Making a powerful first impression

- How long does it take to make a first impression? Three seconds, two? Maybe just one single second? Well, whichever one you guessed, you are absolutely right. In fact, studies show that even when researchers cut the time down to a half second, people can still decide if they like and trust a person in an impossibly tight timeframe. But just about everyone gets tense when they're asked, tell me a little bit about yourself type of question. You may worry, you sound mechanical, forgetting important information or you're bragging too much about yourself. The truth is that all of this is likely to happen, and you'll continue to struggle unless you learn how to break down and then rebuild your personal pitch. In this course, you'll go over the two dimensions you can change right now to make that perfect elevator pitch. They have to do with social cognition. The dimensions that influence how people who meet us process the information they get from us. Warmth and competence. Essentially, other people's impressions of us. Warmth has to do with the do I like you decision. In its most primal form, it reduces it down to the question are you a friend or are you an enemy? But beyond that, they're additional questions. Can I trust you? Do I feel safe around you? Competence comes down to the can I rely on you decision. From a brief elevator interaction, someone must decide whether you will follow-through on what you promise, and if you're the type of person who can get things done. I know what you're thinking. How is this possible? And how is it fair? If someone who meets me at a conference and asks me to tell them about myself, and then makes up their mind within seconds, do I even stand a chance? The answer is yes. If you are aware of and you manage your warmth and competence, you'll positively influence how others perceive you. I am Tatiana Kolovou. I'm a Professor in Business Communication, an Executive Communication Coach, and a long-time LinkedIn Learning Author. Crafting the personal pitch, perfecting the answer to the tell me a little bit about you question, and building it all in the right verbals and non-verbals will make you shine. Let's get started.