Episode #18 – Science of Perception – PART II – First Impressions: Debunking the Myth That ‘First Impression Is the Last Impression’

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[00:00:00] INTRODUCTION

[00:00:00] Taty Fittipaldi: Would you say the first impression is the last impression? Have you ever wondered how your first impression influences the way people perceive you? Join us on a journey of discovery, as we unravel the fascinating science of perception and learn how to shape the impressions we make on others.

[00:00:19] Taty Fittipaldi: In part one of this journey, in the last episode, we brought you some first insights and highlights about the science of perception. Today in part two, I went to empower you to take control of your narrative, break free from inaccurate perceptions, and unlock your true potential.

[00:00:37] Taty Fittipaldi: Learn how perceptions are formed, what are the main factors that contribute to how impressions about you are formed, and some strategies to change people’s impressions of you over time.

[00:00:48] Taty Fittipaldi: It’s time to shape the impressions that define your journey, according to your true, authentic self. Get your magnifier and let’s investigate this topic [00:01:00] together.

[00:01:00] NARRATOR’S INTRO: Hello and welcome to the Leadership Nest Podcast. The podcast that nests stories, knowledge, and science to soar the leadership in you. I’m your host, Taty Fittipaldi. As always, our podcast will be divided into three phases. A story, a lesson, and its application. This way, you can have structure and information while also having some fun.

[00:01:30] NARRATOR’S INTRO: This program is brought to you by Coaching Expatriates.

[00:01:34] TODAY’S STORY

[00:01:34] TODAY’S STORY: Today’s story.

[00:01:43] Taty Fittipaldi: This is a true story from one of my clients. Locations and names were changed to preserve individual privacies.

[00:01:51] Taty Fittipaldi: Julio has spent years as a plant operations manager in a global manufacturing company in the heart of Italy. His meticulous [00:02:00] nature and preference for planning things in advance had always served him well in his role. He was known for his organized approach, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering results. However one day he’s aspirations for a promotion to a director position were unexpectedly met with disappointment.

[00:02:21] Taty Fittipaldi: His trusted mentor, Maria, whom he had known since his early days at the company was the first to break the news to him. “Julio” She began. ” I heard from some key stakeholders that they perceive you as anxious and flustered. Which is affecting their confidence in your ability to take on a director role.

[00:02:42] Taty Fittipaldi: Julio was taken aback. Anxious and flustered? That wasn’t how he saw himself at all. In fact, he prided himself on his calm and methodical approach to work. He explained to Maria that what some perceived as anxiety was[00:03:00] actually his preference for careful planning and organization.

[00:03:03] Taty Fittipaldi: To help Julio develop great self awareness about the topic, they reflected together on what could be the main trigger points that led people to this perception of him. Julio realized that he often avoids speaking up during heated meetings and tends to appear nervous when presenting. He also approaches difficult demands, confronting the requests with objections instead of assertively exposing what it would take to accommodate those demands. Because he’s a well-organized planner, he often had much more information and insight about what could and could not be done. But the way he communicated things might sound like he was being anxious. When actually it was all about getting reasonable results.

[00:03:56] Taty Fittipaldi: He also lacks patience in [00:04:00] conversations. And jumps to gun to results and to what he knows. Instead of listening to other people’s considerations. He recognizes the need to change some of these ways to change people’s perceptions of him.

[00:04:16] Taty Fittipaldi: Maria listened attentively, understanding that perception could often be quite different from reality, but recognizing that we sometimes have to change certain things about ourselves too. Together, they hatched a plan to change the way Julio’s stakeholders saw him.

[00:04:35] Taty Fittipaldi: They pondered that actions spoke louder than words and Julio needed to demonstrate his true abilities. Julio decided to volunteer for a short-term leadership role in a crucial project. It was an opportunity for him to showcase his planning skills and pose under pressure.

[00:04:55] Taty Fittipaldi: The project involved a tight deadline and high [00:05:00] stakes. But Julio was determined to deliver exceptional results without any hint of anxiety. As the project progressed, a pivotal moment arrived during a heated team meeting.

