The Impact of First Impressions

We would all like to think that people take the time to get to know a person inside before judging the outside, but realistically this isn't achievable in this day and age.

First impressions produce a lasting impact and that's why the first impression should be one that leaves a positive mark in others. But how can you connect with others through a first impression? Or how can you assure that other people will perceive what you want them to perceive about you through a first impression? This is difficult to achieve, given that we can hardly express all that we are the first time we meet someone.

Regardless of how difficult it may be to express who we are, what we believe in and what we stand for through such a short window of time, there are some areas that we must focus on to ensure that the impression we leave is solid and represents who we are accurately.

Body language is key when meeting someone for the first time. The appearance you present when you speak is something very important. But often instead of knowing how crucial body language is to leave an impact, we focus mostly on what we say and not how we say it.

Facial expression is another area to focus on. The face is probably the most expressive part of the body when interacting with other people, however, often we do not realize the facial expressions we put out while interacting with someone.

When we look in the mirror we usually put a nice and neutral face, so we easily ignore the fact that our faces which are open at all times to the interpretations of others may be telling a completely different story than the words we utter, which can be misinterpreted and confuse people. Often tense facial expressions on anxious people can be interpreted as different feelings, such as sadness, anger or disapproval.

Through the face we reflect the mood we're in; joy, surprise or fear. Your facial expression can also manifest if the other person is someone you like or someone you do not like to be near, the face also expresses attitudes, you can give warmth to others through facial interactions while you are with them.

When talking to someone else, the other person looks constantly at your face because this is the other person's point of reference to know if you are interested in what is being said or if instead you want this person to finish speaking soon.

Eye Contact is crucial when communicating as well. Often, the most attractive feature of a person's face is the eyes, not so much because of its color, size, arrangement or any other physical aspect, but because the direction of the gaze.

The duration of our gaze towards another person is determined by the degree of relationship we have with this person, expressing at the same time the proximity and emotion.

For example, several messages can be sent by the way we look at someone. A direct gaze is often indicative of the intensity of a feeling of love, hostility or fear, while avoiding eye contact is associated with shyness, a fortuitous superiority or a degree of submission. Thus one can recognize messages of considerable importance in others through eye contact.

Putting all these tips together will help you communicate better and read other people more accurately as well. Communication is one of the most important aspect of our lives so focusing on improving the way you interact with others will ensure that the first impression you leave is a great and memorable one.