Small Things You’re Being Judged On

Judgments are made by our peers and acquaintances unknowingly every day. Today, we are going to talk about certain things or habits you may have that influence the way people think about you. These can apply to everyday life, but also your work life, and help you make the best impression possible.

Handshake: Many people believe that your handshake tells a lot about you as a person. While we shouldn’t judge people on something as simple as a handshake, it is your first impression when you meet someone or in interviews. Some people associate a weak handshake with personality traits such as low confidence, shyness, introversion, etc. A firm handshake indicates that you have high confidence in yourself.

Time: Whether you show up to events and meetings on time can be a major thing you are being judged on. This, of course, depends on who is making the judgments. If your boss is holding a meeting promptly at 9 AM and expects everyone to be punctual, this is not a situation where you should show up late. Arriving late to meetings and interviews can come across as if you do not care or do not respect the people you are meeting. The U.S. culture is very focused on time, especially in the professional world.

Eye Contact: Eye contact is a great tool to use when listening to coworkers or peers talk. It helps them know you are taking in what they are saying and engaged. On the other hand, too much eye contact can be seen as threatening or uncomfortable. Find a happy-medium, natural eye contact is the way to go.

Phone Etiquette: In our technology-driven society, phone etiquette is a big factor in which people may be judging you. Pulling out your phone in the middle of a conversation or meeting is frustrating to those you are interacting with. It communicates to others that you don’t respect them or care about what they are saying. While a lot of us may use our phones for our jobs, it’s important to know what time and place is acceptable to use your phone.

There should be a happy-medium and good balance of all of these things and habits. These will not make or break you as a person, but it will help you make a great impression on your peers, coworkers, bosses, etc.

Read here to learn how to accept criticism at work!

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