[00:05:13] Taty Fittipaldi: The discussion was spiraling and the team was at risk of falling behind schedule. Julio took a deliberate step forward, capturing everyone’s attention. With calm authority, he communicated the time pressure and the fact that they had only 30 minutes left to present the results. He’s intentionality and precise communication shocked the team into action. They immediately refocused their efforts, working together with renewed determination. In the end, they not only met the deadline, but they also exceeded their goals. Julio’s skilled intervention not only saved the day, but also transformed his image in the eyes of the team members. [00:06:00] They saw him as posed leader who could navigate challenging situations, and drive them towards solution.

[00:06:07] Taty Fittipaldi: Over the following months, Julio continued his journey to change perceptions.

[00:06:12] Taty Fittipaldi: He consistently displayed his planning prowess, effectiveness in communication, and intentionality in showcasing his positive qualities.

[00:06:22] Taty Fittipaldi: He also invested time in building deeper relationships with those who had held unfavorable opinions of him in the past. Patiently and persistently chipping away at their preconceived notions. Slowly, but surely the tide began to turn. Positive feedback started to flow in with the Julio being recognized as a great planner and an advocate for results. After eight months of hard work, he received the news he had to been waiting for.

[00:06:56] Taty Fittipaldi: The perception of Julio, as an anxious and [00:07:00] flustered individual, had given a way to a new reality. One where he was seen as a capable and effective leader. His dedication to changing perceptions had paid off and his promotion to a director position was no longer a distant dream, but a well-deserved reality.

[00:07:20] SPONSOR’S NOTE: This episode is sponsored by Coaching Expatriates, a leading global executive development company that helps leaders around the world create happier and more profitable workplaces using the four success pillars in global leadership, an innovative leadership learning methodology. Visit their website at www.

[00:07:40] SPONSOR’S NOTE: coachingexpatriates. com.

[00:07:46] TODAY’S LESSON

[00:07:46] TODAY’S LESSON: Today’s lesson.

[00:07:56] Taty Fittipaldi: Perception Is a fascinating aspect of human [00:08:00] cognition, that plays a pivotal role in how we create impressions on others. At its core, perception can be described as the brain’s way of making sense of the sensory information it receives from the world around us.

[00:08:14] Taty Fittipaldi: It’s like our brain’s, very own interpretive dance, taking in the raw data from our senses sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, and choreographing it into a meaningful performance.

[00:08:30] Taty Fittipaldi: When we interact with people, our perception engine goes into overdrive. It takes in cues from a multitude of sources. A person’s physical appearance, body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, their choice of words, and even subtle gestures. These cues are then processed, filtered, and stitched together, to form a coherent narrative about the [00:09:00] person we’re interacting with.

[00:09:01] Taty Fittipaldi: It’s akin to assembling a puzzle with each piece representing a bit of information that contributes to the overall impression.

[00:09:10] Taty Fittipaldi: The process of perception is a blend of both automatic and learned responses. Our brains are wired to quickly identify patterns and make snap judgements often based on past experiences or societal norms. These rapid assessments help us navigate social interactions efficiently.

[00:09:30] Taty Fittipaldi: However, our perceptions can also be influenced by biases, cultural differences and personal beliefs, which sometimes lead to misunderstandings or misjudgments.

[00:09:42] Taty Fittipaldi: Another important factor to consider is what we talked about in episode 13. We never have all the information to complete the full puzzle. So, our brain creates perception based on what he has available. And quote unquote [00:10:00] fills in the gaps of any missing information. And that’s why very often our perception is not very accurate.

[00:10:07] Taty Fittipaldi: Now that you have a gist of how the perception works, let’s deconstruct it in a more didactical way, so you can process this information in a more organized matter.

[00:10:19] Taty Fittipaldi: Based on psychological science, the perception process has eight steps.

[00:10:24] Taty Fittipaldi: Step one. Environmental stimulus.

[00:10:27] Taty Fittipaldi: This is where it all begins. The external world provides a stimulus through our senses. It could be something you see, hear, touch, taste, or smell. Think of it as the trigger for the whole process.

[00:10:43] Taty Fittipaldi: Step two. Attended stimulus. Not everything in your environment grabs your attention. At this stage, your brain decides what to focus on. This could be influenced by your interests, needs, or simply what stands out to you. It’s [00:11:00] like entering a shop, and a t-shirt picking your attention. while, a trouser picks your spouse’s attention among all other those clothes.

