Do you make your first impression your best impression? Within the first three seconds of an encounter you are evaluated…even at just a glance. Once the first impression is made it is virtually irreversible. Casting judgement upon someone is in all of us – whether we like it or not.
Really, I had never given this much thought until I worked at Express (retail store in the mall) and now working in marketing for the Tampa Bay Rays. After sitting in seminars and being trained on the first impressions and marketing techniques, I realized that everything about me was being judged at just a glance. How was I representing myself and more importantly how was I representing the company? If I were to give a bad first impression that would not only make me look bad but could also make the company look bad.
Through conscious effort and daily practice I started to develop somewhat of a consistency in my first impression. I wanted to make my first impression my best impression to everyone that I met. This made me more confident in my approach, better at communication, and more efficient with sales.
Think of how many people you meet on a daily basis – whether its at a local coffee shop, the gym, your workplace, the store, etc. There are a lot of people that we come into contact with on a regular basis this may b
e direct or indirect depending on where you are. You might be speaking with one person and being evaluated/judged by someone standing at a distance (it happens more than might expect). There have been countless times that I have been approached by someone because of a conversation I was having with another person (watch what you say, it might not always be positive feedback). You never know who is watching and listening, it may make an impact in your life and hopefully make a huge impact in theirs.
What would people say about your first impression? Maybe the better question is, would people say that your first impression is your best impression? My mind immediately asks the question – how does this impact the church? Look at it from a Sunday morning perspective, how much does my church value “first impressions?” Also, look at it from a evangelistic perspective – when is the last time I talked to a complete stranger and tried to get to know them in a real way? Do I find it difficult to make new friends? Strike conversation? How is my approach and delivery? These are valid questions that we all should ask ourselves, hopefully causing us to leave positive and lasting first impressions.
May we see the powerful impact we can make within seconds of meeting someone. An evangelistic perspective is an outward perspective – your passion is seen. Today may you be a noticer, a motivator, and a lover to all.
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