Relationships are the key to survival and success for entrepreneurs,
and first impressions usually turn into lasting impressions. As an
advisor to many early-stage entrepreneurs, I caution them to always be
prepared for that chance meeting with a famous investor, a potential
partner or an industry guru. It’s not smart to believe that your passion
and gift of gab will impress anyone.
Advance homework and
preparation is key to every good first impression. With smart people,
you can’t bluff your way past tough questions, and talking more and
louder about your dreams won’t fill the gap of relevant content. Despite
the fact that you can’t predict the circumstances of every first
meeting, there are many
faux pas that you can avoid, including the following:
1. Failure to recognize an important person before introduction.
Every
entrepreneur should build a “cheat sheet” of 10 key individuals they
hope to encounter at any given meeting or networking opportunity. The
impact of responding first with facial recognition from LinkedIn or
Facebook is huge compared to possible alternatives.
Related: 5 Strategies for Subtly Dominating Meetings
2. Start talking immediately about your project and background.
Asking
questions and listening will leave a greater first impression more
often than talking. Even more impressive are targeted questions that
indicate you already have done your homework on their current role,
expertise and company affiliations.
3. Quick to name-drop common friends and business links.
A
mention or introduction from a shared friend will always give you an
advantage. But be cautious about dropping names of people who may not
really know you, or whose recollection of you may not be so positive.
The investors I know are quick to do some real due diligence.
Read More
