The effect of the first impression is the influence of the opinion about the person, which was formed by the subject in the first minutes at the first meeting, on the further assessment of the activities and personality of this person.
It is known that we will never get a second chance to make a first impression — so it is important to use the first and only chance in order to establish yourself well.
How to make a good first impression?
- Credit of trust from the scene.
The scene gives a certain credit of trust and respect to the speaker from the public. The scene raises a person not only physically, but also psychologically, in the eyes of the audience. We are ready to listen to a person who has entered the stage, only because he has taken this central, main place. Perhaps you have noticed from your own experience that when you are sitting in the hall and a person comes on stage, he automatically causes a certain «submission» of the listeners and an initial share of respect. And this is only due to the fact that he appeared on this main place. The initial credit of trust and respect is a regularity, but, of course, it does not exclude the possibility that there may be people in the hall who were previously opposed to you, who came specifically to disrupt the performance or mock. How to neutralize them is a separate issue.
The task of the speaker is to use the credibility — that is, to increase, and not to devalue with his behavior.
- The seven second rule.
How long does it take for a first impression to form? Psychologists have calculated that the first impression is formed in just the first seven seconds of a person’s appearance in front of people, and then it is only fixed.
Possible amendment: there is evidence that the first impression is formed in the first 2 seconds and after that it practically does not change (it changes to a small extent). Watch 2 seconds for an impression
When does the seven seconds begin? When the speaker appears in the field of public attention, and not when he begins to speak! When you get up from your seat in the hall and start walking to the stage, seven seconds have already begun. When you go backstage, the impression automatically begins to take shape. Walk down the aisle in the hall — you are already in the field of attention. So remember — the performance begins with getting up from your seat or the appearance of your nose from behind the scenes! A typical mistake of an inexperienced speaker: the speaker, believing that the speech has not yet begun, gets up, goes to the stage, adjusting his clothes on the way, convulsively shrugging his shoulders, buttoning up, scratching his head, rubbing his chin and brushing his hair with his fingers. Then he hurriedly wipes his nose, it’s good if with a handkerchief, straightens his clothes as he goes and almost buttons his trousers. By the time he reaches the place, we can assume that the performance has already ended. What is the impression? Any such fuss works against the speaker. People in the hall should not see any «kitchen» and no preparations. Therefore — no «kitchen» in public, you should already be absolutely «OK», with no signs that you may have something wrong.
- Owner behavior.
This capacious word — the Master — contains all the strongest qualities of a person: confidence, independence from the opinions of others, inner strength, one hundred percent psychological comfort, no matter what. As well as slowness, acceptable imposingness, lack of fuss. Such behavior is associated with power, reliability, courage, leadership, with a leader and even a leader. A confident and internally strong person evokes respect, people involuntarily obey him, the impression of him is strong, his words are of particular significance. What is the most common reason for the fuss? The fact is that when we experience unpleasant and uncomfortable sensations, it is understandable that we want to get rid of them as soon as possible. How to do it on stage? Escape, we understand, is impossible. But on the other hand, you can quickly cope with your number and get off the stage out of sight. Therefore, at trainings, I recommend that participants, on the contrary, move in public a little more slowly, unhurriedly, as if slightly slowing down (according to my feelings), and then the fuss will be compensated and there will be a golden mean. Recommended training — «The art of speech: rhetoric and public speaking»
Recommended Trainings
- ART OF SPEECH: rhetoric and oratory.