Are you making a good first impression over the phone?

A mere 7 seconds is all it takes to make a positive first impression in person. This is also true when taking or making a call. When we meet someone for the first time over the phone, only our voice is being used to build an image of who we are, and it’s the voice alone that gives us clues about a person’s mental makeup, personality and attitude. Of course, what you deliver, what you say, your choice of spoken words and your tone and rhythm will also determine whether the other person will want to listen to understand you. But the listener will also subconsciously question how this communication is making them feel and whether they feel compelled to take any action to reciprocate or not. If the forming feeling is creating a not so favourable impression, then resetting your mood with a smile may be what is lacking.

Impact of a Smile

As a mood corrector, a smiling tone can ultimately affect both parties on the phone and we can all detect it.

According to a research study published in the journal Experimental Psychology, smiling positively impacts a positive mood by triggering select facial muscles which “tricks” the brain into thinking we are happy. Even fake smiling can affect do this. Facial muscular activity not only alters one’s facial expression but it generates more positive emotions. Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos, study author and human and artificial cognition expert at the University of South Australia, states that “When your muscles say you’re happy, you’re more likely to see the world around you in a positive way. Muscle movements of a smile stimulate the amygdala, which is the part of your brain that allows you to feel emotions — by releasing neurotransmitters, and this encourages an emotionally positive state which is also great for mental health.”

As an interviewer, once we get on that phone, we’d rather speak to an emotionally balanced happy person, who views the world through a positive lens and has a feel-good factor about them. This is also what we seek out on behalf of our employer. It’s fascinating how much one can pick up from just a phone call. As humans, we can detect a smiling tone which in turn can facilitate conversation engagement and build a higher level of trust. We can also differentiate vocal intonation not only between a smile and a non-smile but among different types of smiles. A listener can actually identify the type of smile projected based on sound alone, detecting whether the speaker is authentic by their tone, and by easily picking up by a voice, whether someone is lazy or enthusiastic, clear or unintelligible.

So make the first 7 seconds of your phone call count. No matter what the outcome, make a positive unforgettable first expression on a phone by elevating yourself with a warm smile, especially if you are taking an interview call.

Jahan B.

16 January 2022