First impressions

Semi-related to my earlier post today I just answered a query elsewhere about the 'secret' of making good first impression. As I used to have to meet new people moreorless daily in past positions I submitted the following answer:

In one job (Global Internet Program Manager, for CHS Electronics Inc) I spent my weeks flying around Europe and further afield and learnt one absolute. Always, but *always*, know how to greet someone in their own language, no matter that they will in all probability want to show off their ability in English. This doesn’t mean just the people you are visiting especially but the receptionist upon arrival (who will be letting them know you’ve arrived and pass on her or his first impression – especially important in sales!).

This also means knowing in advance how to pronounce their name, and getting the personal and family names in the right order (nothing worse than saying ‘Good afternoon Mr John’ instead of Mr Doe). This can also be extended into knowing what the usual styles and standards of ‘business dress’ are in that locale and being suited and booted accordingly (and naturally, unless you are being met at an airport, ensuring you don’t wear your jacket/outer on the plane in case something gets spilled over it but have it in carry-on and change when you pick up your car or jump into the taxi).

Oh – and above all – be friendly! Don’t be scared of them and they won’t be scared of you (unless they know you’ve come to close down their office, in which case you’re already lost.)

The power of image

Over the New Year break I received a letter from the DVLA requiring me to update the photograph on my driving licence (and, of course, to pay a substantial fee for the privilege of doing so!). Although the licence last can be valid for as many as fifty years, the picture must be replaced every ten, and that time has come around again for me.

And it got me to thinking about the other images of me which are around and about and which people use to recognise 'me', especially those we all now use online. When we each scan through our Twitter, Facebook, Meetup, and LinkedIn feeds we identify the messages via the icons alongside them far faster than we may look for the associated name or handle. When people change their icons — as happened some years ago when lots of baby pictures appeared and another time when plain green boxes did so — then we have to read slower or even do a double-take when we mis-recognise an icon or it becomes close to that of another person on our reading list.

So I'm realising that my most frequent icon — which was once my 'official photograph' in political circles — is showing its age (or rather not showing mine!) and could do with being brought more up to date. But then the 'recognition factor' debate kicks in and I ponder whether it is the right thing to do.

When a product or company changes its name, like Marathon to Snickers or Norwich Union to Aviva it can add "formerly known as" during a change-over period. When they change their logo they can put both on the packaging for a short while to help carry the positive feeling towards the old image to the new one. But something only 80 or 100 pixels wide doesn't have that possibility in practical terms; it is an all-or-nothing change and woebetide the image consultant who advises a client but then gets it wrong.

But, of course, with the online and social media whirl we are each usually our own image consultant and can only blame ourself when we screw things up. So, be prepared for a change of my image coming along. What it will be I don't yet know, though I've plenty of ideas which don't include having my face in there it cannot be denied that faces have a very strong appeal and fast recognition strength. And whatever it changes to will have to stand the test of time for a good few years.