First Impressions by Shelley Stockwell-Nicholas, PhD
First Impressions
BY SHELLEY STOCKWELL-NICHOLAS, PhD
Experts say that you form immediate, vivid impressions of someone during the first three seconds you encounter them. Then, in the next five minutes, you add more data to those first impressions. This happens in person and even on Zoom. Often, people are in a rush to get “on to the next thing” so they may not even get beyond the first three seconds. So, those three seconds are even more important in our sound-bite society!
The next time you meet someone for the first time, be consciously aware of your impressions, thoughts and feelings about them. Notice what you notice. Notice how you judge their expression, their dress, their hair, their eye contact, body language, jewelry, voice, posture and words.
What favorably impresses you? What distracts? What turns you off? What is neutral? This is an enjoyable pastime and reveals quite a bit about YOU. Your impressions are a two way street. Others are checking you out in the same critical way. How do you come across?
Fashion and Image Consultant, Bunny Vreeland reminds us that, “how you dress and decorate yourself can make all the difference.” She tells of Marilyn Monroe who would assess how se dressed by standing in front of a mirror, close her eyes and then open them again. If something detracted from her she would take that thing away so everyone saw her sweetness.” Bunny suggests that you ask yourself; “Is my grooming and what I wear appropriate to the company I keep or would like to keep? Do the colors I choose flatter me? Does my look convey my true self and the situation I’m in? Above all,” she says, “take a careful, conscious, look at how you present yourself… Give up what you wore in college or high school and instead notice what you put forward NOW.”
After all is said and done, you never get a second chance to make a great first three second impression.
Local Personality, Shelley Stockwell-Nicholas, PhD is a hypnotherapist, mindfulness and NLP trainer, artist and the author of 25 books. She certifies practitioners through the International Hypnosis Federation. You can call her at 310 541-4844.