Each day, we come into contact with so many different folks; they may be work colleagues, your kids’ teachers or just the people you pass on the street on your way to work.
And with these dozens of interactions, we have a tendency to be quick to judge. We don’t do it on purpose, but it’s human nature to assess the people you’re coming into contact with.
It certainly doesn’t feel like the right thing to do, looking others up and down and making judgements based on appearance, but it is our first opportunity to figure out who a person is and these first impressions matter. And as such, appearance matters.
I read a piece in the Wall Street Journal recently that really resonated. The piece described how when individuals dress up, they are able to think abstractly to a higher degree than those dressed more casually. The point being, when folks are wearing clothing that they look and feel good in – business attire specifically – they feel more powerful, and as such are able to perform at a higher level.
When meeting someone for the very first time, it’s not all about what you say, but how you say it and how you look. According to psychologists around the world, it takes a mere seven seconds to formulate a first impression of you, and that impression is broken down into percentages. Let’s say that 100 percent is a perfect first impression but when you look closer, it’s really broken down into three aspects: how you look, how you sound and what you say.
Most of us would probably agree the content of what you say is the most important, and we’d all be wrong. In actuality, it’s really the smallest of the percentages at only 7 percent, the remainder is divided into the way you look, at 55 percent, and the way you sound, at 38 percent.
To this I say, if you look good and people like the sound of your voice, you have a 93 percent chance of leaving a good first impression. Conversely, if they formulate a poor impression of you, it could take up to seven subsequent meetings to change their mind.
So how do we ensure a positive first impression?
Dress appropriately: You shouldn’t dress the same for work and play, so make sure you have clothing that allows you to be at your best in any occasion. In both situations, your clothing should fit well and coordinate.
Grooming: For any occasion, make sure you’re groomed appropriately. Have combed hair and be clean shaven or have your facial hair well-coiffed, smell fresh but avoid cologne (no one wants to talk if they can smell you 20 feet away).
Verbal communication: Speak slowly, enunciate your words, don’t talk in slang and try to minimize a strong accent.
Be a good listener: Most people really like to hear themselves speak, so if you’re an active listener, you can sometimes sway people off of your look and engage them into your content. Ask questions to elicit a good conversation and speak only 20 percent of the time.
In today’s world of high tech/low touch, it’s harder than ever to know what to wear and how to put yourself out there in the best form possible. Every encounter … presents an opportunity to expand your professional contacts by making a positive first impression. Remember, it only takes seven seconds, so make them count!
Marc A. Streisand is the owner of Marc Allen Fine Clothiers in Providence and Newport.
