Home
About
DeFinis Communications
Angela DeFinis
FAQs
Programs
Core Curriculum
Encore! Presentation Skills Training
Technical Demo Presentation Skills Training
Recharge! Sales Presentation Skills Training
Advanced Presentation Skills Training
Executive Immersion
Building Professional Presence
Clients
Our customers
Testimonials
Participant Comments
Articles
Blog
Contact

DeFinis Communications

Home
About
DeFinis Communications
Angela DeFinis
FAQs
Programs
Core Curriculum
Encore! Presentation Skills Training
Technical Demo Presentation Skills Training
Recharge! Sales Presentation Skills Training
Advanced Presentation Skills Training
Executive Immersion
Building Professional Presence
Clients
Our customers
Testimonials
Participant Comments
Articles
Blog
Contact
Angela DeFinis
April 21, 2011
body language, Business Tips, Executive Speech Tips, Eye Contact, Facial Expression, Performance, Physical Presence, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Sales Presentations, Speaking Tips, Stage Presence, Top Speaking Tips

How to Make a Great First Impression…on Easter Sunday or Any Day

Angela DeFinis
April 21, 2011
body language, Business Tips, Executive Speech Tips, Eye Contact, Facial Expression, Performance, Physical Presence, Presentation Skills, Presentation Tips, Sales Presentations, Speaking Tips, Stage Presence, Top Speaking Tips

When I was growing up, Easter Sunday was a celebrated occasion, much like it is today. A big part of the fun was dressing up in our new pastel dresses with matching shoes, jewelry and fancy Easter bonnets. To top off our splendid outfits, my father gave my sister and me one last accessory: freshly made corsages. And before we would head out to Easter Sunday mass he would announce, “You girls are certainly dressed to kill.” The irony was lost on us at the time but the point was well taken. We knew we were going to make a stunning first impression!  First Impressions Matter

You may have a great speech, spot-on PowerPoint slides, and years of industry experience, but if the first impression you give your audience doesn’t match your expertise, your message may fall flat. Research tells us that listeners make up their minds about presenters within the first 30 seconds of seeing the presenter take the podium. That means how you look, what you wear, and how you carry yourself will set the tone for your entire presentation. Following are some first impression guidelines to keep in mind as you prepare for your next presentation.

  • Dress appropriately.  When you’re giving a presentation, always dress in accordance with the most senior person in the room. If the presentation is to a group of your peers with no higher rank, then dress at least one level up. Remember, no matter how knowledgeable you are on the topic, people will judge you based on what they see; therefore, you want to look professional at all times.
  • Groom yourself well. Make sure your hair is combed and styled appropriately. While trendy, disheveled-looking haircuts may be in vogue these days, let the hairbrush do a little more work than usual for this occasion. Make sure your hair is out of your eyes and not covering too much of your face. If you’re a man with facial hair, trim it so it looks neat. Forgo the drama—neat is best.
  • Make strong eye contact. As soon as you take the podium or the stage, make eye contact with your audience. For sustained and powerful eye contact, look at one person for a full three to five seconds. Look right into their eyes, connect with them, complete an entire thought, and then move on to the next person. Take your time when you are speaking to another person and enjoy the connection.
  • Consider your facial expressions. No one will connect to a speaker who is deadpan or who seems disinterested in being there. Therefore, from the moment you stand to speak, smile, raise your eyebrows, and use a full range of facial expressions. As you talk, vary your facial expressions to reflect the content of your presentation, keeping your facial expressions congruent with your message.

Keep It Going Obviously, you should continue employing all these suggestions throughout your presentation, not just at the beginning when you’re making a first impression. The key is to start strong so you can grab people’s attention and respect, and then continue on that high note throughout the entire presentation. When you do, you’ll not only start with a great first impression; you also make a lasting impression that leads to greater credibility and higher esteem.

(This article is from the DeFinis Communications monthly newsletter. Sign up here to get this and other great content delivered directly to your inbox.)

Tagged: audience, body language, Connection, dressed to kill, Encore! Elegant Skills for Powerful Presentations, first impression, first impressions, Line by Line Coaching, Northern California, observe, Physical Presence, Public Speaker, Public Speaking, Stage Presence

Newer PostPowerPoint Lessons at 30,000 Feet
Older PostListening: A Core Communication Skill
 

 How can we help?

Contact Us: (415) 258-8176

Name *
Name
Thank you!
 
Back to Top
(415) 258-8176

CONTACT

(415) 860-6146
 

FOLLOW US

LINKS

About
Programs
Clients
Articles
Blog

 
Definis Communications - Presentation Skills Training - SF Bay Area.png

Programs available nationwide. Based in the Bay Area
near San Francisco, California.

Copyright © 2018 DeFinis Communications. All rights reserved.

Built By: Katie's Web Design