Great Day

Ujima Toast Podcast

We are starting the week off with a good dose of the Nguzo Saba. Going deeper into our study about the principle of Ujima, we are now going to look at the power of setting good first impressions, and why that is important. We also will look into how to change people's impression of you.

So let's start by looking at the importance of first impressions. Why is it so important to make someone feel good when they first meet you? Well let's think about this for a minute. When you meet someone for the first time, you are not going to be privy to all their information. You do not know what kind of person they are. Unfortunately, people make assumptions about others based on appearance or first interactions, or both. People then use those assumptions as a way to judge others without knowing them at all.

You must remember that everyone has heard the saying, "you never get a second chance for a good first impression." Well this is true. The reason why is because people will generally always remember their initial impression of you no matter what happens afterwards. And more importantly, your future interactions with this person will forever be colored by that initial impression.

If you have made a bad impression on someone, it is not impossible to change their idea about you, but of course it will require a lot of work. You will not have to change their impression of you, but you will have to establish a reputation of yourself that reaches into their circle.

Now we have to look at how you can start off on the right foot when it comes to making a great first impression. Now we want to stress that we do not want to become fake. We here at GNJMedia are in the authenticity camp, and stress the fact that if you are yourself all the time then you don't need to remember the role you played because we agree with the proverb that states "Your previous lies will contradict your future truths." In other words, keep it real in all that you do. Here are a few questions to wrestle with when it comes to the impression that you make:

What is a first impression that you would like to change?

How has your first impression been on other people?

Write about a time when you had to make an impression on someone.

What is one good thing you have noticed that others do that leaves you feeling good about them after your first meeting?

The impression you leave for others is just as important, if not more important than the actual message that you are sending, and this is the principle of Ujima. Ujima literally means “collective work and responsibility”. Setting a good impression is an act of working in concert with your audience (the collective), and helping them to recognize your value and importance. This requires preparation, thought, and practice as well as an active investment in the relationship. When done well it can pay huge dividends in the form of greater interpersonal influence. Here are 7 tips to help you make a good impression:

1. Acknowledge

2. Involve

3. Listen

4. Add to the groups value

5. Keep true to your word

6. Make a physical connection as well as a mental one

7. Be passionate about what you are doing and standing for doing it with integrity, honesty and respect be honest to yourself and other people in what you are saying and doing brand yourself in a positive manner

Here is your proverb:

"Without fingers, the hand would be a spoon."

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