Real Talk on First Impressions in the Workplace
Before I dive into this, my first newsletter, let me extend a warm welcome to you, the reader. I’m very glad you’re here! This newsletter will be published monthly and will cover a variety of topics related to your personal and professional branding journey. If you have a particular ‘branding’ topic you’d like to read about here, please email me at eileen@wearingwhatmatters.com. Thank you.
Elevating Your Brand: Real Talk on First Impressions in the Professional World
Whether talking about our professional or our personal image, the importance of first impressions cannot be overemphasized. Your image is the silent script to your professional story. (For clarity, ‘image’ is used in this article to mean ‘visual appearance’ and ‘brand’ is used to mean ’visual appearance + all other non-verbal communication.’) Think of your image as a large part of your non-verbal communication (other non-verbal parts include body language, kinesics, facial expressions, proximity relative to others, eye contact and even scent). Before you speak, your image has the potential to positively or negatively impact your confidence, your perceived power, the way others interact with you and even what assumptions are made about your skills and expertise. To prove the point, let me share a first impression ‘WIN’ and a first impression ‘FAIL’ of my own… as well as a few valuable tips on how you can elevate your brand and master the art of winning at the game of first impressions.
First Impression WIN
Last year I attended a casual networking event at a fashionable hotel in downtown Nashville and I was sporting what is, for me, a classic winter casual look: tall, brown boots with a 2-inch block heel, jeans tucked in the tall boots, a cream silk blouse, a Ralph Lauren tweed jacket, and some lipstick. The event was a great opportunity for me to promote Venus Rising and I dressed in a way that I hoped would convey confidence and inspire trust in me and my professional brand. Walking through the lobby of the hotel I received compliments from two sets of two women. The first two women and I were in line for coffee and the second pair were queuing with me for a taxi. I’m paraphrasing here, but the general gist of the compliments were ‘I really like the way you look’ and ‘I have a jacket like that, and I like the way you wear it with the jeans tucked into your boots.’ In both cases we ended up chatting and in both cases the discussion included ‘how to dress for different body types’ (the women in question were under 5’6” and I am 6’2”). I score this in the ‘WIN’ column because I felt a surge of confidence and because something about the way I looked made these women want to approach me and talk to me. This gave me the perfect opportunity to talk to them about my image consulting business.
First impression FAIL
Last summer I was doing some branding work with a client at her home in Atlanta. I dressed for the day in a way that I presumed was appropriate for an in-home work session. My thought (though I only see this now) was that the client had already signed the contract and agreed to the scope of work, so I didn’t need to ‘dress to impress.’ I did think at the time that I looked the right mix of professional/casual (navy, stretch linen pants; a linen navy t-shirt; slim, dark green belt; navy & white sneakers; small stud earrings and just some light lipstick). During the session, my client (tactfully) dropped a few hints about (paraphrasing again here) “...how important it must be for people in your profession to always show up looking great.’’ and how ‘’You really do have to put in the time and effort - to set an example for your clients, don’t you?’. At some point soon after these comments I furtively made my way to the bathroom and objectively assessed what I saw in the mirror. Verdict: I had miscalculated the image that I needed to project that day, in that specific situation, by a wide margin. Projecting a better image that day would have included wearing ‘my’ colors (earth tones instead of ‘cool’ blues), corresponding makeup and jewelry, a blouse (instead of a t-shirt), nice flats (instead of sneakers) and a smart jacket or sweater. This is a ‘FAIL’ because the client in question had expectations that were not met and, as a result, may not have trusted me as an image consultant. This particular client has not been a repeat client. Though she might be in the future. Never say never...
These are just two examples of first impressions, but I could have provided dozens more. Most of you can probably relate. The point to make here is that there is real science and timing (and joy and defeat) behind these first impressions. If you’re in the mood to do some reading on the subject, check out the oldie-but-goodie “You’ve Only Got Three Seconds” by Camille Lavington.
A positive first impression opens doors, and consistently maintaining that impression is one of the ways to build lasting relationships and foster long-term professional success. Here are some practical tips to help you make a positive impact right from the start.
Tips to Make Positive First Impressions:
Dress the Part: Show that you are competent and that you mean business. It's not just about looking good; it's about signaling you're on top of things. Well-groomed people are often perceived as more capable and trustworthy. Understand the dress code of your industry, company and situation, and tailor your attire accordingly. (NOTE: tailoring your attire does not mean erasing you, your culture, your ethnicity. It does mean finding a way to ‘pair’ your style with the corporate environment in which you work.) Choose clothing that reflects your personal style while aligning with professional expectations.
Mind Your Body Language: Another part of your ‘non-verbal’ toolkit. Let it be authentic. Confident body language can convey assurance and credibility. Stand tall, give a firm handshake, and look people in the eye. Maintain eye contact to show attentiveness and sincerity. Practice open and confident body language. Avoid crossing arms, slouching, or fidgeting. Smile genuinely to create a welcoming and approachable demeanor. It's these small steps that really add up.
Polish Your Communication Skills: The tone, pitch, and pace of your voice contribute to the overall impression you create. A clear and confident voice can enhance your perceived competence. Keep your communication simple and listen as much as you talk (listening actively demonstrates respect and understanding). Speak clearly and with purpose. Avoid using jargon that may alienate others. Tip: Speeko is a great tool to help you speak with confidence, clarity, and empathy. The app is easy to use, with real-time feedback on pace, intonation, etc.
Know Your Environment: Prior to meetings or events, research the expected norms and make adaptations to your behavior accordingly. Understanding the cultural context can help you navigate diverse professional settings.
Show Genuine Interest: Ask thoughtful questions and actively engage with others. Demonstrate a genuine interest in building relationships rather than focusing solely on self-promotion.
Maintain Professional Online Presence: In today's digital age, your online presence is an extension of your professional image. Regularly update and curate your LinkedIn profile and other relevant platforms. We will talk more about this in a future newsletter.
Seek Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Actively seek feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors to identify areas for improvement. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning and refinement.
There’s a game I play with clients that illustrates how they can work on their image in a powerful yet simple way. To play the game, I get the client to think about what one word they would want other people to use to describe them when they walked into work, the meeting, or the conference that day. It can only be one word. What would that word be? Powerful? Approachable? Whatever the word is, the idea is to keep that word in mind as you get dressed in the morning. Try playing the game and take the opportunity to showcase the best version of yourself, leaving a positive and lasting mark on everyone you meet. You have control over the first impressions you make.
