Leaders, first impressions matter.
This applies whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to your role. Even if you’ve been at your company for years, like me with 28 years at Service Express, you still need to make a strong first impression when new people join your team. They’re new to you, and you’re new to them. You don’t automatically earn trust and respect just because of your tenure; you earn it through your actions and interactions.
If you’re a leader who’s new to an organization, you also have to earn that trust and respect. So how do you make a great first impression? In my experience, it starts with asking questions and being curious, not trying to have all the answers.
A common mistake I see leaders make, especially new ones, is feeling like they need to prove themselves by being the smartest person in the room. But in reality, it’s often the opposite. People look to new leaders to ask questions, listen and learn first. As Stephen Covey said, “Seek first to understand.”
John Maxwell also reminds us, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” One of the best ways to show you care is by asking questions and being genuinely curious about others before offering your own answers or opinions. The leaders who appear the smartest are usually the ones who are the most curious.
Take a moment for self-reflection: are you trying to have all the answers? Or are you being genuinely curious, seeking to learn, understand and connect first?
