Every day we encounter strangers whom we have to assess within a few seconds. Our brain uses subtle information to make judgments and form opinions.

Even when attending a presentation, our brain needs only a tenth of a second to assess the speaker and form an opinion. The brain automatically processes all available information without requiring much conscious effort. All of this happens unconsciously in the background.

An intuitive perception arises for which we often cannot give rational reasons. When we attend a presentation by a stranger for the first time, we primarily assess how trustworthy or likeable the speaker seems. According to studies, recruiters form an opinion about an applicant within the first 90 seconds and up to 70% of the time stick with it.

Faster processing pathway in the brain

Why do we form opinions about other people so quickly? How is a first impression created, and what happens in the first few seconds? From this first impression, our brain draws accurate conclusions about the overall impression of the other person.

Our brains are active even when we're not consciously aware of it. We compare different people more quickly than we think, prejudices creep in, and we judge someone based on their facial expressions or clothing.

The power that this fleeting first impression has on our overall judgment is far greater than we, as rational beings, would assume. Even if only the title slide is visible in the first few seconds of your PowerPoint presentation, your audience will already have formed an opinion about you and your presentation. This makes it all the more important that you consider our tips below to make the right impression from the very beginning.

First impressions usually last.

American author and behavioral scientist Vanessa van Edwards has published a study on the impact of TED Talks on first impressions. In it, 760 participants rated the speakers based, among other things, on their initial impression. She came to the following conclusion:

"Our study shows that the first 7 seconds determine whether we like the presentation or not - and this has very little, if anything, to do with words."

In her research, Van Edwards divided the test subjects into two groups. While one group saw only 7-second excerpts, the other watched the complete presentations. The speeches were then evaluated. The results could not have been clearer: the presentations that were perceived most positively overall received top marks within the first seven seconds – even without sound.

Nevertheless, we cannot conclude from this that the first seven seconds are crucial. It is more likely that the opposite is true. A good presentation is usually successful within the first seven seconds and is quickly recognized as such by the audience. Talented and confident speakers radiate their enthusiasm and self-assurance through their body language within the first few seconds.

You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

Always keep in mind that first impressions are key to success and you can never get a second chance. Those seven seconds are all you have. Depending on the purpose of your presentation and your attention span, you should therefore begin your talk with a particularly powerful image or expressive text.

This creates the best conditions for capturing your audience's attention right from the start and ensuring your presentation is followed with interest until the end.

Gaining trust is the most important thing.

Another study by an Italian research team from 2012 concludes that the brain is particularly geared towards determining the trustworthiness of an unknown person.

This also makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. Quickly and reliably distinguishing friend from foe can be vital in certain situations. A second assessment relates to social status. Here, our brain evaluates whether the other person is superior to us, strong, dominant, and competent. A combination of both assessments helps us decide whether to seek proximity to the other person or prefer to keep our distance.

Psychological effects that particularly shape us during our first encounter

• Sensory stimuli

Sensory stimuli such as body language, voice, and content determine within 100 milliseconds whether someone gains our sympathy and appears trustworthy, or whether they seem incompetent. Various aspects, such as appearance, smell, facial expressions, gestures, and body language, influence our judgment even before the face is consciously considered.

• Primacy effect

The primacy effect refers to the information we receive first, which strongly influences our judgment about a person or situation. Our first impression dominates our perception and helps us carry out our actions.

Example: Person C is introduced to Person B by Person A. Person A presents Person B with various characteristics such as intelligence, ambition, thrift, inquisitiveness, and arrogance. The first word, "intelligent," shapes the subsequent ones, so that even other attributes that are actually negative are now evaluated as positive. If Person A were to initially describe Person B with the word "arrogant," the other characteristics would also be classified as negative. Thus, inquisitiveness would be interpreted as "annoying" and "thrifty" as "stingy."

Our perception is also influenced by physical appearance. An unkempt hairstyle, dirty fingernails, or dark circles under the eyes could be interpreted as indications that the person is rather lazy, unreliable, and inattentive.

• Halo effect

The English word "halo" means something like "halo" or "glowing light." In this context, it refers to a judgment error where we infer unknown characteristics of a person from known traits, or overshadow them. This could be, for example, an outstanding achievement that overshadows everything else or causes other attributes to be forgotten.

