0:01
Welcome to Jon Michail’s Personal Branding Masterclass. Jon is the founder and CEO of Image Group International, an award-winning image consulting and personal branding pioneer established in 1989. This podcast will bring you old-school wisdom, inspiring ideas, strategies, and hacks for the new tech world. Here, you will learn everything about personal branding: the system, the techniques, and the right mindset to have a successful personal brand, image, and reputation.

0:30
Welcome to another episode of my personal branding master class Podcast. Today we're exploring a topic that impacts every single one of us, and that's the psychology of first impressions and how Image Consulting can influence your success. Have you ever wondered why some people command attention the moment they enter a room, or why certain individuals inspire trust at first glance? Well today, we're going to unpack some of the science so the psychology and the strategies behind it all. But before we begin, I'd love to connect with you online. You can find me on LinkedIn, at Jon Michail on X at Jon_Michail and as Image Group International on Facebook> Today we will cover today five sections, starting with section one, and that is going to be the science of first impressions. My core message in this is, historically, of course, by research and experience, first impressions are made in the first five to seven seconds. In that brief moment, people form judgments about your competence, trustworthiness and of course, confidence based on your appearance, body language and demeanor, as Maya Angelou once said, people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. So this is part of, part of that first impression. And of course, everything comes into play here to making that impression as impactful as possible. Your first impression sets the tone for how people feel about you, because there is an evolutionary angle in play here. This snap judgment stems from an evolutionary wiring our ancestors had to make quick decisions about whether someone was a friend or foe for survival. So while the stakes, of course, have changed today, although jokingly, I would say not so much in the online world. But anyway, let me get back to purpose here, while the stakes have changed, the process remains actually the same. Today, these judgments influence hiring decisions, business deals and, of course, even social dynamics, even critically more on online interactions. And this is very, very important to consider, especially if you're going to be doing an interview online, you're going to be doing a business deal online, etc. According to a study by Princeton University, people form initial impressions of trustworthiness now within 100 milliseconds of seeing someone's face. So you can see from an online perspective how important that is, of course, if you look at all the the sites regarding relationships, of course people would say definitely that's true, because you've got the whole swipe effect. So the key takeaway here is this, that understanding this psychology isn't about manipulation, although it can be used for manipulation. It's about being congruent, ensuring that your exterior accurately reflects your interior. So if you're talented, driven and trustworthy, your first impressions should communicate that clearly. Otherwise it's incongruent. And of course, that triggers a lack of trust. So I think there's something to ponder there. The next section today, section two is the three pillars of Image Consulting. First of all, of course, is wardrobe. And my core message is this, your wardrobe speaks before you do your clothes. You don't have to say a word, but your clothes are communicated. It should align with your industry goals and, of course, personality. So this is not about cardboard cutouts. Contrary to what you might have heard in the past, for example, a well fitted suit, a thoughtfully chosen dress, or even a smart casual outfit, can instantly communicate authority and competence before you say a word. It's called Visual Communication, a real life example of this is think Steve Jobs with some of his classic signature black turtleneck turtleneck tops and, of course, jeans that were all intentional, it communicated simplicity for him, focus and innovation. Steve Jobs actually said his whole look was designed in a way where he did not have to think about it because he had more important things to focus on, and I really get that. So that's why personal branding through words, through your wardrobe, matters.

5:00
So how do you take action from this insight? First of all, build the caption wardrobe, a collection of versatile, high quality pieces that ensure you're always dressed appropriately no matter the occasion. Of course, this is also fantastic for travel. Next in today's session, it's going to be body language. And of course, what is body language? Well, body language is all the non verbal cues like posture, eye contact and hand gestures that communicate, and of course, account for the majority of communication, Strong Body language projects confidence again before you say a word. And of course, a study by UCLA revealed that 93%
of what communication is non verbal, with body language making a 55% of the equation. Now a lot of people get shocked and horrified when they hear that, but that's the relevance. Language in itself. The written word is a modern concept compared to the rest. So if you go back to our evolutionary heritage there, you'll see that specifically it comes from a long time ago, a practical tip to consider for today's this also practice power poses, no different to how world class leaders do. Standing tall with an open posture not only boost your confidence, but also influences how others perceive you. Of course, gestures definitely what I would call is unreal relatability, as opposed to open next to consider is personal grooming, from hairstyles to skincare. Grooming is the finishing touch of a polished appearance, and it signals attention to detail and also soft respect what I'm talking about regarding that when you do walk into a room, and of course, it has an aroma that really is attractive and enticing, obviously for the senses, as opposed to something opposite. A great example, some of the fragrance stores you can walk into, especially the natural ones, where you get a really beautiful smell and just changes the whole environment. Great example of that is probably a crown casino as an example, because that particular fragrance as part of the grooming of that building also invites a feeling of comfort and at the same time pleasure that you're actually being there. So as the great Oscar Wilde said you can never be overdressed or over educated. Grooming is an extension of that philosophy. It's about shown up, prepared and polished, all right, so hopefully that all makes sense, and let's get to section three, aligning appearance with authenticity. Let's be clear, this isn't about conforming to arbitrary beauty standards or the nonsense espoused by a Tiktok influencer. It's about creating an image that reflects your authentic self while aligning with your personal and professional goals. And some key questions to ask yourself Are these, does my wardrobe support the image I want to project? Okay? Am I communicating confidence through my body language? And number three, does my appearance reflect the level of professionalism I aspire to? If you ask these questions to yourself honestly, I think you're going to get to a point where at least you're looking a little bit deeper at yourself, as opposed to pretending everything is perfect, like a lot of people do, as I often show my clients, your exterior should be a mirror of your interior. When the two are aligned, you create trust effortlessly, and that's what congruency does. Now, the interesting thing about that is I have a lot of clients that come to us and say we want to be seen as more relatable, more respectable and definitely more authoritative. Well, all of that means is your external with your internal has to match. And definitely, if you also want to be in the premium business, example, you want to make greater fees, and at the same time, even higher income as part of your salary. Image matters. The perception game is very, very important. It's all perceptions out there, virtually, and that also means to the individual, right down to somebody that's just starting out out of a university, right up to senior executives, right up to the prime minister or president of the United States. That's what congruency does, part of external with the internal. Next is section four, actionable steps to refine your first impression. So I've already mentioned invest in a capsule wardrobe. 

