First Impression Techniques

After analyzing 1,000s of first impressions it’s clear: A first impression is made before you say a single word. And there are 3 mistakes costing you opportunities: For context, most people (especially introverts) want to believe their first impression starts when they start speaking. The science says otherwise: Someone decides if they like you, trust you or want to work with you, the moment they first see you - when you walk into a room, open a door, or even when someone looks at your profile picture. After analyzing thousands of first encounters, I've identified what I call the 'triple threat' of first impression mistakes that people unknowingly make: 1. Making yourself small: Tucking your arms close to your sides and hunching your shoulders signals low confidence and submissiveness. The less space you take up, the less powerful you appear. This is why waiting for your job interview or date while checking your phone is sabotaging you before you've said hello. Every time you look down at your device, you accidentally adopt what scientists call the 'universal defeat posture': - chin tucked - shoulders hunched - making yourself small In evolutionary terms, you literally look like a loser. (Yikes!) 2. Hiding your hands: When your hands are in pockets, under the table, or out of sight, it creates subconscious distrust. Evolutionarily, we need to see hands to feel safe and assess intentions. 3. Avoiding eye contact: We experience a chemical burst of oxytocin during direct eye contact, which increases trust and connection. Avoiding eye contact in those first few seconds prevents this critical bonding opportunity. Research shows these first impressions are lasting. If you've made a bad one, recovery is difficult - but not impossible if you practice the right body language. Instead, adopt the confident alternative: - keep your hands visible and expressive - take up appropriate space with good posture - make deliberate eye contact in the first few seconds Master these 3 elements and you'll create positive, accurate first impressions that open doors rather than close them.

Users judge your product in 50 milliseconds. At Microsoft & Instacart, I learned 60% never return. Here's the psychology that changed everything: I call it the "Kleenex User principle": Just like you can't un-use a tissue, users can't un-experience your product. That first interaction permanently shapes their perception. Most founders obsess over perfect features and slick designs. Meanwhile, they hemorrhage users in the first 5 minutes. The real cost isn't just lost customers: • Wasted marketing dollars • Skyrocketing acquisition costs • Dead word-of-mouth • Zero network effects After thousands of user tests, I developed the "Success Roadmap": 1. Immediate win (30 seconds) 2. Core value demo (2 minutes) 3. Future potential (5 minutes) Most founders overwhelm users immediately. It's like teaching swimming by throwing someone in the ocean. Instead, here's what works: • Start with ONE thing • Make it impossibly easy • Let them taste success • Build complexity gradually We tested this at Instacart: We simplified first-time ordering to 3 clicks. Users got their first "win" in seconds. The psychology created: • Instant dopamine hit • Boosted confidence • Natural exploration • 40% higher retention But here's the game-changer: First-time users are your gold mine - they see your product with fresh eyes. Build a rapid feedback loop: • Watch new users like a hawk • Note every hesitation • Fix friction instantly • Test again • Repeat A bad first impression doesn't just cost one user. It costs their entire network of potential customers. Get it right? You build a viral growth engine. — Enjoy this? ♻️ Repost it to your network and follow Kevin Henrikson for more. Weekly frameworks on AI, startups, leadership, and scaling. Join 1300+ subscribers today: https://lnkd.in/gSjjvzt9

The uncomfortable truth about first impressions that nobody tells you. Three seconds - that's how long it takes for someone to decide if you're worth their time. First impressions happen at lightning speed - and they're brutally difficult to change once formed. Harvard research shows people make snap judgments about your: • Competence • Trustworthiness • Status • Likability All before you've said a single word. But here's the part no one talks about: while you can't control all aspects of first impressions, you can strategically influence the most important one. And it's not what most people think. Most focus on demonstrating competence first (their credentials, expertise, intelligence). But research shows trustworthiness is the foundational judgment that affects how all your other qualities are perceived. If someone doesn't trust you, your competence becomes threatening rather than impressive. I've seen brilliant people get overlooked for opportunities because they led with expertise instead of establishing trust. So how do you signal trustworthiness in seconds? • Maintain appropriate eye contact • Show genuine warmth through a real smile (eyes crinkle) • Position your body with an open stance • Match your facial expression to the situation • Listen more than you speak initially Master these signals, and you'll notice people becoming more receptive to everything else you bring to the table. The most successful people I work with understand this hierarchy of traits and strategically lead with signals of trustworthiness before showcasing their competence.

