TLC - First Impressions - Relationships

Journal: How is the ability to develop good relationships critical to good leadership?

Lesson:

Start off class (shirt untucked, mess up my hair, don't shave, don't pay any attention to anybody, be a little rude and short, text on my phone)

Do it until someone makes a comment or ask the class if anyone is going to call me on how I am acting.

Ask why I might be doing what I am doing? Lead them to how bad it could be if you have a bad first impression? Discuss the importance of first impression? Discuss things you can do to make a good first impression. Use my interview examples both good and bad for making a good first impressions. Make sure they understand it takes 30 seconds to make a first impression and 20 additional meetings to try and repair a bad first impression.

Discuss how first impressions can impact relationships they have made or tried to make.

Ask them, next to a first impression what is the next most important part of building a relationship. The most basic thing you can think of. Lead them to, knowing the person's name.

Give both good and bad examples of knowing peoples names.

Give them the trick of saying someones name 3 times within the very first conversation you have with that person. Practice it with their small group. Then have them move to people they are unsure of their names and practice with them.

Closing activity: Still building relationships so the TP get to know you game. (small group or large group)

Have the students take a strip of toilet paper (TP) and rip it up into pieces. When they ask how long or how many strips, tell them it doesn't matter. When everyone is done have them get their chairs in a circle. I start by giving one piece of information about me that I have not already given for each piece of TP I have. Go around the circle and have the students do the same thing. If the students are struggling have the other students that are listening ask them questions. Go until everyone has shared.

Pick up the TP.