Example:

• People who wear glasses are more intelligent than others.
• Someone who swims well is involuntarily described as athletic, regardless of whether they can dance well, for example.
• Beautiful people are more successful professionally because their appearance makes them seem more intelligent.

• Recency effect

This effect leads to a judgment of another person that is strongly influenced by the last impression . The motto is: "First impressions count, but last impressions linger." Consequently, the last impression has a particularly strong influence on our judgment of all previous experiences.

Example:
After a wonderful vacation, you drive onto the highway. Stuck in traffic, you find the journey particularly stressful. The negative emotions now overshadow the previous positive feelings.

These tips will help you make a good impression

1. Put on a radiant smile

A smile costs nothing and is the first connecting, human gesture we are given . A smile is likely considered a friendly gesture in every country in the world. People who smile are perceived as more socially competent and are more frequently recommended for jobs. Furthermore, you are more easily remembered by others as a friendly, smiling person.

Smiling people are generally rated more favorably and are more popular. A smile radiates warmth and automatically makes those around us feel more comfortable.

2. Dress appropriately

As the saying goes, " clothes make the man ." Visual stimuli account for more than 50 percent of our first impression. What you wear leaves a lasting impression on others. From a scientific perspective, likeability increases when there are commonalities.

Therefore, adapt your clothing to the occasion and ensure it fits well. Try to stay informed about the latest trends and always dress a little more stylishly than those around you.

3. Use your voice as your personality's calling card.

Our voice has a significant influence on how we are perceived. Nervousness or a lump in the throat suggests insecurity. Therefore, we find people with a calming and relaxed voice all the more likeable. Deep voices, in particular, radiate confidence and competence.

Therefore, try practicing your voice in front of a mirror or with close friends or family so that it isn't perceived as incompetent or unprofessional. If necessary, consult a voice coach. Always try to speak as loudly, clearly, and distinctly as possible, both on the phone and in person.

4. Maintain eye contact during your presentation.

Eye contact should be maintained not only during greetings but also throughout the encounter. A confident gaze into someone's eyes should not last longer than three seconds , as otherwise it can appear threatening and be perceived as intense staring.

Similarly, insufficient eye contact can make you appear insecure and anxious. Maintain eye contact for at least 50 percent of the presentation.

5. Adopt a confident posture

A confident posture automatically boosts your self-confidence . Try it out by assuming a stable stance with both feet firmly planted on the ground. Your spine should be straight, so you stand upright.

Pull your shoulders back, stick your chest out, and keep your head upright. Take a deep breath and maintain a distance of at least 0.5 meters from the person you're speaking to so you don't appear too intrusive.

6. Arrive on time for your presentation.

There is hardly anything more impolite than arriving late for an appointment. Being late is considered uneconomical , because time is a precious commodity, especially in professional life.

By the way: Arriving too early is also considered unpunctual. You risk disturbing others at work or during preparations. Use the time wisely for a short walk around the block or a quick phone call.

7. Remember the names of your customers and listeners.

Remembering the names of the people you're speaking with shows them that you value them and that they are important to you. If you didn't catch their name correctly, you should definitely ask again.

8. Project self-confidence

If you're content with yourself, others will notice. A healthy dose of self-confidence can't hurt . Think ahead about your strengths and achievements in your life.

What are your strengths? Do you have a special talent or are there qualities for which you consistently receive positive feedback and compliments?

9. Let your language and body language merge into a harmonious whole.

Ultimately, our brain scans the entire person in the first few seconds. Pay attention to how you speak . Avoid hesitancy, such as adding "ums" or "ahs," or speaking too quickly due to nervousness, or mumbling shyly.

Before an important meeting, pause briefly, collect your thoughts, and focus on your strengths. Project confidence and openness through your body language, and don't forget a smile.

Smiling will automatically lift your mood, making you appear more positive and charming. Move slowly and deliberately, and avoid hurried gestures.

Conclusion: Convincing from the start

Take our tips to heart and try them out in your next presentation. You'll see, you're guaranteed to capture your audience's attention.

Do you have questions about getting started with a presentation or about PowerPoint presentations in general? Feel free to contact us by email at becker@presentationload.de. We're happy to help!

Professionally designed slide templates to enhance your presentation can be found in our shop . Feel free to browse. We have numerous slides on a wide variety of (business) topics. ►To the shop

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