How to Wow in 7 Seconds Flat
We’ve been told not to judge a book by its cover, but it seems we just can’t help ourselves. In fact, we’re wired to do just that.
Can’t we all admit to having a bad first impression from someone - that stuck? That means it’s probably happened to us, too!
It could have been at a cocktail party or a job interview.
A New York University study found that we sift through available information within just seconds of meeting someone and make an on-the-spot evaluation of a mind-boggling range of really important things like their trustworthiness, ability, values and credibility.
For good or bad, changing that first impression takes time and effort. Time and effort that many of us, especially potential employers, aren’t typically willing to invest.
So, how to make a great first impression?
Maybe we should start with how not to…
How many of us can point to examples of job interviews that went wrong?
We probably can picture the person who shows up so over-confident that the interviewer can’t wait to close the door behind him. Or when the image of a pulled-together candidate crumbles when she walks through the door five minutes late and flustered.
The jobs likely went to someone whose appearance and performance actually matched the impression that their CV or phone conversations made before the face to face interview - prepared and professional.
Much as you might not like it, grooming standards are top of the list when it comes to hitting your mark in that first 7 seconds.
We recently worked with a high-level executive who kept shoe polish in his office for his less-detail-oriented team members - to make sure they came across as "polished" in their pitches.
But it isn’t just how you dress. What other non-verbal cues can work for or against you?
Picture a warm smile, a friendly open demeanour, a good handshake, steady eye contact, strong posture, and body language…
These non-verbal behaviours aren’t just visual - they tap into our value systems and lead us to form judgments on both a conscious and unconscious level.
And by the way, when someone makes a snap judgement of you, it often shows. Have you ever picked up on unimpressed glances from a cocktail party acquaintance to an interviewer and known you’d already been crossed off the list before you could even open your mouth?
When that happens, your self-confidence can disintegrate fast.
Another little nugget you might not have considered: the power of the non-verbal cues works both ways - impacting how others see you as well as your own sense of self-assurance. No one explains this better than Amy Cuddy, in her Power Pose TED talk and her research into the importance of posture to self-esteem and feelings of power.
Not yet convinced of the pay off? Well, consider this: being aware how non-verbal cues literally trigger responses in our brain can even give you a measurable financial advantage in your quest for success.
A study done in 2000, by Robert Baron and Gideon Markman, “Beyond Social Capital: how social skills can enhance entrepreneurs success” suggests that the nature of an entrepreneur’s face-to-face interaction strongly influences her success. Study results showed that the way entrepreneurs were able to read others, make favourable first impressions and adapt to a wide range of social situations influenced their access to what many would say is ambrosia for business: venture capital.
So, rather than fight human nature, as we often say at Personal Branz, use your understanding of it instead - to put you one step ahead. Decide how you want to be perceived and take the step to makes sure you radiate this in every interpersonal connection.
