Research shows that people decide whether they trust you in seconds, long before they assess your skills. Here is how to get first impressions right at work

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared in Science of People

On their first day, driven people often start from the wrong premise. Instead of trying to understand the room, they treat it like a stage. They come armed with polished anecdotes, ready-made answers, and a quiet determination to demonstrate their worth – mistaking performance for impact.

Because here is the problem: people are not evaluating your competence first.

Harvard social psychologist Amy Cuddy highlights that in early encounters, people ask a different question than most professionals expect. Before “Is this person capable?” they ask, “Can I trust this person?”

And the speed of this judgement is striking. A Princeton University study by psychologists Janine Willis and Alexander Todorov found that people form first impressions in just one-tenth of a second. That is 100 milliseconds, faster than a blink.

So the question becomes less about what you say, and more about what you signal immediately.

Make Arrival Part of Your First Impression

First impressions begin before you speak. Arriving slightly early, around 10 to 15 minutes before a meeting or first day interaction, helps you settle your energy and avoid appearing rushed.

The goal is simple. You want to enter the space composed, not catching up with it.

Lead With Friendliness

In those first moments, people are reading cues more than content. Your body language often does more work than your words.

Focus on simple signals that build trust:

• Maintain natural eye contact, not too intense, not avoidant
• Keep an open posture with relaxed shoulders and visible hands
• Use a genuine smile that feels natural rather than rehearsed
• Show visible energy and interest in being there
• Offer a confident handshake when appropriate, or clear visual engagement in virtual settings

In remote environments, the same principles still apply. Camera at eye level, good lighting, and visible attentiveness all signal presence. Small cues like nodding or responding promptly can replace physical warmth.

Build Social Memory Early

Trust is reinforced through small moments of recognition. Remembering personal details and following up on them signals that you are paying attention.

It might be as simple as asking about a project someone mentioned, or checking in on something important to them. These gestures are small, but they accumulate quickly.

Ask For Advice, Not Just Opinions

One of the fastest ways to build early rapport is how you ask questions. Research from Harvard Business School shows that asking for advice makes you more likeable than asking for feedback.

The difference matters. Feedback puts someone in a judging role. Advice puts them in a helping role, which people naturally enjoy more.

A useful structure is:

• Share what you are trying to achieve
• Acknowledge the other person’s experience
• Ask a specific question, such as what they wish they had known early on

This approach builds connection while also giving you useful insight.

Trust Comes Before Credibility

The research is consistent. People decide whether they trust you before they decide whether they respect you.

In practice, this means first impressions are not won through expertise alone. They are shaped through warmth, attention, and human presence.

Get that right early, and everything that follows becomes easier to build.