How to Make a Powerful First Impression When You Present

How long do you really have before your audience forms an impression of you?

Five seconds? Ten? Longer?

According to researchers at Princeton University, it takes just one-tenth of a second for someone to judge us the moment they see our face. It sounds extreme, but think about the last time you met a stranger; didn’t you get a feeling about them instantly?

We’re hard‑wired to make instant judgments. Before a single word is spoken, the brain is already at work, quietly assessing the person in front of us. Can I trust them? Do they seem intelligent, look competent or appear kind? These evaluations happen automatically, long before the conversation begins. These judgments happen unconsciously and incredibly fast. For public speakers, that makes the first impression not just important, but decisive.

Your First Impression Begins Before You Speak

Everything you do in the moments before you open your mouth contributes to the impression you create.

Imagine your audience walking in to find you:

– Fiddling with cables

– Flicking through slides

– Pacing anxiously

Before you’ve said a word, you’ve already communicated uncertainty.

Be Prepared

If possible, arrive at least an hour early.

Handle every technical detail before anyone enters the room, so that by the time the first person arrives, you are calm, ready, and fully present.

Greet people with a warm smile and a confident handshake.

Mingle

If the setting allows, meet as many people as you can before you speak. A brief conversation builds rapport and makes you feel like part of the room rather than separate from it.

Start Slow. Start Silent. Start Strong.

When it’s time to begin, move with intention. Walk slowly and purposefully toward the front of the room, your posture straight yet relaxed. When you reach your spot, pause for a moment. Let the silence work for you, then offer a warm, confident smile and allow the room to settle around you. In those few quiet seconds, you communicate calm, control, and presence long before you speak. Those few seconds of stillness communicate confidence more powerfully than any opening line.

Image Matters

Dressing well signals professionalism and self-respect. It doesn’t mean being flashy; it means being intentional. Your clothes, your grooming, and even your shoes contribute to the impression of someone who takes the moment seriously.

Don’t Start with Your Name

Avoid the predictable: “My name is John Smith, and I’m the head of technology.”

Your audience already knows who you are, and if they don’t, you’ve already failed, as you should have told them that long before they entered the room.

What they want to know is why they should listen.

Make Them Curious

Your first words should signal that you have something meaningful to say.

You can spark curiosity in countless ways. You might begin by telling a true, relevant story, something that instantly grounds your message in real experience. Or you could aim to make your audience feel something: surprise, concern, hope, excitement as emotion opens the door to engagement.

Another powerful approach is to ask a compelling question, the kind that makes people sit up and think. One of my favourite examples comes from a TED Talk by Simon Sinek, who begins by asking, “How do you explain when things don’t go as we assumed? Or better, how do you explain when others are able to achieve things that seem to defy all of the assumptions.”

You can also help your audience imagine a future scenario, inviting them to step into a world shaped by the ideas you’re about to share. Each of these techniques creates curiosity, and curiosity is the perfect beginning.

It’s simple, but it pulls you in.

Be at Ease

Your audience relaxes when you relax.

Before stepping up to speak, take a moment to:

– Breathe deeply

– Meditate briefly

– Use self-hypnosis or grounding techniques

A calm presenter creates a calm room.

Be an 8 of Clubs

Confidence is key, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. Imagine a deck of cards with the royalty removed. Each number represents a level of confidence:

• Ace = 1 (low confidence)
• 10 = highest confidence

Aim to be an 8.

An 8 is confident, composed, and credible, without tipping into arrogance. We all know what an 8 feels like, so practice stepping into that version of yourself.

Carry an 8 of clubs with you as a reminder if it helps.

You Only Get One Chance

The saying has lasted because it’s true: your first impression sets the tone for everything that follows.

Use these strategies to make yours strong, confident, and memorable.

If you need help making that all-important first impression:

– Book yourself onto a powerful public speaking course.

– Invest in some really good one to one public speaking coaching.

– Get yourself some excellent presentation training

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