First Impressions!

Am sure most of us have heard or read that it takes only 7 seconds for someone to form the First Impression about us. "Isn't it crazy"? One might wonder, "my personality has so many facets how can somebody know all that in a few seconds?" I always felt that it was either untrue or incorrect.

Research proves that First Impressions are fairly accurate but they come with a dose of the viewers' bias and misperception. What this means is that the impression that I form of someone is tainted with my beliefs, experiences, values, culture etc.

How you present yourself, is how people first view you. What are you showcasing?

Anonymous

First impressions are inevitable we all make them, either consciously or subconsciously. Therefore, it would be advantageous if we are conscious about it.

First Impressions are based on:

• Visual - Clothing, grooming, body language and expressions (55%)

• Verbal - What we are saying (7%)

• Vocal - How we are saying it i.e. tone, intonation (38%)

Always remember, there is no such thing as Neutral clothing. Everything you wear shows the decision you made.

A simple checklist that might help:

1. Always dress for the occasion. Each occasion has a dress code, try and follow that. Shows that you care about the person and the occasion. Ensure that the clothes are not crumpled/creased.

2. Make sure that your hair is clean and neatly styled and the shoes are in good repair and clean. They are noticed first.

3. Pay attention to your body language, posture and gestures.

4. Be punctual. This shows that you respect the other persons' time. Personally, I used to be always punctual for all my official meetings, however, when it came to my personal commitments with friends and family, it wasn't the case. The thought was that it's just dinner or vacation, how does it matter if we are a few minutes/hours late. But believe me, it matters. It isn't about the first impression anymore but about the Image that you are building.

5. Listen - This is extremely underrated but is very important.

6. Eye contact - Don't let your eyes wander, or check your phone when someone is speaking to you.

7. Smell pleasant.

This is not about your project meetings or interviews alone. This is about every interaction you have. It could be your relatives at a family function, it could be your friends at a house party. Treat every interaction as an opportunity. While doing all this don't forget to be your authentic self, true to your values, personalities and beliefs.

Like I always say, it's beautiful being You. But that 'You' can constantly strive to improve to be the best version of yourself!