# 5 tips for a powerful first impression - URL: https://hr-passionista.com/en/5-tips-for-a-great-first-impression-what-pippi-longstocking-can-teach-us/ - Published: 2026-01-20 - Updated: 2026-01-31 - Author: Marion Eppinger (HR-Passionista) - Categories: communication, employer branding > Make a lasting first impression: 5 practical tips and inspiration from Pippi Longstocking for your next job interview. (c) picture by Svensk Filmindustrie (SF) ### What can we learn from Pippi Longstocking for the next initial meeting > ##### I was inspired to write this article during a business trip When I spent a day with people I had never met before, with whom I wanted to build a professional relationship. There were some exciting and unexpected situations, which raised an important question in my mind: **What is the best way to prepare for such an appointment?** One thing is clear – **the power of first impressions is immense.** Studies show that it takes at most **100 milliseconds** to **form** and express an **opinion about someone**. After that, our **assessment** of a **person** is **virtually set in stone** – who is **attractive, likeable and trustworthy** and who is not. ###### So, is there a way to influence the first impression in such situations? Taking a **second look at every situation** is a good start. Understanding **what makes the other person tick** and then **finding common ground** as quickly as possible can be **very effective** **for any first meeting**. This all sounds **very simple in theory**, but it is **not quite so easy in practice**. But don’t despair – there are **plenty of ways to help** you**!** To help you make a **good first impression**, I have summarised **my five helpful tips** for sucessfully **influencing first contact**: ### **1\. Five senses** **Taking** all **five senses into account** when communicating makes a huge difference. **V****isual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory and gustatory** – all these **must be addressed**. How can you find out which senses your counterpart prefers? **Connect** with your counterpart by **choosing your words carefully** and **observing** their **reaction** – the **preferences will often become clear very quickly**. Here are a few **examples of how to apply** this: - **Visual***: „Can you picture it?“* - **Auditory***: „That sounds like music to my ears.“* - **Kinesthetic**: „Let’s gather all the information.“ - **Olfactory**: „I think you’ve got the right instinct in this case.“ - **Gustatory**: „Let the idea melt in your mouth.“ If your conversation partner reacts **particularly strongly to one of these senses**, you can **consciously choose** **your words that appeal to their sensory world.** ### **2\. Body language** **Analysing** the **body language of the person you are talking to** can be helpful in any conversation. It can even be particularly beneficial for **building** a **relationship with the other person** creating a faster **basis of trust** more quickly. It shows **attention and appreciation and improves communication as a whole.** What can be analysed in terms of body language? Apart from using the five senses as mentioned above, you can observe **arm movements, sitting posture, breathing, smiling and even head posture**. ###### ➯ IMPORTANT : the analysis of body language and imitation should feel intuitive. If it becomes a kind of „competition“ and feels unnatural to „copy“ each other, it will seem implausible and hinder conversation. ### **3\. Use metaphors** Using a metapher in conversation or explanations helps to **better illustrate** a **topic,**because as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Using metaphors in communication appeals to the different [sensory channels](https://www.landsiedel-seminare.de/nlp-bibliothek/practitioner/p-02-00-repraesentationssysteme.html) of all listeners. They allow **stories to be told in a** particularly **vivid and pictorial way**. ###### The following metaphors are often used in conversation: - This exercise is a drop in the ocean. - This statement took me completely by surprise. - I often have the feeling that he/she is very experienced. - Everyday life is often like a rollercoaster ride; it’s just a question of how you deal with it. These are just a few examples of many. But one thing is certain: metaphors inspire the audience and enrich language. **4\. A joint activity** As a trainer, I particularly like using **Lego as an introduction** to a workshop day or even at a first meeting. Firstly, everyone likes playing with Lego and secondly, it isi hard to go wrong – participants always feel a **sense of achievement** when using it. It *can also be a lot of fun to see all the things that get built. 😉* Anyone who claims that you can’t use it to start **a good conversation afterwards** is wrong. Of course, Lego is **only one way** to **start** a **joint activity**. Other effective methods include a **new seating arrangement in the room** or **a joint team-building activity** such as „rock, paper, scissors“. However, if you **don’t have the authority** to choose an activity, simply **inviting** your counterpart **for a coffee together or to the buffet is enough**. ###### No matter which method you choose, it should always fit the context of the conversation and be relevant to the situation. ### **5\. Inner attitude** **Our inner attitude determines our lives**, including every conversation. Here’s an example: If I go to a meeting with a negative mindest, the probability that the conversation will be unpleasant is, of course, very, very high. However, if I go into a conversation **feeling positive**, the **outcome** is **likely to** **be positive**. ### As Pippi Longstocking always said, „I make the world the way I like it,“ and as a result, she always ended up on the sunny side of life.  Similarly, we can **talk** ourselves **into certain things** and **thus control** how we come across in initial conversations, because **non-verbal communication** often reveals much more about us than what is actually said. **Together,**  all this enables us to build a **good connection with our conversation partners** and thus make a **good first impression**. It all sounds quite simple, doesn’t it? Okay, that’s **a lot of information** to take in at once. ### *But my advice is clear: be brave and just give it a try!*