Think about the person(s) you have met during your professional years who have made a lasting impression with you because of the manner in which they introduced themselves and communicated during the initial meeting! Here are some tips that may be helpful in your future new contacts for your business:

•  Make eye contact. When you meet someone, look them in the eye, smile, shake hands and say hello. If seated, stand up. Greeting at eye level is the biggest part because looking someone in the eye is a sign of confidence. Don't lock eyes, as it isn't a "stare down." Just meet their gaze.

•  Find common ground. When looking for icebreakers, consider the event that brought you together for a starting point. The best way to sometimes get the conversation going is to ask them their opinion on something relevant to the meeting or similar.

•  Be curious. Ask questions and listen. Everyone loves it when someone shows and interest in them. Go beyond the familiar, "What do you do?" and perhaps go into more details about asking the person's work by asking, "What is the most interesting part of your work?" Help them draw out their story.

•  Take equal care on the telephone. tell the person called who you are and speak clearly but not too quickly. Don't assume the person on the other end of the line knows you and why you are calling. Always ask first if this is a good time to talk because you may be interrupting another call or meeting.

•  Avoid being too relaxed in an email "introduction." Treat your email as if it were a letter. Have a greeting, a body and a closing. By all means, avoid text-message lingo!

If you would like more information on this or other topics regarding your business, a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL visit with Joel Newman, Small Business Specialist of the TN Small Business Development Center, may be helpful. This counseling is offered as an additional service of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.