Have you ever looked at someone and within seconds formed a lasting first impression?
A first impression, which at the time seems justified, impacts how you interact with that person now and in the future.
It happens all the time. However, in many cases the first impressions we make are wrong.
Brain research reveals we are hard-wired to take in lots of information and quickly figure out how to process it all into something that makes sense to us. Our brains are pulling on past experiences we have had, as well as, the similarities and differences that we know of, creating that “first impression” we have of someone. It’s a process many of us call “thin-slicing.”
So, let me ask you two questions:
1) What do you immediately notice about a person when you first interact with him or her?
2) How does what you immediately notice about that person impact your first impression?
Your answers to these two questions will reveal that our first impressions are primarily based on one part of someone (the part you see) and within seconds we have formulated a first impression about how we will behave around them.
So let’s break this down a bit…
What is it that is visible to us? In many cases it can be someone’s physical attributes, race, gender, disabilities, ethnicity, age, dress and religion. However, is that the whole person? No.
What about what is invisible to us? Such as work/life experiences, skills, values, work style, and the person’s character/personality? Shouldn’t these invisible factors trump everything else?
So why is it we allow our first impressions of someone to become who that person is and how we behave around them?
Think about the implications of this on:
· Finding and retaining the best talent
· Having motivated and engaged employees
· Meeting or exceeding business goals
· Excelling beyond the competition
What to do?
· When you feel yourself formulating a quick evaluation of a person simply by what you immediately notice, take the time to PAUSE and be CURIOUS.
· Inquire. Ask questions.
· Learn more about the whole person before you decide how you will behave and interact.
Remember, we are also the person others are making a first impression about. Wouldn’t you want the same opportunity to show others the full you?
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-do-you-immediately-notice-jennifer-miraglia/
