The mark of a good pageant judge is their ability to quickly size things up, be decisive, and score according to what is taking place in the moment.
Whether I’m judging a pageant, a show choir competition or interviewing people for a job, I make my decision within the first 5-10 seconds. The remaining time is usually spent confirming my initial impression.
There are all kinds of studies and documentation supporting that a person’s first impression is made within 1 to 10 seconds. The numbers vary depending on the report you read, but the truth is people make a judgment about you within seconds, not minutes, of seeing and speaking with you.
The following excerpt is from The Tesh Media Group and I found the short article to be interesting and to the point.
“A man named Roger Ailes, a media strategist, famously said, “You have just 7 seconds to make a good first impression.” And he was pretty much right. Our primitive ancestors needed to be able to size up a situation quickly and decide if they were faced with a friend or a foe. And we do the same thing today.
According to Yale University psychology professor Marianne LaFrance, 90% of a first impression is based on appearance, posture, facial expressions, and tone of voice. So here’s how to put your best foot forward.
First, know this, when you meet someone new, your hair style will get noticed more than your facial features. Long hair says, “My looks are important to me”. Short hair says, “I’m confident and successful”. And shoulder length hair says, “I’m intelligent and level-headed”.
Next, your handshake matters. The Yale study found that people who make eye contact while offering a handshake that’s firm, dry, and vigorous – as opposed to clammy, limp, and wimpy – not only makes a better impression, but makes people believe you possess the qualities associated with your grip. Also, here’s something just for women.
Your instincts about other women are more accurate than your instincts about men. Why? Because women are programmed to want to make a connection with a man, so your opinions aren’t as harsh. Chemistry throws off your radar.
Now, what about charm versus cheekbones, which goes further? A good looking face or a charismatic presence? Charisma wins over beauty. If you seem confident, open to new experiences, and interested in others, you’ll get better marks than the good looking guy next to you.
But here’s the one thing you need to remember – a first impression is less about you, and more about making the person you meet feel good.”
I tell my clients time and time again: most of what you tell the judges will be forgotten by the time you walk away from the table. It’s more important how you say things than what you say. The feelings you evoke within the judges are what will stay with them as they cast their scores.
It’s very important to continually tweak your outer style and develop your inner qualities because the winning combination occurs when both your outside and inside images match.
