IMPRESSIONS.
- whatshesaid2020
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
Impressions are defined as an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, especially one formed without conscious thought or on the basis of little evidence.
In my travels, I love to photograph oddities that catch my eye, especially up close. It could be a flower on a tree as I walk by, the water in a flowing stream, a bee pollinating between flowers, or a jellyfish washed up on shore. While visiting the manatee viewing area in Apollo Beach, FL recently, I kept trying to take pictures of underwater manatees or fast-moving sharks and tarpons. The quality of the photos was grainy at best, making it difficult to identify the objects I was trying to capture.
What truly captivated my attention, however, was the concrete sidewalk along the 0.3-mile path from the viewing center to the parking lot. Embedded in the pavement were impressions of larger-than-life items like bugs and flowers. The most beautiful, to me, was the subtle impression of a dandelion. Its linear lines stretched across the sidewalk, shooting out into the unknown. The thick stem that nourishes it and the delicate, symmetrical extensions of its form seemed as if God himself had cast it into the stone.
It struck me—what a perfect metaphor for impressions. Something so delicate yet permanently etched into a concrete canvas. Isn't that what impressions are about? Creating something solid in our minds, often with little conscious thought or evidence?
Have you considered the impression you are leaving? Are you subtle or bold? Are you extroverted or introverted? Are you memorable or forgettable?
Behavioral scientists from the American Psychological Association (APA) refer to this as first impression bias: a limitation in human information processing that causes us to make quick and incomplete observations about others based on the first piece of information we perceive. First impressions are often critical, leading to assumptions and judgments formed within seconds.
Harvard Business School states, “Substantial research has affirmed the importance of first impressions while exploring a variety of factors that contribute to their formation. For example, a 2009 study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that factors ranging from clothing style to posture play a role in how impressions are formed.”
The impact of a first impression can determine how you stand out as a leader.
I am currently reading Simon Sinek’s Leaders Eat Last, and one key insight regarding impressions resonated deeply with me: "The greatest impression a leader can make is not by being the smartest person in the room, but by making everyone else feel like they are."
This underscores that a leader's true impact comes from fostering a sense of belonging and value within their team, rather than showcasing their own abilities. If your goal is to make a lasting impression, then, as Simon suggests, be last—not first.
Now, consider how you perceive others based on first impressions. The greatest danger is making assumptions before truly knowing someone. What if they don’t dress professionally according to your ideal? Does that make them less competent?
Case in point: My beautiful granddaughter, Addy Rose, is 19 years old and beginning her college studies in funeral services. She dresses in black, wears dark makeup, colors her brunette hair black, and continues to add piercings to her face. By appearance alone, she fits the classification of "goth."
The average employer might hesitate to consider her for a front-facing job due to her unconventional look. However, she wisely pointed out to me that dead people don’t care what she looks like—what matters is that she does her job well. She has found a field where she feels accepted for being her authentic self.
Would I have expected my sweet, colorful-dressing, adventuresome granddaughter to adopt this public persona? No.
Was I initially uncomfortable being seen in public with her? Maybe.
Do I now walk beside her proudly? Absolutely.
I engage with her with the same love and respect she gives me, despite my short boy haircut and so-called "granny clothes," as she lovingly calls them. I am proud of who she is and who she is becoming.
As we leave lasting impressions, we must consider the message we want to portray. You only get one shot when you enter a room. Do you capture attention with a smile, a friendly handshake, engaging conversation, and sincere active listening? Or do you fade into the background?
Perhaps it’s time to practice making an impression that will be etched in others’ minds—concretely.
What She Said ~ Beverly
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