First Impression: 5 Things that Will be Judged Right Away

There are several studies that prove that some aspects of your personality would be judged within the first few seconds of the initial meeting. In networking or professional relationships that first impression can make or break a deal. So it’s quite important to make the best of those vital first moments. While some of these qualities you can’t control, it’s possible to work on others.

Before we dive into specifics, remember that you always should be authentic, and it’s not necessary to become someone you aren’t.

Social status

It’s been said many times, but details matter, and the way you are dressed, the accessories you carry, the way you take care of yourself — all these things sum up into the way others perceive you.

A 2011 study by Rob M.A. Nelissen and Marijn H.C. Meijers suggests that luxury items and brands are often seen as signals of wealth. While that doesn’t mean that you have to dress most expensively, it would benefit you to make sure that you look neat before attending an event. If you are making a video call, take the time to properly organize the space around you. Even if you aren’t surrounded by the most expensive items, these are the things that reflect your personality and attention to detail. An untidy look would definitely trigger a mental alarm.

Leadership skills

“Sounds like a winner” — this is the name of another study published in 2012. This one researches the connection between our voices and the way people see us. Turns out, lower-pitched voices are often associated with the ability to lead a team, an event, or even a country. While this isn’t necessarily true, it’s still a valuable insight into a first impression.

It’s especially interesting, that women with a lower pitch in this study sounded to the participants more trustworthy and competent. However, they chose the men with a lower pitch for different reasons, but not because of trust.

That said, some people choose to work on lowering their pitch specifically so that they could seem like a better leader.

Intelligence

For this, we would have to go back to a 2007 study by Nora A. Murphy. And this one led to an interesting conclusion: making eye contact during a conversation makes a person seem smarter. Two other factors that were mentioned are wearing glasses and expressive speech. While the former is an outdated concept that is still somehow present in the minds of most people, the latter hints at the speaker being very interested in the topic they’re discussing.

Success

Hopefully, we are starting to move away from this concept, but a British-Turkish study from 2013 explored the connection between what someone is wearing and the image they are projecting. People in tailored well-fitted suits seemed more successful. Of course, this is only a matter of appearances, and it doesn’t apply to every field. For instance, in the tech world, people seem to pay less attention to looks in general. An idea of simplicity in everything, widely popularized by Steve Jobs, is definitely spreading into other business fields.

Stability or boldness

The last study we mention today came from Durham University in 2012, and it focuses on nothing other than our walk. Apparently, the way you walk can make an impression too, and looser gait is associated with extroversion, boldness in decisions, and a sense of adventure.

Tight gaits make it seem like a person has neurotic tendencies.

While these are nothing more than first impressions, they often dictate the way you would be seen. Connect.Club offers you a chance to work on the way people judge you, and you can easily get feedback right away.