Making a good first impression podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Drew: Hi Kate! How are you doing? Kate: Hi Drew! I'm fine thanks. And you? You look different today...I don't know, like...more confident, maybe? Drew: Hah! Hah! Hah! Well, the other day I read a very interesting article in an old Forbes magazine about making a good first impression, so I'm working on the image I project and, well...I guess it's working! Kate: Oh, so that's what it is. What did the article say? Drew: Well, let's start with a question: do you find that when you meet someone for the first time, the first impression you have of that person is a lasting impression? Kate: Sometimes, but not always. Often when I get to know them better, I find they're completely different to what I thought to start off with. Drew: Yeah, the same thing happens to me. However, according to this article, when we meet somebody for the first time, "we make eleven major decisions about one another in the first seven seconds of meeting." Kate: Wow! You're kidding! Drew: No, I'm not. And the most important thing is our body language. Look at what it says here: "non verbal cues have over four times the impact on the impression you make than anything you say." Kate: Gosh! I knew that body language was important, but not to that extent! Drew: Yes, it's really amazing, isn't it? Kate: And does the article give any advice on how to make a good first impression? Drew: Yes, it does, actually. For example, it talks about how important it is to have a good body posture. Apparently, if you pull your shoulders back and stand straight, you look taller and it gives the impression that you are confident. According to Forbes: "status and power are non- verbally conveyed by height and space." So the taller you are, the better. Kate: Oooooh, so that's what you were doing!! Yes, it's curious, but it is true that I always wear high-heels when I have an important meeting because it makes me feel more confident. Drew: Oh really! You ladies are lucky that you can do that! Kate: Well, you don't have any problem either - being so tall. Drew: Yeah, I suppose so. Kate: What other tips does the article give? Drew: Well, to smile, of course. Kate: Yes, that's obvious, isn't it? Drew: Yes, but sometimes it's good to point out the obvious. I have a friend who coordinates the call centres that provide the customer service for his company. He told me that the operators are told to smile while they are attending the customers, even though they only speak to them on the phone, because apparently, you can tell by somebody's voice if they're smiling. Kate: Do you really think so? Drew: Well, according to my friend, they think it is so important that in some call centres, the operators sit in front of a mirror, so that they can actually see themselves while they're working. That way, they can keep a check on their own body language. Kate: That's amazing. Well, apart from standing straight and smiling, what else should I do to make a good first impression? Drew: Well, you should make eye contact. Kate: Oh, I do find that difficult sometimes. I am a bit shy, so looking at somebody straight in the eye, especially when I don't know them, makes me feel uncomfortable. Drew: Well, in the article they say that if you look into somebody's eyes, it "transmits energy and indicates interest and openness." Kate: Yes, I know it's important. If you look down or to one side, it gives the impression that you've got something to hide. I remember somebody telling me about a little trick, which was to look at the other person between the eyes, at the bridge of their nose. Drew: Well, the article says that a good way to improve your eye contact, is to make a point of noticing the colour of people's eyes. Kate: That's a good idea! It's true that you often don't even remember the eye colour of people you see every day. Drew: That's true! What colour are your eyes, by the way? Let me check... Kate: Hah! Hah! Well, what else does the article say? Drew: It talks about the importance of shaking hands. Apparently, the rapport you create with the first handshake is the equivalent of three hours of continuous interaction with no physical contact. Kate: Wow! But that depends so much on people's nationality and culture, doesn't it ? I mean, Spanish people are so warm and friendly, even when they don't know you, whilst English people are terribly inhibited when it comes to non-verbal language. Drew: Definitely. I mean look at the difference between the Americans and the Japanese, for example. We aren't particularly touchy- feely as a country either, but the Japanese take that to the extreme. There is no physical contact, at all, between new acquaintances, at least. Kate: Yes, I know what you mean. But I have had more problems in business meetings with Spanish companies because of just the opposite. It can be awkward sometimes because you often don't know whether to shake hands, or give two kisses, or both!! Drew: Yeah, I know what you mean. The article also mentions the importance of keeping the right distance and respecting the other person's space, you know: don't get too close!! Kate: Yeah, that's a difficult one, sometimes, because if you stand back too much, you can give the impression that you are unfriendly when you aren't. Drew: Indeed. You have to strike a balance between keeping your distance and showing that you're interested in what the other person is saying. Kate: What does the article say about that? Drew: That you should stay about two feet away from the other person - that's about half a metre - and only lean forward very slightly to show that you are interested in what the other person is saying. Kate: That sounds like good advice. Does the article give any more tips? Drew: Just one more. It says you should raise your eyebrows. Kate: Raise your eyebrows? Why's that? Drew: Well, it says you should "open your eyes slightly more than normal to simulate the 'eyebrow flash' that is the universal signal of recognition and acknowledgement." Kate: The eyebrow flash! I'd never heard of that before! Drew: Me neither. I don't really agree with this one. I think that when you raise your eyebrows you're showing surprise, or even disapproval. Kate: Yes - I agree it's a bit dodgy to do that. You might give the other person the wrong idea. I remember reading an article that talked about how certain gestures, which we think are universal, can mean completely different things in some countries. Drew: Really? Such as what? Kate: Well, I remember it said that in Albania, and I think it said in Bulgaria as well, they nod their heads to say 'no' and shake their heads to say 'yes'. Drew: Wow! How confusing! Kate: Yes, it is. Drew: Though having said that, I remember a Brazilian friend telling me never to use the OK sign in Brazil, because, if you do, you are basically telling the other person to "get lost". Kate: Well, that's good to know. I'll have to remember all of this the next time I meet a new acquaintance, especially if they're Albanian, Bulgarian or Brazilian! Drew: Hah! Hah! You're too right! Drew: If you would like to read Carol Kinsey Goman's article: Seven seconds to make a first impression, you'll find the link at the end of this podcast's transcript. See you later! We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now! www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2011/02/13/seven-seconds-to-make-a-first-impression/#615e20f02722