92 The ABCs of a Great First Impression with Sylvie di Giusto

In an interaction with someone new, you only have about seven seconds to make a great first impression. What can you do to make every second count? Find out in this episode with guest Sylvie di Giusto! Sylvie is a consultant, author, and international keynote speaker, who uses her years of corporate experience to help other professionals use emotional intelligence and conscious decision-making to change their behavior and find the best outcomes. In this episode, Sylvie joins me for a conversation about first impressions, overcoming biases, and why behavior and communications play a big role in setting yourself up for great conversations and exciting connections.

3:19 – In the first seven seconds of a new conversation, we all make up to eleven major decisions about the other person

4:21 – We all have unconscious biases, which are built on our past experiences

4:33 – One of these is confirmation bias, which is when we search for something to show that our initial opinion about someone was correct

4:47 – Another is anchoring bias, where we cannot get rid of information or perceptions we already have

5:04 – Overall, there are around 185 biases that influence our decisions every single day

6:11 – To form stronger relationships and get rid of biases, take a step back from your own mindset and stay curious in conversations with others

7:39 – In a diverse industry like manufacturing, first impressions are particularly important, and you will have interactions with a wide variety of people, from clients to your team on the floor

8:37 – First impressions are also especially important for women in the manufacturing industry, since it’s a traditionally male-dominated industry

10:24 – Instead of letting your gender drive other’s first impression of you, make sure they see your experience, expertise, skills, confidence, and leadership

11:53 – Making a strong first impression comes down to five elements, or the ABCDEs of making a good impression

12:00 - A is for appearance, or the way you look, dress, and present yourself

13:21 – B stands for behavior, which includes factors like your attitude, your charisma, and your mindset and ethics

14:15 – C is for communication, and this also includes your listening skills

15:44 – While making a first impression, it’s important to always do your best, even if you make mistakes in those first seven seconds

17:30 – Your reputation is what people say behind your back, not what they say to your face

18:05 – Authenticity is a lie

18:58 - You can show up different ways in different roles, but you are still the same person throughout your day

20:10 – Your core values don’t change throughout your day, but you just deliver them differently in different situations, like when interacting with your children or with your team on the floor

21:21 – The first 11 words of a conversation play a huge role in creating a first impression, but many of us waste them on small talk

22:00 – In the ABCDEs of first impression, the D refers to how your digital footprint and how you present yourself in the digital space like social media

24:22 – E is for environment, or how factors like your office space, car, and family reflect on you

25:00 – By focusing on factors you can control, like your appearance, you can take the steps toward making a strong first impression and forging great connections

Connect with Sylvie di Guisto

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