Making a First Impression Count

Brian Faulkner, Bsc (Hons), BVM&S, CertGP (BPS), CertGP (SAM), MBA, MSc (Psych), MRCVS, reviews how body language and posture can make all the difference in delivering a memorable first impression.

Interview Transcript (slightly modified for readability)

“At a physical level, first impressions count. People will form opinions about you long before they’ve ever met you or you’ve said a thing because the visual is a very strong sense. So what can people do to give a really good first impression? Body language and confidence go hand-in-hand. Being able to stand up straight, hold our shoulders back, but not inappropriately. Eye-contacting other people sends ‘I have nothing to hide.’ Open body language, so palms that are revealed, as long as it’s appropriate, as opposed to the more closed body language which is a bit defensive.

The other big thing a view to posture is we can’t develop posture overnight. That’s why being fit and atheletic and actually doing exercise (are important). So weight-resistance training, to be able to improve the development of our posture and our core strength. A lot of very, very good public speakers and politicians will actually work hard on their physical work so therefore automatically they hold their body in a much better posture as opposed to trying to remember to do that stuff whilst they’re addressing a crowd.

It’s that ability to look confident in the moment, physically. Eye contact, and of course a gentle facial demeanor helps.”