When we’re able to make a good first impression, people are more likely to remember us than someone else who made little or no impact.

We may have proven that we’re sufficiently unique among the many other people a person meets.

But what happens when a first impression is negative or just goes completely off the rails, can it be somehow restored or corrected?

Let’s discuss first impressions and why they’re important.

The Importance Of First Impressions

What Is A First Impression And Why Is It Important?

Try thinking of a first impression as a building block for the relationship.

It plays a major part in setting the tone for future interactions and making a good first impression is a great start.

Why Is It Important To Give A Good Impression?

One of the main reasons first impressions are so important is that people tend to make generalizations based on them.

If someone’s first impression of us is that we’re friendly, competent, or trustworthy, then they’re more likely to feel comfortable around us.

They are then more likely to consider us as a friend and open up or confide in us.  People we meet in this way are also more likely to remember us and potentially recommend or talk positively about us to their friends and co-workers.

Why Is Impression Important In Communication?

First impressions are known to have a lasting effect. 

Indeed, one of the main reasons why first impressions are so important is that they last well beyond that moment.

This is thanks in part to something called the primacy effect, which means that when someone experiences something before other things in a particular sequence, they remember that first thing more.

Do First Impressions Really Matter That Much?

First impressions can be very important in many different settings, but they’re especially impactful in the professional world.

Being able to make a positive first impression can even influence our career.

Tips For Making A Good First Impression

• Smile.
• Make eye contact.
• Be authentic.
• Dress for the occasion.
• Speak clearly.
• Use positive body language.
• Be empathetic.
• In a professional setting, do your research and come prepared.

What Does Psychology Say About Impressions?

Not only are humans quick to form first impressions of others, but they’re also fairly accurate when the target presents themself genuinely.

Scientists have found that human beings develop this tendency as young as 3 years old.

Since our first impressions consist of the very first information we learn about others, they end up influencing everything we learn later on about them.

Should We Rely On First Impressions?

First impressions are not always accurate.

Based off of first impressions and looking back on some people you’ve met in your own life, how often do you perceive the person you know now in a different light than the way you did when you initially met them? 

Normally we can think of several examples among our circle of friends or associates.

Why Are First Impressions Difficult To Change?

If you want to change someone’s impression of you, it might be challenging.

Our brains are attached to that initial information, and it takes a very compelling reason to cause us to reconsider.

Then it takes consistent, ongoing evidence of the change to make it stick.

Final Thoughts:

By acknowledging that bad first impressions sometimes happen, we might be able to take some of the pressure off ourselves to be perfect and approach future meetings with more confidence.

It may also help us be more understanding when making our own first impressions of others.

A sincere smile puts most people at ease and makes people feel welcome. 

Make eye contact, stand up straight, and shake hands firmly and confidently when the situation calls for it.

Thanks for reading, please comment or follow the links.

Sources and other reading:

Tips For Making A Good First Impression

How To Be A Good Leader

The Importance Of Good Communication

Dealing With Fear And Anxiety

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