You can clinch that job or that deal!
Summer Lotus Dec 2 4 min read
We always hear the expression, “ First Impression Counts!” It is exactly this adage that we need to look into its credibility. In psychology, the first impression is the image a person gives to another interacting for the first time. It is very variable as it depends on the observer and the observed.
According to a Harvard study, it takes only seven seconds before you are being sized up by another person. People make quick decisions but we can overcome if we know how first impressions could impact us.
The first impression is important for the following reasons;
- It may prejudice you against someone else narrowing the chance of wanting to know your or the other person further and depriving the former or latter of further interaction.
- The impression is long-lasting and takes a long time to change. This is due to the primacy effect which means that when someone experiences something before others in a sequence, they are more likely to remember the first things. A positive one leads to social cohesion, a negative one leads to bias and prejudice.
- It determines your success in your future dealings with the person concerned. It affects whether you get that job, clinch the deal, or successfully woo the person to be your business partner.
What factors help first impressions?
There is a wide range of characteristics based on physical appearance, race, culture, age, gender, language, accent, posture, voice, manner, etc. As we cannot control the preferences of the person who meets us and is in the position to determine our fate such as providing us employment or giving us their business or even agreeing to engage us further, the onus is on our attitude and how we conduct ourselves.
Be Cognizant of the points listed;
1 Be on time — The worst thing to happen at the first meeting is to arrive late and have to start the meeting by apologizing and giving your reasons. It only comes across as an excuse and shows that one is not reliable.
2 Physical appearance — One need not be decked out in a fine suit or expensive clothes but an appropriate outfit for the occasion that borders on semi-casual or more on the side of an office attire may be less distracting. The effect should be neat.
3 Demeanour — How you conduct yourself is paramount. A smile, a cheerful greeting, a good posture, and a firm handshake (not for the Covid-19 period) will immediately engage the other party. You exude confidence. A simple self-introduction followed by being invited to settle down for the chat is next.
Remain calm and collected as this will lead to a more natural conversation. Maintain eye-contact, not to the point of staring to show interest and listen carefully to the other party. Listening is more important than talking as that will help you decipher how you can meet the other party’s expectations. The person being listened to eventually would want to hear your story and this is when you should speak with clarity and relevance.
4 Do your homework — -If you are there for business matters, you should have gathered some knowledge about the company, its products, and services, and mulled over what you can offer them. Here is your scoring moment. Your knowledge, experience, and past contributions should be readily organized before the meeting.
5 Be aware of the other party’s non-verbal communication — — The person you are speaking to may have allotted a certain time frame for the meeting so be mindful of any signals that he or she may need to go. This shows consideration and acumen, a valuable trait in a negotiator.
6 Last Impression Counts! — -This is your last chance to make your good impression stick due to the recency effect where people tend to remember the last things (recency effect). So, before you leave, you may want to reinforce briefly what benefits you could bring to the company and reassure them of your commitment. A handshake, smile, and a sincere thank you would be a good parting.
7 Post-meeting follow-up
After the meeting, it would be very wise to send a message of thanks through the email which also serves as a reminder of your discussion. This seals the first impression as well as leaves a lasting impression one more time.
Conclusion
Never be discouraged. No news means that one has to work harder. Expect great competition in today’s world. Reflect on what could be improved so that you can move on to the next opportunity with more confidence. We can only get better with experience and practice!
*You may want to power-up your impressions by knowing about primacy
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