Your first and last impressions matter more than you think in an interview. This is because of biases. Let me explain. As humans, we are full of biases. Biases are how we make sense of the world. Two that are well-known are called primacy and recency bias. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐬: People tend to remember the first thing they see or hear. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐚𝐬: We also remember the last thing vividly. That is why the way you start and end an interview is important. And if you use some strategy while in your interviews, you can turn these biases into an advantage. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐬 The initial impression sets the tone for the rest of the interview. A strong opening can build trust and interest, while a shaky one might take the rest of the conversation to recover, if you can at all. Here's how to make it work for you: 💡Ensure you have a prepared introduction (which can be part of the "Tell me about yourself" answer). This will be your elevator pitch. It should highlight who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you’re excited about this role. Practice it until it feels natural. 💡Your appearance communicates more than words ever could. Research the company culture and dress slightly above their standard to convey professionalism. 💡Engage the interviewer right away. Smile and greet your interviewer by name. It’s a small gesture, but it shows respect and warmth. 💡Be enthusiastic (but do not go overboard). Employers want to hire people who genuinely want to work for them. Let your interest in the role and the company shine through from the very beginning. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐬 Your interviewer will remember the last thing they see or hear from you. That means the end of the interview is your final opportunity to leave a positive, lasting impression. Here's how to make it work for you: 💡Talk about how you can solve their problems. Don’t leave the interview without reminding them why you’re the best fit for the role. You have discussed this all during the interview, but briefly highlight your most relevant skills and accomplishments at the end. 💡Take the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions. Ask insightful questions about their goals, challenges, or team culture. But not anything you should have learned from your initial research. Dig deeper into what is going on and how you can help. 💡Say thank you. A sincere thank-you goes a long way. Let them know you appreciate their time and are excited about the opportunity to contribute to their team. 💡Ask for the job. Tell them you want this. Something as simple as, “I’m excited about the opportunity and can’t wait to join the team,” can leave a strong impression. First impressions set the tone, and last impressions can seal the deal. Use this to your advantage. What other biases can you use to your advantage? ----- I am Shelley, a recruiter turned career coach. I help you find a job where you can thrive and not just survive.

What happens the second a guest walks through your front door, and why that moment determines everything. That second defines your entire brand. It tells your story before you ever say a word. Most hotels treat it like a transaction instead of what it really is, the emotional handshake that decides if someone will ever return. You can have the best rooms, the best design, the best everything, but if that first human interaction feels cold, rushed, or forced, the guest has already checked out mentally before they ever check in. Guests feel everything. The tone at the desk. The scent in the air. The lighting. The music. The body language of your team. The moment they walk in, they can tell if your staff loves being there or is counting minutes until they leave. That feeling is branding in its purest form. You can fake a social post, but you can’t fake energy. Here’s how to fix it. 👉🏻 Walk through your front door like a guest. Don’t look for design issues, feel for emotional ones. Is it warm? Is it alive? Do you instantly feel welcome or invisible? 👉🏻 Stand in your lobby for fifteen minutes. Listen. How many times do you hear “welcome back”? How many times do you hear laughter? Those two sounds tell you everything about your culture. 👉🏻 Watch your front desk in action. How long does it take for someone to notice a guest? Does the team stop what they’re doing or keep typing? That pause between arrival and acknowledgment defines your entire guest experience. 👉🏻 Train your team to master three skills: 1️⃣ Make eye contact and smile like they mean it. 2️⃣ Read the guest’s energy fast and respond with empathy. 3️⃣ Personalize every greeting before they give their name. 👉🏻 Ask your staff how they feel walking into work. If they feel unseen, your guests will too. The guest experience will never rise above your employee experience. 👉🏻 Audit your lobby every day. The music, the scent, the lighting, the flow of movement, everything. You are creating a feeling, not running a transaction. That’s your first impression and your most valuable marketing moment. Hospitality is not built on design, it is built on energy. That first five seconds is your brand. You can't automate it, you can't fake it, but if you master it, you will not need loyalty programs. Your guests will become your marketing team. --- If you like the way I look at the world of hospitality, let’s chat: scott@mrscotteddy.com

