How Your First Impression influence your Brand and Relationship

Your Brand? First date? New business meeting? You only have 2 to 30 seconds to make a good first impression, according to new research.

'Thin Slicing', according to Malcom Gladwell in his book 'Blink', and further recent study conducted among 2000 Americans on examining the art of first impressions, found that seven in ten Americans (69 percent) form a first impression of somebody before they even speak.

The research points out that the key contributors to a positive first impression are smiling, mannerism (being polite), smelling nice (Personal Care), being a good listener, and making good eye contact, how you hold the conversation, positive body language, your tone of voice, and being well dressed all play a major role in how well your are perceived by others.

(Survey conducted by Dollar Shave Club).

On a first date, survey confirmed that the average American knows in just 15 minutes into a date whether they want a second date. Within merely 2 to 10 seconds, someone you just met will begin to make judgements about your sense of professionalism from the way you look, how you behave, how you speak, your classiness, your politeness, your level of intelligence, your morals and how you smell (your personal care).

People focus first on what they see like your appearance from how you dress to your shoes, whether you make eye contact when you speak to them, how you sound (tone, calmness), your body movement (your posture and your body language). First impressions are often lasting ones. Which means that when you make a positive first impression within the first few seconds, you will be viewed positively and the person you've just met will likely assume that everything you do is positive, and you are trustworthy, reliable or professional.

Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. From a first encounter, a person might mistakenly assume that you have some negative traits and characteristics. Worse, the person is not likely to take the time or make the effort to reformulate a second impression of you.

Majority of people's judgement of us by other from first impression comes initially from your visual appearance, which includes the nonverbal aspect of 'visual communicators' like dressing , accessories especially shoes, your grooming, your hair styling, how you smell, your smile and your body language. Thus in forming a negative first impression, your opportunity to gaining success could be missed in the split of a second. It was discovered that first impression have a profound influence on determining the future course of relationship personally and in business.

How you look is about what you wear, how you dress, your shoes, even accessories like your watch, handbag or briefcase, your expression and posture all play a role in forming first impressions.

Photo images; Courtesy of trendylisbon.com/fashion&lifestyle

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