Whether it is in a job interview , engaging with a new customer , forging new friendships, or simply going on a date for the first time . The impact of the first impression is always amazing although it does not take more than 30 seconds to be built: it is a small moment with a big influence . That's why it is very important to pay attention to the first impression we leave on others .
A first impression is critical because its impact lasts beyond the moment . There is no doubt that this
primary effect is beneficial when you intend to be hired for the job of your dreams , succeed with new customers , get promoted, or get more than just a first date in your personal life , you definitely need to succeed in the first phase which is the primary impression.
If you are failing in most of your job interviews , network development, and any area that involves
human communication despite of disposing of a set of interesting qualities , you probably need to take a step back and pay close attention to the first impressions you are generating.
It might sound unbelievable but even the smallest details count when it comes to a first impression from your clothing style , physical gestures , posture, and voice tone to the actions you take and your level of proactiveness.
The following elements are key in winning a first good impression in any field :
Appearance : Dress to impress:
The title might seem scary but in reality, what's meant concretely is dressing appropriately according
to the occasion . For instance , at work opt for clothes that show your respect for your professional
environment and when going on a first date it would depend on the time and place where it would take place for example it is never a good idea to wear partywear when you are simply going to grab a quick drink and vice versa .
Be on time:
This principle mainly applies to the professional field with both internal and external customers as it
would give the impression that you are well-organized and committed
Pay attention to your body language :
Do your best to communicate confidence and kindness through your body language while maintaining a straight posture , eye contact, and smiling : Smile shows that you are open to collaborate and that you are tolerant and friendly. Avoid crossing your arms when you are with someone because it would
communicate the message that you are reserved and not interested in the conversation.
Avoid monopolizing the conversation:
Many people fall into the trap of trying hard to impress by monopolizing the conversation and overtalking about their qualities and achievements which turns the conversation from a dialogue to a monologue making the meeting get boring and resulting in the opposite effect : Instead of communicating confidence and strong background it would definitely send a message that you have low self-esteem and that you do not have the skills and achievements you are mentioning .
So , try to participate and let the other party participate by asking the good questions and try practicing effective listening .
Is possible to recover from a bad first impression ?
We can never deny the importance of first impressions. But what happens if we miss our first
opportunity to leave a great first impression but are still exposed to work with the same individuals with whom it happened ? Maybe it happened with a new customer , new colleague, or manager.
Recovering from a bad primary impression is always possible but requires a lot of hard work and
patience .
Here are a few steps that can help you on this matter :
Always start by analyzing the situation by asking the relevant questions :
What generated the bad impression ? The answer can be : being late for your customer meeting ,
Showing tension and lack of self-confidence through your body language , proving lack of knowledge
related to a key topic , an angry or impulsive reaction from your side, etc …
Can the cause of a bad impression be addressed immediately or does it require a long-term plan ?
What is its impact ? The impact of a bad impression can be small or deep
Study your environment : Try to analyze and collect feedback in regards to the behavior ,
character and positioning of the individual with whom the bad impression occurred
Work to design an action plan : grouping the actions into short-term and long-term ones :
- For example being more punctual , smiling, and controlling your posture are actions that can be
addressed immediately however gaining more knowledge about a certain topic can take more time ,
controlling your reactions and boosting self-confidence can be considered long-term and you might
need professional help to reach good results in a faster time
Put your plan into action, evaluate, and adjust accordingly : A follow-up is needed to evaluate the
results of your improvement plan.
All things considered , first impressions represent the lifeblood of human relationships that's why it's
very important to pay close attention to them and to be honest with ourselves regarding the needed
self-development to reach better results.