This is the shift that helped my client land two job offers—after nearly a year in the job search. The market's tough. She's talented and strategic. Getting interviews wasn't the issue—but none of them were turning into offers. So we made one big shift: we moved her center of gravity from impressing to connecting. Before, every interview was high-stress and shape-shifty. She was performing the version of herself she thought they wanted—polished, perfect, and careful. We've all done it, especially when the stakes are high. So we flipped it: don't perform. Connect. For her, that meant treating interviews like a party. Some people would be total duds, others magic. That gave her permission to be real. To talk about how she could help, or not. So what happened? She got two job offers the same week. Both a great match, no performance required. This is the shift from pressure to presence. From trying to win the room to actually serving the room. It doesn't just feel better, it *works*. I'm helping another client do the same thing now. He has a new leadership role and his first board presentation. Same principle: Connection first. That's how you make the right impression. 👇 Want to try this shift? Here's a quick practice: 1. Write down a question you think you'll be asked. 2. Answer them twice. — First, the impressive version that's polished and safe. — Then, the real version that's honest, alive, maybe even a little risky. 3. Read them back and feel the difference. Ask yourself: which one actually connects?

First impressions matter. Sharing a real-time example: We posted a VP of HR role on Monday night. Had a crazy strong response. As a hiring team, how do we work through what could be several hundred responses? We start by evaluating the following, in order: 1. Outreach messaging. 2. LinkedIn profile (for qualifications). 3. Resume, to share with hiring team. The messages I received ranged from: "Hello, I'm interested." to Detailed examples of how their experience mapped to our requirements and how their approach to talent acquisition, development, culture, etc. aligned with the tone and culture of our posting. In other words, they took the time to research the company and our "vibe." Several applicants even used appropriate humor to show a bit of personality. We will start with people who took the time to differentiate themselves. We took the time to write a thoughtful JD and post - so when a candidate rewards our effort with a similar level of intentionality - it matters. Then we need to filter on the right experiences and qualifications. There are several that are either their or not. That's a simple second filter. If they've met both 1 and 2 we will do an initial screening. If their is alignment, we send their resume to the rest of our team to continue the process. The message here? If you are serious about a new role, take the time. This wasn't an online application into an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This was a direct invitation to engage with me, a key member of the hiring team. Many are called, few are chosen.

Think your executive presence only matters in the boardroom? Think again. It matters just as much on Zoom–maybe more. Today, most of our first impressions don't happen in offices or conference rooms. They happen in Zoom boxes. Interviews. Client pitches. Critical team meetings. The “first look” is often virtual–and research shows those impressions are just as powerful (and permanent) as in-person ones. I’ve landed roles and won business without a single handshake. The feedback has been notable: my energy and how I showed up on Zoom made a difference. Yet too often, people treat Zoom like a utility. They focus on showing up, but not on how they show up, and what their presence in that little square is actually saying about them. Mastering your virtual presence isn’t vanity; it’s strategy. Here’s how to own your square: 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗽 (𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆).  These are the basics that people notice subconsciously. Get them wrong and you have to work twice as hard to be taken seriously.  • Camera at eye level: Prop your laptop up if needed.   • Natural lighting: Your face should be clearly visible.  • Clear audio: If your voice is muffled, so are your ideas.   • Professional background: Simple, neat, distraction-free. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 (𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿).  This is where you make a real connection. 🎯 Talk to the camera, not the faces on the screen. This = direct eye contact.  🎯 Sit up and lean in: Your posture broadcasts confidence (or a lack of it). 🎯 Modulate your voice: Avoid the monotone drone. Speak with clarity, energy, and variety. 🎯 Listen to be seen: Nodding and reacting intentionally shows you’re engaged. Bottom line: Executive presence is not platform-agnostic. How you show up on screen directly shapes how you’re seen as a leader. What’s the most memorable (good or bad) virtual presence habit you've seen? 

