Categories
Archives
Search
Subscribe to Our Monthly Digest
How to “un-stick” a bad first impression
How long do first impressions last? I get a variety of answers when I ask that question. I have heard some say that first impressions last forever. Let’s see if we can improve on that:
Experts tell us that when we meet someone for the first time, we form a first impression in 4 seconds. The good news is that this first impression, like quick-drying cement, is not solidified until 30 seconds have passed. That means we have 26 seconds to recover. Once that 30 seconds is up, the impression is locked in, and we now look for things to validate the impression.
What do can we do if we make a bad first impression, and want to reverse it. Here are some suggestions given by Work and Family Columnist Shellenbarger:
Commit to reverse the first impression by what we say, what we do, how we look, and how we treat people.
What we say: If the bad impression occurred by something that we said, we can think of what we can to genuinely demonstrate that that the impression was not accurate.
What we do: Did we forget to introduce someone, or did we show up a little late? We can be consistent in making sure we don’t repeat these behaviors. Gradually we can begin to reverse the negative impression.
How we look: Were we dressed appropriately? How was the the expression on our face? If a stranger were to look at us, would they sense we were approachable?
How we treat people: People notice little things. Did we smile and treat the receptionist as if he or she were special? Did we pay attention, and hold the door open for someone carrying a package.
We can recover from a bad first impression in many cases. I remember the first full-time job I had after college. In my first meeting with the boss, I made a bad first impression. I know why. I was acting too cocky. I changed my act, and two years later, my boss recommended me for my first management position. So, it can be done. Here’s a better idea: Make a good first impression to begin with!