Self Improvement – What Do Others Think About You? (part 1)

Some people seem to know how to make a great first impression. Are they just lucky, or do they know something you don’t?

Why do some people seem to be lucky so often? They just breeze through life meeting great new friends, or they land great jobs without studying the Classifieds. “Oh, I bumped into someone and she mentioned an opening at her company,” they say happily.
Most of us merely shrug when this happens and think, “She really knows how to get on with people, right from the start. I wish I had her good luck.” But the truth is, we make a lot of our own good luck, with a combination of good attitude, hard work and body language. So all of us can be more fortunate, if we’re prepared to adapt a little. Here are some surprising secrets researchers have discovered about boosting your luck:

Do It Differently.
Studies show that “unlucky” people tend to fear change. When they meet a new person, they tend to say silent, or ignore them. In contrast, people who consider themselves lucky tend to chat more easily at work events or introduce themselves to others at parties – which means they increase their chances of meeting more useful contacts.
Dr Richard Wiseman, head of the psychology research department at the University of Hertfordshire in England, has been studying what makes some people lucky, and others less lucky. His studies show that your self – confidence greatly affects your luck. Dr Wiseman first notes that there is a difference between chance and luck – chance is something you can’t control, like winning a lottery. But luck is different.
He says, “Unlucky people tend to stick to routines. When they see something new, they want no part of it. Lucky people are prepared to take risks and are relaxed enough to see opportunities.”
In other words, people who just happen to hear about a great new job at a work event or meet a wonderful new friend in the supermarket turn out, on closer inspection, to be the kind of people who take the small risk of chit – chatting with a stranger.

Fashion Is A Focus.
When it comes to landing a job, appearances do seem to have an effect. In several famous studies, researchers sent the same CV out to different companies. They attached photos of well – groomed, good – looking people to some of the CVs, and photos of less attractive people to others. The more attractive “candidates” were asked in for interviews much more often. But that’s only half the story. Recent studies show that employers also rate “team spirit” and being “up – to – date” as vital qualities.
When asked to rate photos of different women who all applied for the same job, employers and HR experts tended to favour the better – groomed women. They also rated women who wore suitable make – up as “more likely to be a team player”.
It seems we instinctively assume that someone who’s fashionable must care about the opinion of others – and that means she must also be a team player.
This doesn’t mean you have to look like a fashion model every day. A few touches are enough – like good grooming and a smart handbag. Clearly, when you want to make a great first impression, and attrack more luck in your life, it never hurts to make sure your “look” is working as hard as you are!

to be continued in part 2