Gain the upper hand in initial meetings by understanding the signs people interpret in their first impressions of strangers.
Psychologists have found that we form an opinion of strangers in less than one tenth of a second, based on certain signs. If you know what these are, you can immediately gain the upper hand in any initial meeting.
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Here are five of the best ways to instantly appear competent, based on a compilation of studies on first impressions by Research Digest:
1. Make more eye contact
Making eye contact in conversation, especially while talking, and to a lesser extent while listening, makes others believe you are more intelligent. Those who avoid eye contact are judged to be insincere and lacking in conscientiousness.
2. Speak rapidly
Faster speech leads people to assume that you are more competent, truthful, fluent and persuasive. Also, people who ‘um’ and ‘ah’ a lot are assumed to not know what they’re talking about.
3. Dress smartly to communicate success
Wearing good quality, branded clothing imparts an air of confidence and success. Research also shows that people assume that the same job candidate in formal wear will be more likely to earn a higher salary and win a promotion, than a scruffier candidate.
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4. Walk with a loose, expansive gait
A loose walking style is interpreted as a sign of adventurousness, extraversion, trustworthiness and warmth.
5. If you have piercings, remove them
People who have multiple facial piercings are assumed to be less intelligent. Research shows that as the number of piercings goes up, the perceived intelligence of the individual goes down.
