Beware First Impression Counts

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LEADERSHIP | In today’s increasingly competitive business world, merely being knowledgeable about your area of expertise or having impeccable academic qualifications are often inadequate to guarantee success.
How you portray and present yourself – Brand You – to other people can often determine whether a job is secured or lost; a business deal is won or lost; a career is made or destroyed; and a promotion gained or denied.
According to a study conducted by the University of Connecticut, first impressions turn out to be 67 percent accurate. Furthermore, first impressions are often lasting impressions. It’s easier to make a positive first impression than to correct a negative one.
Thus, making a positive first impression is of great importance. As Janet Elsea puts it: “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”
People will form an impression of you generally within less than 30 seconds based upon your body language, manner of speech and the way you interact with them. 
According to Michael Solomon’s PhD study (Graduate School of Business, New York University), first impressions are formed within the first seven seconds after meeting someone for the first time.
Personal appearance, facial expressions, posture, tone of voice, and choice of words play a critical role in making a positive first impression. Take heed that body language – the way in which you show your feelings or thoughts to others by means of the position or movements of your body – speaks louder than words.
Personal presentation is important for gaining employment as well as attaining career success. In the words of Mary Spillane, “How you look, how you speak, how you comport yourself sends out vital messages to say what you are about, how successful you already are and, to some extent, have the potential to be.”
Indeed, research shows that an employer often decides whether or not to hire a person in the first few minutes of an interview. 
In a study by the University of Waterloo, the found that interviewers typically make a decision to hire or not to hire a person between 2.65 and 8.2 minutes after meeting him or her.
Research also shows that when meeting someone for the first time, how you say something and what you look like when you say it are much more important than the actual words spoken. 
According to Albert Mehrabian, 55 percent of meaning in face-to-face communication is conveyed by body language; 38 percent by your voice; and merely 7 percent by your words. 
It is an established fact that most people tend to believe your body language and your tone of voice over what you say. Simply put, your actions do speak louder than your words.
Your appearance plays a critical role in making a positive first impression because how you look is what initially occupies the attention of people. This explains why people whose appearance reflects high status are generally given better treatment than those whose appearance suggests low status or income.
10 tips for making a positive first impression
1. Develop a positive self-image. To present yourself well to others, you must first develop a positive self-image. Self-image is essentially your mental picture of the sort of person you are. Love yourself and accept gracefully what you cannot change. Have and reflect self-confidence. Visualise success in your career. Accept compliments with a “thank you” and a smile.
2. Be well-dressed. Ensure your clothes are well-fitting, clean and freshly pressed. Shoes should be clean, polished and free of scuff.
For men, if you are wearing a double-breasted suit, fasten every button (including the inside button). In the case of single-breasted suit, the top of two buttons or the middle of the three should be fastened. Your dress shirts should be long-sleeved and generally light in colour. Your tie should be properly knotted with its tip ending at the middle of the belt or at least touching the top of your belt buckle. Ensure the colour of your shoes and your socks matches the colour of your trousers. Match the colour of your belt to that of your shoes.
For women, wear a well-cut dress in a good fabric, worn with a blazer or well-fitting classic coordinates. Project your professional image, not your sex appeal. Skirts should be knee-length or longer for a traditional look. Avoid slit skirts and plunging necklines. Jewellery worn should be simple and elegant. Limit rings to one per hand. Avoid extremely high-heeled shoes.
3. Be well-groomed. Ensure your hair is clean and free of dandruff. Keep your fingernails short and clean. It also pays to keep your breath fresh. Perfume worn must be of good quality with light fragrance. Women should avoid excessive make-up. Make-up should be barely perceptible – natural and light.
4. Be punctual. Always be a few minutes early for appointments. If you are unavoidably delayed, call and inform the other party before your appointment.
5. Execute a handshake that grabs respect. When introducing yourself or being introduced to someone, give the other person a firm handshake. Shake with the full arm, keeping the wrist and elbow firm. Two pumps are enough. Avoid the “my hand over your hand” handshake as it can be interpreted as a subtle form of one-upmanship.
6. Make your first few words count. An effective way of starting any interaction is to send a “thanks” message that includes the person’s name. Remember, the sweetest thing to a person is his or her name. Examples of “thanks” messages are: “Thank you for taking the time to meet with me this afternoon, Mr Bhaskaran” or “It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Datuk Yahya.”
7. Use appropriate language and express appropriate facial expressions. Avoid using slang and words such as “yeah” and “you guys”. Never use offensive language. Be polite and tactful. Never forget to say “please” and “thank you”. Use simple, familiar and precise words. Smile in a friendly fashion. Maintain eye contact when speaking and listening. Nod occasionally to show interest or acceptance.
8. Be a good listener. Don’t interrupt. It is rude to stop someone in the middle of a discourse. Ask relevant questions to seek clarification. Focus on what is being said, not on how it is being delivered.
9. Speak loud enough and clearly. Ensure your voice is audible. Spend more time talking quickly than slowly, especially if you are making a speech or presentation. Research shows that faster speakers are regarded as more intelligent and more impressive than slower speakers. Pronounce words correctly. Avoid verbal clutter such as “um” and “ah”.
10. Maintain a powerful posture. Stand up straight and keep your shoulders relaxed. Keep your head and chin up with arms at your side. Never stand up with hands on your hips. When sitting, keep your back straight and don’t slouch. Cross legs at ankles and lean forward slightly. Don’t sit with knees spread or crossed.
To conclude, making a positive first impression plays a significant role in gaining employment and attaining career success. Hence, take time to reflect how well you present yourself to the world. Is there congruence between your body language and your oral messages? Do your dress and groom for success? And, do you speak confidently whilst maintaining eye contact? - Mkini
RANJIT SINGH MALHI is a widely-quoted authority on self-leadership, peak performance and soft skills. He has written six books on personal excellence, soft skills and management, three of which have been translated into Arabic.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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