Personal experience tells us how powerful first impressions
are. Indeed, research
reinforces our innate understanding of first impressions. The study suggests it
takes just 20 seconds to detect whether a stranger is genetically inclined to
being trustworthy, kind or compassionate. That’s less than a minute for you, or
your witnesses, to establish a credible first impression with the jurors, one
which, once established, will be very difficult to change or alter in any way.
What was it about the strangers that led the study subjects
to figure out whether or not the stranger was trustworthy? Very simply, the
“trusted” strangers displayed more trustworthy behaviors – more head nods, more
eye contact, more smiling, more open body posture.
All of these behaviors are easily accessible to any of us.
For that matter, when you’re in a relaxed, comfortable situation with friends
or family, you’re likely to display these very behaviors without thinking about
it.
Allow yourself to present yourself to the jurors more as who
you are with friends – trusting and therefore trustworthy, and encourage your
witnesses to do the same. The only caveat is that smiles must be appropriate to
the situation, and when in trial, the moments when it is appropriate to smile
are limited.
