Impression Management (Beauty Bias?)
On December 18, 2013, Fox News Latino carried an article titled, Attractive Adolescents Benefit From 'Beauty Bias' Across Ethnicities, Study Says (by Bill Vourvoulias). I was surprised to see the title, not because I didn't believe it, but instead because it was actually studied (and quantified). This 'conclusion' has likely been known to many of us, but it has not been overtly stated. The article talks about the fact (through the study) that attractive people tend to fare better than others in the workplace (the study actually points out that this actually starts in high school). Popular stereotypes may lead us to the conclusion that attractiveness and achievement don't necessarily go together, but the study comes to the opposite finding. So - now it's out there. What do we do with it?
Impression Management
For years, people have talked about making a good first impression. We have talked about this before, but studies conducted from Harvard to Stanford conclude that in this country, we judge people EVEN IF WE KNOW THEM during the first 2 to 5 minutes of a presentation based on:
- Appearance - 60%
- Voice - 33%
- Content - 7%
The studies go on to say that we never get above 50% regarding content.
For phone interactions, we are judged based on our voice - 70% of the impression we give is based on it; only 30% is based on content.
What do we do with this information?
As people that look for talent (hiring managers and talent acquisition professionals), we need to make sure we screen and hire to a (position) standard. As candidates looking for a new position OR people open to making a change, we need to manage our campaign.
Let's manage the impression we give.
Many of these 'suggestions' come from the book, 1001 Things Every Teen should Know Before They Leave Home (Or Else They'll Come Back) (by Harry Harrison Jr.):
- (Some) decisions we make at an early age will impact us forever.
- The tatoo you choose to get on your neck at age 20 may not be desirable to everyone in a corporate setting. The decision is still yours - but we are often judged based on the 'external' view.
- Do NOT dress like a rock star or model unless you are interviewing to be one.
- People with a weak, flabby handshake make people wonder about their backbone.
- Show up on time: for interviews, for class, for work, for relationships. (Showing up late says you’re goobers.)
- A business lunch is no different than any other business meeting – except you have the opportunity to ruin your clothes (order accordingly).
- Social Media - a majority of employers will look at your LinkedIn and/or Twitter and/or Facebook presence prior to making a hire.
- The dialogue you think you are privately having may be in front of hundreds or thousands.
- Be a good conversationalist.
- Do research - know the interests of the person/people you are meeting.
- Compliment the person (practice this so that it is sincere and not interpreted in a negative sway)
- Get the person talking about themselves - their job and/or interests.