Ever heard of first impression?
Or distant attraction?
*Surely...
These popular ideas are offshoots of perception.
Imagine you're going to a restaurant. You're dressed to impress, your hair is on point, and you've got that winning smile as you walk into the restaurant. You can feel all eyes on you and your shoulders begin to square even more.
But what if those eyes are not just watching, but are also forming perceptions of you before you even say a word?
Think about when you meet someone new. What are the first things you notice?
Their appearance, their body language, even their quirky accessories, their composure and choice of words. All these contribute to your perception of them right?
And what if you're having a conversation with someone, but they're constantly looking at their wristwatch, barely paying attention. What would you perceive of that conversation?
As social beings, we tend to absorb visual cues like sponges, and that's where perception begins.
Our brains are hardwired to make snap judgments based on tiny little cues we pick up. It's like our own personal Sherlock Holmes investigation, only without the cool hat and pipe.
We filter information through our own experiences, beliefs, and biases to shape our perceptions of others.
In the same vein, our actions and body language play a huge role in shaping how others perceive us.
So if we exude confidence, maintain eye contact, and genuinely show interest, people are more likely to perceive us as engaging and reliable. On the flip side, if our body language screams a whole lot of repelling attitude, people will more likely perceive us as someone who is to be avoided
Perception may not always be the truth, but it is stronger than reality, and the impression people have of you is what you feed them with. (Read that again)
This is the more reason you have to be deliberate about creating in people a proper perception of you!
It's a good thing to be out there, but the first step to building value is building perception!
Photo source: https://pin.it/4Smv53M
