Speaking too fast or too slow can be a sign of nervousness or may simply sound boring.
From time to time, it is good to make a pause. It definitely sounds more elegant than using filler words.
And lastly, if you sound passionate and enthusiastic about a subject, others will feel your energy and will have a much better impression of you.
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Open Body Language
The biggest chunk of our communication and perception of someone comes from body language—55%. More than half of your impression is conveyed through your body language. That is why posture is so important!
What is the etiquette of body language when making a first impression?
Most importantly, it should show openness and approachability. You should keep your torso open to the room and the colleagues around you. Therefore, keep your hands gently at your sides, or if you find that awkward, you can hold one hand with the other. However, keep the area from your waist up open. You could also hold a bag or a glass in your hand. Keep your right hand free and ready for potential greetings or introductions.
Avoid crossing your arms; not only does it close you off from your conversation partner, but you will likely also curve your back and lose proper posture.
Your legs should also show friendliness and openness, which you achieve through the placement of your feet. Ideally, they should point more or less toward your conversation partner(s). If they are pointing away, it gives the impression that you want to leave or escape.
Another important element is showing respect. Therefore, look into the other person’s eyes and respond naturally to what they are saying.
Also maintain an appropriate distance. This will vary greatly by culture, so you need to do your research. For example, my Argentinian boss, when she came to Switzerland to work, would often touch colleagues on the forearm when talking or hug them when saying good morning.
However, in Europe, people often keep more distance, and touching another person—especially in formal meetings—is considered inappropriate. In fact, I would politely excuse myself if I accidentally bumped into someone!
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Charisma and Positive Attitude
What is charisma, actually? A charismatic person has an aura of warmth and acceptance. They feel welcoming and kind. No wonder everyone wants to be around them!
No one wants to spend time with someone who appears uninterested, talks as if they have no interests, and would rather be home.
If you are not one of those people by nature, don’t worry—you can still learn how to become more charismatic.
However, your attitude and charisma are important in making a great and elegant first impression. People who master etiquette know that it is all about making others feel at ease, heard, and respected.
Therefore, focus on these key pillars:
- Warmth & Empathy
- Competence & Confidence
- Expressive Communication
