Communication Skills Tip: Lasting Second Impressions

I was on a flight to Myrtle Beach recently and while I was waiting for my delayed plane to board, a man seemingly disguised in black glasses, a straw hat and an iPod headset blasting from his ears, asked if he could sit next to me. "Sure," I said as I moved my purse from the seat. Minutes passed as he transitioned to his phone...to taking off his glasses...to swapping his hat for a cap...to flipping through his novel...to beginning to chat with the woman next to him. Hmmmp! Things were getting interesting. What I thought was the beginning of a pick-up conversation, turned into an exchange of entertainment and accolades between the man and all of the patrons stranded at Laguardia's Gate 6. This man's gregarious, warm nature took over as he was thumbing through and critiquing the songs on this woman's iPod. As the manager of a well known American band, he clearly has authority to joke about her country version of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. He had us all smirking and laughing. When he and I got on the plane, we were sitting a few aisles away. He asked the flight attendant to pass his iPod to “his wife” (me) to make sure I recognized the great band he managed. My point is simply this: Let’s be sure not to judge someone only by their first appearance. Allowing ourselves to be surprised is so much more forgiving of human nature. I could not have felt more welcomed by this complete stranger who I most likely will never see again. To be added to Lanartco's Communication Performance Tip of the Week, please connect to this link or send your email address to info@lanartco.com.