[00:11:10] Taty Fittipaldi: Step three. Image on the Retina. For vision, this step involves the formation of image in out Retina, which is like the camera film of your eye. It’s where the visual information is captured.

[00:11:24] Taty Fittipaldi: Step four. Transduction. Now it’s time to turn those lights pattern into something your brain can work with. Transduction is the process of converting sensory input into electrical signals that your neurons can understand. This will happen to all your senses that captured raw data.

[00:11:45] Taty Fittipaldi: Step five. Neural processing. The electrical signals travel through your nervous system, undergoing complex processing along the way. This step is where your brain starts to make sense of the raw [00:12:00] data, detecting patterns, shapes, and colors.

[00:12:04] Taty Fittipaldi: Step six. Perception. Here, the magic happens! Your brain assembles the processed information into a coherent perception. It’s like piecing together the puzzle, forming an image, a sound, or a taste, et cetera.

[00:12:21] Taty Fittipaldi: Step seven. Recognition. Once your brain has formed a perception, it tries to recognized what it is perceiving. Is it a familiar face? A known melody or a recognizable taste? Recognition is where you connect the perception with your stored knowledge. And when you don’t recognize something, to help you make sense of it, your rain tries to categorize it to the closer thing you recognize. If you see a chair that you’ve never seen before, your brain acknowledges not to knowing this chair,[00:13:00] but that it is a chair.

[00:13:02] Taty Fittipaldi: Step eight. Action. Finally, your brain decides how to respond. This step involves planning and executing actions based on the perceived information. It could be as simple as saying, hello, when you see a friend. Or pulling your hand away from a hot surface. In the chair example above, imagine you see a rock, which is not a chair. But your brain in step seven recognizes that a rock is solid and firm, and that could be used as a chair considering it recognizes that you are tired and need to sit. So in this step, your action will be using the rock as an improvised chair. However, if you’ve never been to a volcanic site before, your brain might not categorize that rock as dangerously hot to sit on. And therefore in [00:14:00] this step, you will provide your brain with new learning points for the future perceptions and associations. As in, not every rock is good to sit on.

[00:14:11] Taty Fittipaldi: So now you’re probably wondering, okay, but if someone had a wrong impression about me due to a bias. Where did it fall into this process?

[00:14:22] Taty Fittipaldi: Bias does not happen in only one stage. It can manifest at various stages of the perception process. And psychologists have studied its influence on how we perceive and interpret information. Here’s how bias fits into the perception process. It can impact six out of the eight stages of the perception process.

[00:14:44] Taty Fittipaldi: Number one. Attended stimulus. Bias can start at the very beginning, influencing what captures our attention. We are more likely to attend to stimuli that aligned with our preconceived beliefs, interests, or [00:15:00] stereotypes. For example, if someone holds a biased view about a particular group, they may be more attentive to negative information about that group.

[00:15:10] Taty Fittipaldi: Number two. Transduction. Bias can affect how we interpret sensory information during transduction. Our prior beliefs and expectations can lead us to interpret ambiguous sensory data in a way that confirm our biases. This phenomenon is known as perceptual bias or biased interpretation.

[00:15:32] Taty Fittipaldi: Three. Neurol processing. Biases can also shape how our brains process and analyze sensory information. For instance, confirmation bias can cause us to selectively attend to and process information that supports our existing beliefs while ignoring, or discounting contradictory information.

[00:15:58] Taty Fittipaldi: Number four. Perception. [00:16:00] Bias can influence the final perception that our brain assembles stereotypes, cultural biases, and implicit biases can color how we perceive individuals and situations. This can result in the formation of biased judgments and impressions.

[00:16:18] Taty Fittipaldi: Number five. Recognition. Biases may affect the recognition stage by influencing our ability to correctly identify, categorize, and associate what we perceive. Preexisting biases can lead to miss identification and miss classification of people and objects.

[00:16:39] Taty Fittipaldi: Number six. Action. Biases can impact the actions we take based on our perceptions. Discriminatory actions, prejudiced to behaviors or unfair treatment of others can stem from biases that influence our decision-making processes.

