For any business first impressions count. Yes our first impressions can be wrong but that doesn’t change their importance.

A negative first impression means you have to work even harder to win someone over.

Schools tours are a classic example.

• What score out of 100 would a prospective parent give you?
• Conduct a mock tour and ask for feedback
• Are you willing for your performance to be marked / criticised?
• Is there someone better suited to doing tours?

I remember parts of the first school tour I had at the school where my kids now attend. It didn’t grab my imagination or inspire me to make the change. One negative place stands out to me. It was a dark stairway. The stairway is still there. It has better lighting now, but the tours currently avoid it. We changed the route of our tours. We ignore whole buildings which we feel don’t add to the experience. It is not essential to see everything.

The Principals speech, or presentation to prospective parents is important. The challenge is that those who do tours and speeches may get bored with them. They have done it before. However for the prospective parent it is their first time. It needs to come across as fresh and passionate – not a recording. If you give these speeches ask for feedback. First impressions count.