The Power Of First And Last…
For example, recall the last time that you were at a gas station and asked for directions. Tell me what you remember after you attempted to trace the directions a stranger just finished giving you at that gas station.
I know lots of you have GPS gadgets but the fact of the matter is that the likelihood that you will recall everything is not that high.
Research studies that focus on memory reveal that there is a serial position effect.
What that means is that recall is better at the beginning (primacy) and end (recency) of a list or event than for items or events in the middle. That’s why you can trace the first few steps and the last few steps you were given but for some reason you have major difficulty recalling the essential and specific details of the middle pathways that will take you to your final destination.
The idea that first impressions are lasting impressions has lots of support at a job interview but also when recalling a list, or even an event in your personal life.
Moreover the last thing that you say or the last interaction that you have with others also will have a lasting effect.
So when speaking with your friends or teaching a group, keep in mind the primacy and recency effects and how you can use this finding to communicate and present information more powerfully.
Be sure to leave a comment below and share with us…
Your view or a story that engaged these powerful effects!