[00:16:57] Taty Fittipaldi: Whoa. Let’s take a moment [00:17:00] to acknowledge this bare truth: 75% of our perception process is open to be rigged by bias. And considering that all human beings do have biases, this closely tell us that the chances of our perceptions being rigged are whoa, quite high! So, no wonder a lot of people don’t get us right!

[00:17:26] Taty Fittipaldi: Now that you sort of know how the whole process works, you’re probably scratching your head to understand what are the main factors that could lead to a bad perception about you when people form a bad impression in a first or few first interactions. Here are the 10 main factors that come into play and that influence people’s impressions about us.

[00:17:52] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number one. Cognitive biases. Our perceptions can be heavily influenced by a range of biases.[00:18:00] Including A) confirmation bias. Which is interpreting information to confirm existing beliefs, B) halo effect, which is overgeneralizing one positive trait. C) horns effect, which is overgeneralizing one negative trait. D) negativity bias. Which is focusing more on negative information or experiences than positive ones when evaluating others. There are other cognitive biases that can skew our judgment. But I just wanted to highlight some critical ones in this first factor.

[00:18:39] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number two, none verbal communication. Sometimes, our nonverbal cues, like body language, facial expressions, or a tone of voice can send unintended signals. For instance, you might be feeling anxious and that anxiety might be [00:19:00] misinterpreted as disinterest or dishonesty. Misinterpretation of nonverbal communication often happens when there is a gap between what we are verbally saying and what our bodies are nonverbally communicating. This gap can cause confusion in the brain, leaving room for great misinterpretation.

[00:19:24] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number three. Context and timing. The context in which an interaction takes place can heavily influence impressions. A brief encounter in a stressful situation might not allow someone to see your true personality or capabilities. Timing can also play a role. People may judge you differently depending on whether they meet you on a good day. Or a bad day.

[00:19:50] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number four. Limited information. People often form impressions based on limited information. If they only know a few [00:20:00] facts about you and have seen you in a single context, their impression may not reflect your true personality or abilities. This is often the case in online interactions, for example, where the information available is minimal.

[00:20:14] Taty Fittipaldi: Number five. Confirmation bias. This is related to bias, but deserves a separate dimension. Sometimes, people interpret new information in a way that confirms their existing impression of you. If they initially saw you in the negative light, they may continue to do so. Even if you’ve changed or improved. That’s why, in the last episode, you heard about the need to give people ample evidence, contrary to their initial perception, in order to change their views.

[00:20:49] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number six. Communication styles. Differences in communication styles can lead to misunderstanding. For example, some people may be [00:21:00] more direct, while others use a more indirect or a diplomatic approach. A mismatch in communication styles can create confusion, misinterpretation, or even confrontation. And for a mismatch, I don’t mean they must be the same. I mean, they must be complimentary. For example, if you interact with someone who often uses aggressive communication, your use of aggressive communication as well will only ensue confrontation. However, if you use assertive communication and the other person use assertive communication, confrontation might not happen. On the contrary, things might go very well.

[00:21:42] Taty Fittipaldi: Let me know if we’re interested about learning more about this topic. Go to speakpipe.com/TatyFittipaldi and leave me an audio message.

[00:21:52] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number seven. Mood and emotions. Both your mood and the mood of the other person forming an impression can [00:22:00] impact judgment. If someone is in a bad mood, they may be more inclined to interpret your actions negatively, even if you meant well, In a previous episode, we also saw how good and bad moods can create good or bad will in people.

[00:22:17] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number eight. Stereotypes. Stereotypes are preconceived notions people hold about certain groups. These stereotypes can lead to misjudgment based on assumptions about your characteristics or behavior because of your background, gender, ethnicity, and other factors.

[00:22:39] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number nine. People view the world through their own unique perceptual filters. Shaped by their experiences, values, and upbringing. These filters can lead to different interpretations of the same behavior or information. For example, if you were brought up with the conception that money’s [00:23:00] evil, you’ll judge someone who is financially oriented as greedy, while another person who was brought up believing that people who work hard deserve to gain good money, you might judge that person as a conscious hard worker.

[00:23:15] Taty Fittipaldi: Factor number 10. Incomplete information. Lack of information can result in misunderstanding and misinterpretations, as we sign episode 13. If someone doesn’t have access to your side of the story, or hasn’t heard your perspective, they may jump to inaccurate conclusions.

