Do over: When first impressions are bad

You don’t always get a do-over in life but, with a little effort, people can help erase bad first impressions.

Remember that a bad first impression isn’t always your fault.

According to author Heidi Grant Halvorson, author of No One Understands You and What To Do About It, impressions are based in biased thought patterns. People see what they expect to see (confirmation bias) and they tend to notice just a few things that may influence them later.

But, a bad impression might be your fault, even though it might not tell the whole story.

Say, for example, on your first day in a new city you are delayed by traffic and end up being late for a meeting. That performance could make a bad impression but now you know what traffic can be like. Be early for meetings for the rest of your career.

Stay patient.

You might poke fun at your blunder: Well! Now I know what traffic is like in XYZ city. You can also point out common bonds with people: Sports teams you both like or music.