4 Things I Learned About First Impressions From The Front Desk Worker At My Gym

I go to the gym every morning before work, I find that it’s a good kickstart for my energy that day and I don’t arrive at the office still half asleep. But recently I’ve noticed a small but important difference in my mood during my workout based on the interaction I get when I walk in the door. So I took a couple of minutes after my workout to ask a few questions to a particular staff member who, when it comes to first impressions, is absolutely incredible. So allow me to tell you about what I learned from Tina, the person who works at my gym, and I want to challenge you to think about how you can apply these principles to your leadership, your work, and your friendships.

1. Actually Care

It makes a huge difference if you’re sincere. People can tell if you really care about how they are doing or if you are just pretending to care because it’s your job or you think it’s socially expected. My conversation with Tina was worth it just for this thought: What if you encouraged or brought even a little bit of joy to everyone you talked to today? What if you did that every day? I think you’d make the world a better place.

2. Get over the fear of messing it up

Yes, you might accidentally say the wrong name every once in a while. You shouldn’t let that stop you from greeting everyone by name. Yes, you might stumble over your words. Don’t let that stop you from talking to people and making someone feel welcome. It’s worth the risk of feeling slightly awkward to create a moment where you made someone feel not just welcome but wanted and possibly even loved.

3. Pay attention to what people are carrying

When Tina said this, I thought she was talking about my red Nike gym bag. Then she clarified, explaining that people “carry” burdens, emotions, and stress, or even joy, peace, and excitement. If you pay attention to eye contact and body language, you can pick up on their mood. If they look down a lot or if their shoulders seem heavy, your interaction with them should intentionally be different than if they seem happy and energetic.

4. Make it go beyond the front door

If you can connect with someone beyond that very first interaction, that’s the connection that will separate you from everyone else, and that’s the connection that will make someone feel actually seen, appreciated, and cared for. If you don’t see someone for a while, ask where they’ve been. If you notice something unique about them, use that to start a conversation. Even if that conversation is 10 seconds long, it breaks past the routine of saying “hello”, and then “have a nice day.” Take your personal connection beyond surface-level every chance you get.

So, take this lesson from Tina, from a different type of leader, maybe one you didn’t expect. Get out there, make great first impressions, show someone you care, and maybe you’ll do just a little bit to make this world a better place today.