[00:23:34] Taty Fittipaldi: Now, as we sign the previous episode, our perception process happens in two stages.

[00:23:39] Taty Fittipaldi: Up to now, we just talked about the first stage. When we first formed our perception and impressions. The second stage is when we have the opportunity to reevaluate and confront our perceptions about a person or a group.

[00:23:56] Taty Fittipaldi: I remember, I once went to a retreat training [00:24:00] and in the very first meeting I met this guy full of tattoos, piercings, and longer hair. He looked like a guy from a criminal gang or something. I was really afraid of him. If he is seated on one side of the room, I’d sit on the other. But, throughout the week, working together with him, I saw he was a heart of gold and a beautiful soul. In my eyes, his look, definitely did not match his spirit.

[00:24:36] Taty Fittipaldi: That was such a powerful training for me, not because of the training itself, but because during that week I learned that we should never take our first impressions too seriously. No one is how they first look to us.

[00:24:56] Taty Fittipaldi: In the last episode, we learned that during the stage [00:25:00] two, there are two ways we can change impressions. One of them is by giving ample evidence about how the other person’s impressions are wrong. Which will require a lot of time, patience, and a number of interactions. The second way is to expedite this process by working together closely for a longer period of time. And as you can see, longer doesn’t mean that long. It can be one single immersive week, as in my example.

[00:25:34] Taty Fittipaldi: We can’t often be in retreat or project together to change people’s perception, though, right? So, what can we do to change people’s minds and impressions about us over time?

[00:25:48] Taty Fittipaldi: That’s what you’ll learn in the next section of this episode.

[00:25:52] TODAY’S TIPS TO APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED

[00:25:52] TODAY”S TIPS TO APPLY WHAT YOU LEARNED: Today’s tips to apply what you learned.[00:26:00]

[00:26:01] Taty Fittipaldi: Let’s capitalize on our story today and also bring some what if scenarios about Julio, to bring you some points that psychologists and science tell about changing first impressions. As we learned in our lesson today, impressions can be changed. But they require a lot of effort and patience on our part. So let’s talk about some things we can do to make this change happen with determination and patience.

[00:26:32] Taty Fittipaldi: Number one. Self reflection and awareness. Start by taking an honest look at yourself and the impressions you might have made. Consider the specific behaviors, words, or actions that may have contributed to the negative impression. Self-awareness is the first step towards improvement. If this becomes too difficult or overwhelming for you, consider hiring a leadership or executive coach.[00:27:00] Requesting and mapping feedback will become crucial during this exercise.

[00:27:05] Taty Fittipaldi: You see, after talking to his mentor, Julio realizes that he often avoids speaking up during meetings, and tends to appear nervous when presenting. He also approaches difficult demands, confronting the requests with objections instead of assertively exposing what it would take to accommodate demands. He also lacks patience in conversations and jumped the gun to results. This self-awareness is crucial in Julio’s journey.

[00:27:35] Taty Fittipaldi: Number two. Acknowledge mistakes and apologize. If you realize you have made a mistake or behaved inappropriately, don’t hesitate to acknowledge it. A sincere apology can go a long way in mitigating a negative impression. People appreciate honesty and humility.

[00:27:52] Taty Fittipaldi: For example, if Julio made a mistake in a presentation or failed to assert himself during a critical [00:28:00] discussion, he could have approached the directors and say something like, I realize I may have seemed anxious and unconfident during our last meeting. I apologize for not contributing more effectively. And then he could go on, explaining what really happened from his perspective. Fortunately, none of this happened. And as he prepared well for every meeting and presentation in this project, he was able to always be assertive and confident.

[00:28:30] Taty Fittipaldi: Number three. Consistent positive behavior. Look, consistency is key to changing perceptions. Demonstrate through your actions over time that the negative impressions was not reflective of your true character. Be patient. It may take time for others to revise opinion of you.

[00:28:50] Taty Fittipaldi: After Julio realized he needed to change, he actively volunteered for a leadership role in a project. Which provided him opportunities to [00:29:00] speak, share his insights confidently and actively engaged in discussions during meetings showcasing his knowledge and expertise. He also starts showing increased patience, by actively listening and asking powerful questions to further understand situations and people. This makes people see him as a more and more pondered and curious person instead of anxious.

