Thin-Slicing
Thin-slicing is when we take a mental snapshot of someone and guess their competence, confidence and likability in less than a second.
MORE IDEAS FROM THE ARTICLE
Choose ONE word from this list of adjectives or pick your own to fill in the blank. When people first meet me, they think I am_____
- Charismatic or boring
- Outgoing or shy
- Kind or judgmental
- Intelligent or weird
- Open or closed
- Powerful or weak
- Engaging or odd
- Professional or casual
Did you pick a positive word? Or a negative word? You have to know where you stand now to move to where you want to be.
The most important thing to do for giving a good impression is to set your intention. Right now pick your ideal first impression word. When people first meet me, I want them to see me as_______.
People can judge our personality from handshakes alone. What does yours say?
Your goal is that your nonverbal shows whomever you’re interacting with that you’re calm, confident and powerful. You can do this with a launch stance.
- Your toes – which should always be pointed toward the person you are speaking with.
- Your hands – should always be visible and ideally expressive as you speak.
- Your arms – should always be loose so there is space between your torso and arms so you can gesture and easily reach out to shake hands.
- Your shoulders – which should be down and back so they look nice and relaxed. They also should be angled towards the person you are interacting with.
- Your chin – which should be neutral so you are not looking up at someone or sneering down at someone.
There is almost no way to make a good first impression if you are having a bad day. If you have to go to an event, find a way to snap yourself out of your bad mood.
Working out, calling a friend or watching funny or inspiring YouTube videos before events often gets you in a more social, feel-good mood.
Get some of your favorite outfits or ornaments together and ask friends you trust what they think of when they see them.
RELATED IDEAS
You’ve got a lot to pack into those seven seconds to make your impression a positive one.
In less than one-tenth of a second of seeing someone for the first time, our brain processes information about the person’s face—which leads to quick conclusions about a new acquaintance’s qualities, including trustworthiness, competency, friendliness, honesty and morality.
- Be on time.
- Dress appropriately for an occasion.
- Address everyone respectfully, such as by their last name.
- Maintain eye contact, but do not stare.
- Speak clearly, confidently, and do not rush through your thoughts or sentences.
- Offer a firm handshake.