We have all been told countless times that first impressions are vitally important. So what happens when the first impression you make is the one you’d really like to take back? Worry not; according to the experts, there is much you can do to rewrite that first bad impression.

Dos and Don’ts after Making a Bad Impression

At Susanfee.com, Coach Susan Fee explains what to do – and what not to do – in “Overcoming a Bad First Impression.” Susan offers six tips that include apologising immediately without being overly apologetic, and trying a little self-deprecating humour to break the tension and show yourself in a different light.

Here at ehow.com, Barbara Aufiero offers five tips on “How to Overcome a Bad First Impression.” While Barbara also suggests an immediate apology as her first tip, she also reminds us to avoid back-peddling or becoming insincere. Another suggestion is to think of the second meeting as a clean slate. Don’t allow that first bad impression to affect your attitude or self esteem.

Does Your Bad Impression Matter?

Ash Karbasfrooshan at AskMen.com provides some interesting angles in this article on overcoming a bad impression. Maintaining that it is possible to change the way people perceive you, he says you still shouldn’t worry about it more than necessary. Karbasfrooshan’s view is that one should concentrate more on doing good things than on making good impressions. Let your actions speak for themselves.

Be Prepared

Whether dealing with an important job interview or a social situation, you need to know in advance how to handle yourself if you want to bounce back from a bad impression.

Here in “10 Ways to Make a Bad First Impression – and How to Recover,” Liz Seasholtz discusses what can go wrong on the day of a job interview and how you should respond in each instance. As far as timing goes, make sure you’re not too late or too early. If you find yourself running late, call the interviewer and ask if they still have time or if they could possibly reschedule. By showing your respect for their time, you may save a bad situation. As for early-birds, Liz says don’t sit in the waiting room for half an hour, you will just look desperate – better to go have a cup of coffee and come back right before the scheduled time. Liz also highlights the importance of using humour to make a comeback, and retells a story in which a woman wins herself a job by keeping her composure in a difficult situation.

For an entertaining and insightful video demonstration – visit s11hub.com to learn “How to Bounce Back from a Bad First Impression.” You’ll receive tips on how to overcome faux pas such as telling a joke that no one else finds funny or inadvertently insulting someone. Here is the video:

And finally, for more good advice on how to ace that first impression, see Whakate’s article on “Making a Good Impression – Presenting Yourself.”

If you enjoyed the article "How to Bounce Back From a Bad Impression " - why don't you read more about the Whakate Way.