{"id":1791,"date":"2011-10-05T01:00:19","date_gmt":"2011-10-05T05:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=1791"},"modified":"2011-10-08T08:52:20","modified_gmt":"2011-10-08T12:52:20","slug":"what-is-the-first-impression-i-give","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/10\/what-is-the-first-impression-i-give.html","title":{"rendered":"What is the first impression I give?"},"content":{"rendered":"

My good friend, Malcolm, told me that he attended a leadership class recently. \u00a0It was both an exhilarating and brutal course.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The teacher expertly built up the members. \u00a0Where needed, she ripped apart each of the participants.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>At the end of the week-long seminar, the teacher explained that during the first hour of each class, she grades everyone in the class regarding their leadership skills. \u00a0She said that she had never been wrong about her first impression until that week. \u00a0She pointed to Malcolm.<\/p>\n

“I saw you as a person who would never become a president or CEO of a large organization. \u00a0However, after a week of observing you, I’ve totally changed my mind.” \u00a0Then she explained that her end-of-the-week impression was that he was the top participant and would be the most successful. Yet, because of his first impression, she could not give him that place. \u00a0She explained that he must work on his first-impression skills.<\/p>\n

Until recently, there has been little scientific evidence regarding what makes up a first impression. \u00a0However new\u00a0research by psychologists Laura Naumann of Sonoma State University and Sam Gosling of The University of Texas at Austin<\/a>\u00a0give important information. \u00a0Most of it is common sense. \u00a0Yet, these are things which are important enough to review. \u00a0In reality, making a first impression is the same advice your mother gave you.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Smile. \u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

2. \u00a0Maintain a relaxed poise, rather than tense and nervous.<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0Be neat and clean.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0Healthy people make the best impressions.<\/p>\n

5. \u00a0Develop your own distinctive style with the clothes you wear. \u00a0But survey what is acceptable within your unique community and excel it.<\/p>\n

People who are naturally expressive are the ones who say to others, “I’m worth your time. \u00a0You can get to know me and you will enjoy it.”<\/p>\n

I find that I’m in places constantly where I’m making a first impression. \u00a0As the program director of a ministry within the mentally challenged community, there is a need for me to interact with people with disabilities, parents, professionals, pastors and other Christians. \u00a0Your list will be different from mine. \u00a0But whether you are a housewife or the head of a multi-million dollar corporation, there are people you need to impress when you meet.<\/p>\n

There is one thing that you can do which will enhance your first impression. \u00a0Remember people love to talk about themselves. \u00a0Therefore, ask the person questions about him or herself. \u00a0Does this sound too hard? \u00a0It did to me when I first began practicing this important skill. \u00a0I learned by memorizing a set of questions. \u00a0As I became more relaxed at asking questions, I found that our surroundings provide me with the information I need to formulate the inquiry.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, I went to a new bagel shop. \u00a0As the shop manager waited on me, I noted by what she said that she was obviously proud of her product and her shop. \u00a0As my companion was busy with another person, I strolled over to her and began asking questions. \u00a0The manager opened up to me and shared excitedly.<\/p>\n

What are some of the things you can do to enhance your first-impression skills? \u00a0Do you find that you are a good judge of people when you first meet them?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My good friend, Malcolm, told me that he attended a leadership class recently. \u00a0It was both an exhilarating and brutal course. The teacher expertly built up the members. \u00a0Where needed, she ripped apart each of the participants. At the end of the week-long seminar, the teacher explained that during the first hour of each class,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,20,3,287,186,49,16,147,8,41],"tags":[690,21,688,726,294,715,701,694,709,689,700],"class_list":["post-1791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faiths","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-leadership","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-spirituality","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-faiths","tag-first-impression","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-leadership","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is the first impression I give? - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/10\/what-is-the-first-impression-i-give.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is the first impression I give? - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"My good friend, Malcolm, told me that he attended a leadership class recently. \u00a0It was both an exhilarating and brutal course. The teacher expertly built up the members. \u00a0Where needed, she ripped apart each of the participants. At the end of the week-long seminar, the teacher explained that during the first hour of each class,…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2011\/10\/what-is-the-first-impression-i-give.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2011-10-05T05:00:19+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2011-10-08T12:52:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/specialgathering.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/10\/develop-leaders3.gif\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. 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