The Power of First Impressions

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Recommended: Body language plays a vital role in communication process

“You never get a second chance to make a good first impression” (Forbes, 2014), a quote often attributed to Will Rogers, is a clever summary of the importance of making a good first impression. Most of the time we forget the power of making a good first impression and the role it plays in our daily lives. The impression we get the first time we meet a new coworker or acquaintance immediately influences how we treat them. “Just three seconds are sufficient to make a conclusion about fresh acquaintances” (Flora, 2004). Not much can be spoken in three seconds, so our nonverbal cues during a first meeting are exceedingly important.
A bad first impression can be difficult to overcome. It takes time and effort to convince someone, like your potential boss, that you are not as unfriendly, frazzled, or frustrated as you first seemed, and he might not care that you were having a bad day before your interview with him. Vanessa Van Petten (2011) spells out five ways to help make your first impression great. First is to set an intention. Before a deliberate first meeting, make up your mind about how you want to act and what impression you want to put forth. Second is to think about what you are wearing. She points out that it is not only what you say, but also how you look. Third is to be conscious of your body language. Body language is usually subconscious, but by thinking about every move, you can control what you are saying non-verbally. Her fourth point is to avoid bad days. This does not mean you cannot have a bad day, but try to avoid making first impressions on those bad days. If that is not possible, try to boost your mood prior to the meeting. Last, she points to the need to be interested and interesting. If you sh...

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... the resulting effects can be difficult to overcome. Small, simple changes in your attitude and the way you present yourself can help you to shine upon first meeting. The results will speak for themselves.

References
Clark, D. (2010). First Impressions. Retrieved from Big Dog & Little Dog's Performance Juxtaposition: http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/impress.html
Flora, C. (2004). The First Impression. Retrieved from Psychology Today: http://web.archive.org/web/20110220025155/http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200405/the-first-impression
Forbes. (2014). Thoughts On The Business Of Life. Retrieved from Forbes.com: http://thoughts.forbes.com/thoughts/business-will-rogers-you-never-get
Petten, V. V. (2011). 5 Ways To Make a Killer First Impression. Retrieved from Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/yec/2011/11/02/5-ways-to-make-a-killer-first-impression/

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