SfC Home > Being Valuable >

Explanation of how to make an impression that you a source of value. Also refer to importance, valuable, first impression, evaluation, character, intelligence, social standing, confident, unsure, taste, class, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Making an Impression of Being Valuable or Important

by Ron Kurtus (26 January 2002)

When you are trying to provide another person with a valuable product, service or information, the person will first evaluate whether he feels you can deliver what is promised. This evaluation is done through the impression you project. Although the first impression is the most important, every time you interact, you make an impression that builds to form your reputation.

Questions you may have include:

• What does the person evaluate?
• How is an impression made?
• Why is the first impression so important?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

What is evaluated?

Whenever you interact with another person, that person makes evaluations concerning your intelligence, character, social standing and such. These evaluations or judgments are derived from subtle clues, taken from what he or she sees and hears from you.

Likewise, you do the same thing about the other person. You may observe the way the person dresses, how he carries himself, how he acts, how he sounds, and implications from what he says, and you pass judgment from those items.

This determines the impression each makes on the other.

Impression

There is the visual impression and how a person sounds.

Visual impression

When you come into contact with another person, you see him or her first and make some quick evaluations on how the person acts and dresses.

How someone acts

The way or person acts is probably the most important determining factor in the impression he makes. A person may give the impression of being self-assured, confident, important, or knowledgeable. Or the person can appear nervous, unsure and not having much to offer.

How someone looks

The way a person dresses gives in indication of the person's wealth, social standing, vanity, cleanliness and taste. The physical appearance of a person can indicate if he is intelligent, healthy, or desirable. It seems that good-looking people make a better impression that homely people.

How person sounds

Likewise, the sound of a person's voice can determine how much attention you pay to him. Part of the voice is also determined by how it is projected, such as being confident or unsure.

Importance of first impression

An impression is made quickly with intuition. To try to convince a person that the impression was incorrect takes logic. It is still difficult to overcome the "gut feeling" the person may have from the first impression.

When you first meet a person, the amount of confidence shows up immediately. If you are unsure, your voice can tell. Even if you later show confidence and a sure voice, the person may think it is just an act.

The "act" must be performed the first time you meet the person.

Summary

You must not only sell the other person that what you have to offer is valuable, but you must also create an impression that you can deliver that item. Once you create the positive impression, you are considered a valuable and even important person.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Be prepared to give a good impression

Resources

The following are resources on this subject.

Websites

Value Resources

Books

Top-rated books on Personal Power

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. How can a person quickly judge your social standing?

2. Does a person who stutters make a good first impression?

3. If you made a poor first impression, how could you rectify the situation?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Valuable Champion. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

What do you think?

Do you have any questions, comments, or opinions on this subject? If so, send an email with your feedback. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

Share link

Feel free to establish a link from your website to pages in this site.

Or use our form to send this link to yourself or a friend.

Students and researchers:

The Web address of this page is
www.school-for-champions.com/value/impression.htm.

Please include it as a reference in your report, document, or thesis.

Where can you go from here?

School for Champions

Power of Value topics

Making an Impression of Value