First impressions are rarely ruined by big mistakes. They’re ruined by small ones. - A missed name. - A detail you forgot to research. - An assumption that didn’t land the way you thought it would. Sometimes we learn that the hard way. You walk into a meeting confident. You think you’re going to nail it. You’ve done this before. You know your material. But you didn’t read the room. The client cares deeply about one issue you brushed past. They value something you thought was minor. You focused on what impressed you instead of what mattered to them. And just like that, you’re overlooked. Attention to detail is respect made visible. → It’s remembering how they introduced themselves. → It’s understanding their industry before you pitch your solution. → It’s noticing what they emphasize and adjusting in real time. Every time I meet with a potential client, I lean into experience. → I’ve learned to listen longer than I speak. → I’ve learned to watch body language. → I’ve learned that the smallest comment in a discovery call often reveals the biggest concern. In IT especially, trust is built in the margins. Anyone can present a polished slide deck. But CEOs are evaluating more than your proposal. They’re asking: - Did you understand my business? - Did you catch what I was really worried about? - Do you notice the things that others miss? Small details communicate big competence. If your service provider misses the small things in a meeting, they’ll miss bigger things in your infrastructure. That’s not a small problem.

First impressions matter. Starting with your introduction. I’ve seen too many people wing their introductions. Big mistake. Top 1% communicators never underestimate first impressions. They know how to become instantly memorable. When I work with my CEO coaching clients, I ensure they stand out. You can steal my method: Record yourself introducing yourself in 30 seconds. Then ask: Would you be interested in meeting this person? Would you remember them a day later? If not: Rewrite. Rehearse. Refine. Use these 7 strategies to ace your next intro: 1 - The Networking Pitch - Daniel Priestley 🟢 Name Say it slowly. Own the moment. Smile. 🟢 Same Say what you do in familiar terms. 🟢 Fame Share a line of credibility. 🟢 Aim What are you focused on right now? 🟢 Game End with your bigger vision. 2 - Nail Your Non-Verbal → Real smile (no fake smiles) → Stand tall, shoulders back, face them directly → Avoid awkwardness: signal handshake, hug, or wave 3 - The 5-Second Intro Practice this all-purpose 3-step formula: Who you are → What you do → Who it helps 4 - Use Micro-Stories Instead of listing titles or credentials, embed a 1-sentence story: “I used to write speeches for government leaders. Now I coach founders on how to own the room.” 5 - Show Your Energy, Not Just Expertise Most introductions are soulless and bloodless. But energy is magnetic. 6 - Tailor Your Intro To The Room: 💼 Boardroom: Lead with credibility and clarity. 🎤 Stage: Start with a story or question. ☕ Networking: Keep it casual and curiosity-driven. 7 - Avoid These Mistakes 🚅 Saying your name too fast. 🥱 Being forgettable: “I’m in communications” 🪽 Winging it – first impressions matter! What do you pay attention to when you introduce yourself? - - - - ♻️ Repost to help others, too. And follow Oliver Aust for more on leadership communications. ♟️ Want to become a top 1% communicator? Reach out here: https://lnkd.in/dc-TBhZU