Last week, we discussed a report which claims that the average amount of time that you have to make a first impression is 119 seconds. Today, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can use your communication skills to make a strong, professional impression in these two critical minutes.
One important factor in making a strong impression is the way you speak. In these critical first moments, often how you say something makes a stronger impression than what you say. Once you’ve made an impression on someone, their image of you can be hard to shake, even if you change your behavior later in the game. So when you first meet someone, put extra effort into making sure your speech is as strong as it can be.
Pay special attention to your enunciation as you speak. Clearly pronouncing all of your words will help you to appear articulate and professional, whereas mumbling can have the reverse effect. You should also take note of your rate of speech. In addition to making it harder to understand your message, rushing your words can create the impression that you are nervous or unsure of yourself. Finally, be aware of the vocabulary you choose. Using informal language and slang can make you appear overly casual. On the other end of the spectrum, using overly complicated vocabulary and wording in an attempt to appear intelligent can backfire and make you seem pretentious.
Polishing your speech to make a strong first impression can be tricky. If you could use a little help, enlist the services of a professional communication coach! At Corporate Speech Solutions, our team of corporate speech-language pathologists can help you reach your professional potential through strong communication. Give us a call at 212-308-7725 or visit us on the web at www.corporatespeechsolutions.com. Don’t live in NYC? No problem! Our services are Skype ready, so CSS can help you improve your communication from anywhere in the world.