[00:29:26] Taty Fittipaldi: Number four. Effective communication. Open and clear communication is essential. If possible, have a conversation with the person or people who formed the negative impression. Share your perspective, express your willingness to change, and listen to their concerns.

[00:29:43] Taty Fittipaldi: Another thing Julio could have done to improve this journey of changing impressions was to approach the directors, express his desire to improve his image, and ask for specific feedback on how he could be more effective and confident [00:30:00] in his role. By clearly mapping and understanding people’s impressions and where they come from, he could have formed a clear picture of what to do to avoid being caught in those situations, again.

[00:30:14] Taty Fittipaldi: Number five, be intentional. As you heard in the previous episode, sometimes being intentional and showing people what these intentions are can expedite your initiative of changing initial bad impressions. In the business world, this is also called telegraphing intentions.

[00:30:33] Taty Fittipaldi: In our example today, in a meeting where Julio had to call the team’s attention to results in order to make sure his a statement was not seen as anxiety, he clearly explained his intentions. He reminded the team what they had to deliver by the end of that meeting and that they only had 30 minutes left. In that meeting, he said that the discussion was being super productive, [00:31:00] but they had to move on to sketch the final results in order to have enough time to meet the deliverable.

[00:31:07] Taty Fittipaldi: Number six. Highlight positive qualities. Showcase your positive qualities and strengths. Engage in activities or behaviors that demonstrate your competence, integrity, and positive attitudes. If you’re good at something, volunteer yourself to help people do something that requires that strength.

[00:31:28] Taty Fittipaldi: Which is a bit what Julio did. Julio takes on a leadership role in a challenging project demonstrating his competence and problem solving abilities with poise and control. His reputation among his project members rose and they reverberated among other stakeholders, including those who had the initial impression of him being anxious. That played very well because the project required strengths that Julio had.

[00:31:57] Taty Fittipaldi: Number seven. Seek feedback. [00:32:00] Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from trusted friends, colleagues, or mentors. They can provide a valuable insights into how you come across and offer suggestions for improvement.

[00:32:12] Taty Fittipaldi: Julio, for example, regularly check-ins with his mentor and colleagues asking for feedback on his presentation skills, confidence levels, and perceived anxiousness. He works on the specific areas pointed out for improvement during his impressions management journey.

[00:32:30] Taty Fittipaldi: Number eight. Invest in building positive relationships with those you want to change. Impressions of. Building trust and rapport can help reshape their perception of you.

[00:32:40] Taty Fittipaldi: For example, Julio didn’t let the initial bad impressions shy him away. He actively engaged with the top directors outside of formal meetings, showing a genuine interest in their perspectives, and building rapport through one-on-one conversations.

[00:32:58] Taty Fittipaldi: Number nine. [00:33:00] Demonstrate growth. Show that you’re committed to personal growth and self-improvement. Taking steps to learn from the past mistakes and grow as individual can be impressive. Over time, Julio visibly becomes more confident in his role, taking on new responsibilities and handling challenges with pose. He shows a clear commitment to personal and professional growth. And this paints a different picture of his anxiety and lack of confidence.

[00:33:29] Taty Fittipaldi: Number 10. Patience and persistence. Changing a first impression, especially a negative one can be challenging and may not happen overnight. Be patient and persistent, in your effort to make a positive impact.

[00:33:46] Taty Fittipaldi: And recognizing that changing the director’s perception would take time, julio remained persistent in his efforts to consistently showcase his improved confidence and abilities.

[00:33:59] Taty Fittipaldi: [00:34:00] Number 11. Consistent self-reflection. Continue to assess and refine your behavior and communication. Self-improvement is an ongoing process and maintaining a positive impressions requires vigilance.

[00:34:16] Taty Fittipaldi: So here you have 11 tips, but as you can see, they don’t work as standalone actions. You sort of have to make them all work together, if you want to see good and consistent results. One final tip I want you to never forget is to stay resilient and have patience. I know it’s difficult to change people’s opinions of us. Don’t feel discouraged. Your hard work will eventually pay off.

[00:34:43] KEY TAKEAWAYS

[00:34:43] KEY TAKEAWAYS: Key Takeaways

[00:34:52] Taty Fittipaldi: What’s your main takeaway from this episode, here are mine.

