1. Professional Image Development: Making Critical First Impressions
Dr. David B. Ross
Fischler School of Education and Human Services
Nova Southeastern University

2. Professional Image Development Series 2008
Making Critical First Impressions
Maximizing Professional Relationships
Social Graces in Business Places
The Impact of Professional Image

3. “Always dress up, because you can always dress down
“Always dress up, because you can always dress down. Never dress down, because you can never dress up!”   --- Anonymous

4. Workshop Objectives
This workshop highlights the benefits of making a positive, lasting impression on colleagues, students, business partners, and the NSU community.
Employees gain insight to value first impressions and how to always ensure positive, meaningful encounters.

5. Today’s Agenda
Knowledge and understanding of first impressions: Impression management
Manage other’s impressions of you
Activity: Why is impression management important?
Social interaction: The importance of balance
Perceptions: How Do You Feel Others Recognize You?
Activity: Personal label and reflection

6. Impression Management
A process by which we attempt to influence the reactions and images people have of us and our ideas (de Janasz, Dowd, Schneider, 2002).
The process of portraying yourself to others in a manner that creates a desired impression.
Any individual or organization establishing and maintaining impressions that are congruent with the perceptions they want to convey to their publics (Goffman, 1959).

7. Manage Others’ Impressions of You
Be Punctual
Respect of others’ time
Dress Appropriately
Inquire ahead of certain dress
Flatter Legitimately
Say positive things
Have a Good Sense of Humor
Places others at ease
Be Friendly and Approachable
Stay current with common interests
Make Friends
Value your contacts

8. Why is Impression Management Important?
Activity
Get in small groups and have discussion
Do you think about how others feel after interacting with you the first time?
Your dress
Your voice
Your character
Your demeanor

9. Why is Impression Management Important?
Being noticed (e.g., confident, interesting, attractive, sincere)
Invitations (e.g., interviews, meetings, conferences, etc.)
Reputation of job and product knowledge
Networking
Friendships, relationships

10. Social Interactions: The Importance of Balance
Communication: Verbal and non-verbal
Facial expressions and gestures
Voice (tone, inflection, pitch, diction)
Make others feel appreciated
To feel appreciated and affirmed
Be connected
Commonality with others
Mood elevation
To feel uplifted
Enlightenment
Stimulating and appealing to be around

11. Perceptions: How Do You Feel Others Recognize You?
Identity – individual characteristics by which a thing or person is recognized
Who you are
Who you want to be
What your unique characteristics are
Other characteristics that people do not see
The characteristics that are important to you

12. Personal Label Activity
Write down [column one] personal labels that people associate you with: cultural, morality, faith, interests, passion, personality, physical, and social place.
Write down [column two] the impact that it has on your self-perception.

13. Reflections on Your Personal Labels
How does it feel to be labeled?
How does it feel to recognize the impact these labels have on you?
Why do you feel these labels are attached to you?
Who do you want to be?

14. Acknowledgements Dr. Tara Saltzman, Executive Dean
Sonia Smith, Executive Director
The Office of Training and Organizational Development
Committee members

15. Bibliography
Allen, S. (2008). Developing a reputation. About, Inc. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from Burgess, T., Pugh, K., & Sevigny, L. (2007). The personal vision workbook. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning. Deamarais, A., & White, V. (2004). First impressions: What you don’t know about how others see you. Bantam Books. De Janasz, S. C., Dowd, K. O., & Schneider, B. Z. (2002). Interpersonal skills in organizations. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. New York: Doubleday. Mind Tools. (2008). Making a great first impression. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from