First Impressions: Your Physical Appearance
The dictionary defines first impression as one's initial perception of another person, typically involving a positive or negative evaluation as well as a sense of physical and psychological characteristics.
I’m Guilty. Are You?
Like it or not, we have all judged a person, at some point in our lives, based on that first look. Think about walking down a busy street in New York City. If you haven’t been to NYC, I can tell you that there is an abundance of strange and questionable people that you will encounter. Ahh…there. I’ve done it. I’ve just given you my first impression of the type of people that you will run into in NYC. Now when you think about these people that you see, you inherently start to form an opinion. What thoughts come to mind when you come across a man dressed in business attire versus a homeless man sitting on the street, begging for money? Or how about two kids walking down the block together? One child is dressed in an outfit that appears to be somewhat big on them, their hair is disheveled, and their shoes have mud on them. In comparison, the other child is wearing a shirt that is neatly tucked into his pants, his hair is combed, and his shoes are clean. What words come to mind as you see these people? Do the cleaner individuals give you a sense of security and because of this sense of security, are you more likely to proffer a certain degree of trust to these individuals? Whereas the homeless man and dirty child may make you feel uncomfortable, maybe a little anxious. And as a result of this uncertainty, your ability to “trust” these types of individuals are less likely.
I Made A Mistake
Remember. First look impressions. No doubt, these impressions aren’t always correct. But they are real and can be used as the basis for future opinions. What if I told you that the businessman is homeless? Remember the movie The Pursuit of the Happyness, starring Will Smith who plays the role of Chris Gardner? In the story, we learn about the struggles Chris went through during his nearly one-year period of being homeless. There is a scene in the story where Chris is ordered to spend the night in jail, all on the heels of an important interview the next day. Upon his release, Chris heads to the office for his interview.
But because of the time restriction, he doesn’t have the ability to wash up or change his clothes. Despite his appearance, he impresses the interviewers and lands a six-month unpaid internship. Can you imagine if acceptance was strictly based on his appearance?
Of course, this is an extreme example of first look impressions. But the point I am trying to emphasize is that first look impressions do exist and because of that, you must take care in your personal appearance. It may not be fair, but it is human nature. While judging a book by its cover is inappropriate, there are some basic principles you can follow that will go a long way to best communicate the real you through your appearance.
The Basics
1. Prepare your personal appearance in such a way that avoids distracting people from seeing what you have to offer. Often times, people want to know what you have to say when you present yourself in a respectable manner.
2. Your outward appearance is the first impression that you give people about who you are. Your personal style says a lot about your personality. You are free to express yourself through your choice in clothes and accessories, while making sure that you look presentable.
3. With your outward appearance, you communicate how you feel about yourself and how others should treat you. You take care of your body because you respect yourself. Others care for you because they see that you care for yourself.
4. You dress the way you want to be addressed. When you are dressed well, you exude confidence. Others speak to you in a respectful manner because you show that you respect yourself enough to ensure that your clothes are clean and free from wrinkles.
Call to Action
I want you to make a concerted effort to understand how your physical appearance impacts a person’s first impression of you. Find a quiet spot and ask yourself the following questions:
1. How can I dress well and stay true to my personal style at the same time?
2. What is my appearance saying about me?
3. How can I improve my appearance so others will take me seriously?
I want to be clear that there are times when you will dress a certain way as the place you are going to dictates what attire you should wear. For instance, you don’t go to the gym and workout in a suit and tie or a mini skirt and heels. Conversely, you wouldn’t wear leggings and a muscle shirt to a place of worship. Let the attire match the occasion. While it can be tempting to not put any effort into how you look, show yourself some respect by putting in that time and effort into your appearance without compromising your individuality and present yourself in a way that makes others want to get to know you. You never know what that first impression can mean.