10:00
Is that a capture wardrobe ensures you're always prepared, so focus on the high quality pieces that are versatile and timeless. What that means is, instead of buying five average pieces, buy one high quality piece that really becomes a signature piece that does all the leverage for you. As an example, other practical examples could mean also that tailored blazer neutral colored shirts and classic coordinated trousers that can work well for almost any professional setting, then practice some of these power pose, especially when you're just starting out. Of course, a lot of more experienced leaders might have done this in the early days or or have done it naturally. But of course, practice, of course, makes perfect over time. So practice that and do what leaders have done for time. Immortal. You're only going to get better on this if you practice it. You're not born with your power poses. So this is very, very important just to play around with. Have fun with it. Look in the mirror. It's all okay. It's part of the show. My core message, though, is so simple that sometimes people complicate it. Adopt open, confident body language to shift your mindset. We already, I think, agreed to that shifting your mindset is an essential skill set to have in your toolbox, package yourself to win by influencing how others perceive you. And I'll also show another example before important means stand tall with your hands on your hips. This is also a quick confidence booster. And you'll notice also that in modeling school, for instance, a lot of models are taught that as well. And of course, how that would stand to create a perception of greater height. Seriously, though, if you are thinking about doing this and doing this properly, do consider engaging an image consultant, but that does this for a living. If you want real insights, as opposed to cheap Tiktok tips, real insights, because, remember, your friends opinions are just that, okay. As a master image consultant, you would provide tailored advice that aligns appearance with personal, career and business aspirations. And it's very, very important to think about it this way. Consider this, would you ask advice from a poor financial advisor? No, I didn't think so, and I wouldn't do the same thing also when it comes to your influence, your impact, and, of course, your image, personal brand. Because people, if you do ask them, will have all sorts of opinions. In my experience, it only confuses the issue unless, of course, you trust and really respect them and see him as a beacon, as a mentor, whatever. That's a different story. So I would, I would think it's incongruent to be getting advice from people really that have no skin in the game, so make sure they have the success and evidence to prove this. Now what I just said about image consultants, I would put that down for any type of consultant, unless they can show you the evidence other than yap, yap, yap. I would of course, be very hesitant to move on with that, and I, and I do the same thing with financial people. Do the same thing with relationship type people, anything specifically that comes down to advice. I want to, I want to see the evidence that what you're talking about, and studies show, coming back to image consultants, that people who do invest in professional image consult reported 22% increase in perceived confidence. So remember, all of this is trial and error. You gotta give it your shot. You gotta, sort of, you know, a bit of play acting in all of this. But of course, isn't that what life is at times, sometimes, though we're blind to how others perceive us, for whatever reason, and as a noted trust and respect, the colleagues or mentors can provide invaluable insights into your appearance and demeanor, but you want to go with a master image consultant that is unbiased in reference to helping you how to action this new image in real time.

14:13
So my key takeaway for you today on this is this first impressions matter, but they're not just about esthetics. By understanding the psychology behind them and aligning your appearance with your personal and professional goals, you can set the stage for success in 2025 and beyond. And remember, as the great Ralph Waldo Emerson said, what you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say. Make sure your first impression does the speaking for you, I trust. Today's episode gave you some valuable insights. Please subscribe, leave a review and share it with others for personalized support, including our extraordinary makeovers. Reach out to Patricia at patricia.bosa@imagegroup.com.au - until next time, remember your appearance is not just about looking good. It's a strategic tool to create trust and influence. So I say, use it wisely till next time. See you at the next episode a big cheerio 

15:17
Jon Michail’s Personal Branding Masterclass Podcast is sponsored by Image Group International, a global team of practical, digitally savvy personal brand and image strategists based in Australia, committed to maximizing your impact, influence, and authority in the business world. To learn more and apply for personal coaching, seminars, and group workshops, please visit imagegroup.com.au or call 1800 631 311.