 Thank you to all those people who gave me encouraging feedback about my first newsletter & also my new-look website. I've tweaked a couple of the pages a bit more. May you enjoy this month's topic - First Impressions Count!
Did you know that people form an immediate first impression of you in less than 15 seconds, based on some combination of the following:-
* Body language * Gestures
* Tone of voice * Eye Contact
* Attire - grooming * Posture
* Physical characteristics * Smile/Facial features
* Handshake *Scent/perfume
Whether you are meeting people socially, being interviewed for a position, chairing a meeting, presenting in front of an audience, serving customers, dealing with clients, people will form an impression of you in those first 15 seconds, just as you will form an impression of them in those same few seconds. To make a long-lasting positive impression, depends on HOW we connect with others.
When your body language, voice and words are in harmony, you have the attributes leading to a positive impression:-
* Friendliness * Confidence
* Sincerity * Enthusiasm
*Sense of humour * Conversational ability
The ginger oil story.....I remember a few years ago, going into a shop & the woman behind the counter started sniffing the air & said she could smell Thai food. Had I been eating it or was I carrying some? I shook my head & then remembered that the aromatherapy massage oil I had used after my shower that morning, contained ginger oil. So it was ME that she was smelling!! How embarrassing - not exactly the 'perfume' I wanted to be wearing. No more ginger oil in my massage oils! A few weeks later, I returned to the shop & the first thing she said as I walked in was, "Ah, here's the Thai food woman!" Not the lasting impression I wanted to create!
The power of non-verbal clues: Think of a time you were being introduced to someone for the first time. Before they have even opened their mouth to speak, you were forming an impression from their body language, their handshake & eye contact. The use of non-verbal clues is one of the most important ways in which we communicate. Look back at the list above & you will notice that except for 'tone of voice', all the other examples are non-verbal. We use these non-verbal cues to enhance what we are saying and we can respond more strongly to these cues, than we do to the actual words spoken. Eye contact is very powerful.This initial impact is further influenced by the tone of voice - warm & friendly or cool & impersonal. If your first contact is over the phone, then the impact of the voice is very important.
In the many training seminars I have run over the past 20yrs, I have seen levels of confidence significantly raised when we have focussed on developing a positive mind-set and built up the attributes that create a positive first impression, by the way we use our body language, voice & words. My book, "So What Do We Do Now?" The Baby Boomers Guide to Enjoying Retirement, has a chapter called 'Letting Go' that covers the impact our attitude has on our life & relationships.
Do you want to develop greater confidence, leadership skills, get that job, win friends & influence people, live a less stressful life? Take action: Make March the month, to focus on working with your attributes & consciously develop the mind-set that you want, to create a great impression on everyone you meet. Notice the subtle changes in your relationships with clients, colleagues, retailers, receptionists, the list goes on...........
Let me know how you go? I would love to hear from you.
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