[00:34:56] Taty Fittipaldi: Number one. Perceptions role in impressions. [00:35:00] Perception is a crucial aspect of human cognition that shapes the impressions we form about others. It involves making sense of sensory information from our environment and plays a pivotal role in our social interactions.

[00:35:15] Taty Fittipaldi: Number two. Complex perception process. The perception process is multifaceted, involving various stages from receiving sensory input to forming coherent impressions. These stages include environmental stimuli, attended stimulus, image on the Retina, transduction, neural processing, perception, recognition and action.

[00:35:39] Taty Fittipaldi: Number three. Automatic and learned responses. Our brains are wired to quickly identify patterns and make snap associations and judgments, which aids in the efficient social interactions. However, these perceptions can be influenced by bias, cultural differences, and personal [00:36:00] beliefs, leading to misunderstandings or misjudgments.

[00:36:04] Taty Fittipaldi: Number four. Bias in perception. Biases can have a huge weight as they manifest at different stages of the perception process, influencing how we interpret and form impressions of others. It can affect what we attend to, how we transduce sensory information, how our brains process data, and ultimately the impressions we create.

[00:36:29] Taty Fittipaldi: Number five. Factors contributing to wrong impressions. Several factors can lead to incorrect or negative impressions, including cognitive biases, none verbal communication, contextual influences, limited information, confirmation bias, communication styles, mood, stereotypes, perceptual filters, and incomplete information.

[00:36:55] Taty Fittipaldi: Number six. 2 stage perception process. Perception [00:37:00] happens in two stages. The first stage involves forming initial impressions, which can be inaccurate. The second stage allows for a re-evaluation and potential revision of those impressions, often through longer and closer interactions.

[00:37:18] Taty Fittipaldi: Number seven. Changing impressions. Changing initial impressions is possible, through self-awareness and consistent reflection, acknowledgement of improving points, consistent positive behavior, clear communication, highlighting of a strengths, seeking feedback, building relationships, demonstrating growth, and exercising patience and persistence. It’s important to understand that first impressions may not always be accurate and people’s perception can evolve over time with new information and experiences. And that’s why it’s important to always remain vigilant and manage [00:38:00] impressions.

[00:38:01] Taty Fittipaldi: Number eight, the power of longer interactions. Longer and more immersive experiences with individuals can expedite the process of changing impressions. These extended interactions provide opportunities to showcase one’s true character and capabilities, often dispelling initial misconceptions.

[00:38:23] HIGHLIGHTS

[00:38:23]

[00:38:24] Taty Fittipaldi: This brings us to the end of this Leadership Nest episode. I hope you have enjoyed learning about how to manage first impressions with more details about the science of perception. Tune into our episode next week, when we will chat about one of the most hot topics I have with my high achiever clients and one of their greatest pain points, which I like to call self-compassion with accountability.

[00:38:51] Taty Fittipaldi: Wherever you are in the globe, this is Taty Fittipaldi wishing you a beautiful day.

[00:38:57] Taty Fittipaldi: [00:39:00] If you have any questions, you’d like us to answer in a future episode of this show, just go to speakpipe.com/tatyfittipaldi or click the link in the show notes, to leave us a brief audio message.

[00:39:15] Taty Fittipaldi: Make sure to visit us on our website www.theleadershipnest.com, where you can subscribe to our show anywhere podcasts are streamed, so you never miss the fun.

[00:39:28] Taty Fittipaldi: While there, if you find value in our show, you can also subscribe to our global leadership weekly newsletter from Coaching Expatriates®, where we deliver bite-sized lessons on global leadership, decision-making, and cultural competence to help you learn how to think, relate and strategize in a whole different way as a global leader.

[00:39:50] Taty Fittipaldi: If you liked our show, you might want to check her online global executive leadership program. A nine week leadership development and learning system, that will [00:40:00] help you lead internationally while making financially conscious and impactful business decisions.

[00:40:05] Taty Fittipaldi: Taty Fittipaldi is also available for private coaching. See the websites for more details at www.coachingexpatriates.com/executive-coaching.

[00:40:18] Taty Fittipaldi: Thanks for joining us this week on The Leadership Nest podcast. Be sure to tune in next week for our next episode. Until the next time, keep nesting.

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