Concept
First-Impression Signals
First-impression signals are the few nonverbal cues people read in the first seconds of meeting you, chiefly visible hands, an open and upright posture and real eye contact, which Vanessa Van Edwards treats as the part of a first impression you can prepare.
People form a first impression of trustworthiness and confidence very quickly, often before a word of substance has been said, and later information tends to be read through it. Van Edwards, in Captivate (2017), argues that you cannot control everything about that moment, but you can control a handful of signals. Hands matter because people look for them; hands hidden in pockets or behind a laptop can read as something held back, while open, visible hands read as nothing to hide. Posture matters: standing or sitting upright with the chest open, rather than hunched over a phone, reads as confident and available. Eye contact matters: enough to show attention, held long enough to register the colour of the other person's eyes, without staring. None of this works if it is a performance, and it does not replace substance. It simply stops your body from sending a signal you did not intend in the seconds when people are deciding how to read you.
A real-life example
Ece, a recruiter in Istanbul, notices that she greets candidates while still finishing an email, then wonders why they seem guarded. She changes the first ten seconds: laptop closed, she stands, hands visible, looks at the candidate's face and then speaks. Candidates relax sooner, and her interview notes get richer.
How to use it
- 1Before your next meeting, put your phone away and keep your hands free and visible as you greet the person.
- 2Stand or sit upright with your chest open for the first minute.
- 3Make eye contact long enough to notice the colour of the other person's eyes, then speak.