If the average person knew this about first impressions, they’d become instantly credible

The $107 fix that’ll make you impossible to ignore (no awkward self-promotion required)

Image credit: Sora by Open AI

A few weeks ago, I met up with an old client and she shared something that made me laugh. I told her I’d write about it, so here we are.

"You know what I remember about first meeting you, Leanne?" she said over coffee.

"It was your microphone. The moment you joined that Webex call with that mic, I knew you weren't like any other consultant I'd worked with."

I nearly choked on my cappuccino.

Of all the things that could have made an impression, it was my $107 microphone from JB Hi-Fi.

The accidental prop that changed everything

While you think you have to attend every networking event, or master the art of the perfect humble brag, I accidentally stumbled onto the world's simplest career differentiator.

A microphone.

I didn't buy it to "build my brand."

I bought it because I was starting a podcast and needed something better than my laptop's built-in mic. It was a simple USB microphone- plug and play, took me 30 seconds to set up.

But that little piece of equipment has done so much for my work fame.

Gosh, even last month, I jumped into a Q&A Zoom call with strangers. It was a round-robin Q&A, and when it was my turn, I asked one question, 30 seconds of talking, max.

A few moments later, a fellow guest was kind enough to share, “Leanne had instant credibility the moment she spoke."

What!

I wasn’t the guru in this meeting. I was just asking another question. How did that happen?

Well, the next comment in chat was, “Leanne, where did you get that microphone?”

(true story).

While other consultants blend into a sea of laptop audio, I'm the one who sounds like I have it together.

Audio quality = perceived competence.

And it’s not just my opinion, there’s science behind this.

A USC study found that poor audio makes people less likely to trust you, even when the words and the message are exactly the same.

If your audio sounds fuzzy?

People rate you as less intelligent, less likeable, and less important. Researchers call this the “fluency effect”: if something’s hard to process, our brains assume it’s not credible.

In other words: your mic might be undermining your message before you even finish saying “Hi.”

The good news is a microphone costs less than a decent bottle of wine.

The psychology of props (Or: Why this actually works)

The microphone isn't just about audio quality. It's about what psychologists call "signalling."

When you show up to a video call with professional audio while everyone else sounds like they're calling from inside a washing machine, you're unconsciously communicating:

• "I take this seriously"

• "I invest in quality"

• "I think about details"

• "I respect your time and ears"

It's the business equivalent of wearing a good watch or having a firm handshake. Except it costs $107 and works on every single call.

Signalling happens whether you control it or not.

Every crackly connection, every "sorry, you're breaking up," every time someone has to ask you to repeat yourself - that's signalling too. Because “Can you hear me okay?” isn’t exactly a power move.

Unfair? Absolutely.

But our brains make these snap judgments in milliseconds.

What blew my mind was realising how signalling works both ways.

When I click a link to jump onto a call, I swing the microphone stand over to just under my mouth, and suddenly, I’m propelled into “Leanne Show Time” mode.

This simple trigger makes me sit up straighter, and reminds me that my words matter.

The hidden language of professional signals

We're constantly sending and receiving tiny signals about status, competence, and desirability. Most of it happens below conscious awareness, but our brains are incredibly good at picking up patterns.

Examples:

• Show up first to every meeting? You signal eagerness. Arrive five minutes late? You signal that you're busy with important things, or maybe that you lack respect for other people (I tend to interpet that behaviour as the latter… punctuality is one of my boring core values!)

• You judge the person who's flustered by the mute button differently than the one who handles tech issues smoothly.

• You unconsciously rank people based on whether they ask "when works for you?" (junior energy), or offer specific time slots to catch up (main character energy).

The microphone was just my entry point into understanding that we're all constantly broadcasting signals about our professional value.

Final thought

The lesson isn't "buy a microphone" (though honestly, you should, here’s the mic I use).

The lesson is that sometimes the smallest changes create the biggest impact.

And look, I'm not saying a microphone is magic. You still need to know what you're talking about. You still need to deliver value and build real relationships.

But in a world where everyone sounds the same and blends together, sometimes the difference between being forgotten and being remembered is as simple as being the person who sounds like they know what they're doing.

What signal are you sending?

Right now, you're signalling something to your boss, colleagues, clients, and industry peers. The question is: what?

Take a moment to audit the signals you're unconsciously broadcasting.

These micro-moments add up to macro-impressions about your competence.

The microphone taught me that we're all constantly broadcasting (pun intended) our value - most of us just aren't aware of what we're transmitting.

---

More where that came from...

1. I’m live-streaming right now with Alan Weiss (26 June 5pm ET/27 Jun 7am AEST)
   We’re talking about why being unclear, unprepared, and a little unsure might be your unfair advantage. Join the livestream →

2. Want daily doses of energy, insight, and Leanne thinking?
   Check out my off-the-cuff daily podcast. Recorded while walking, coffee in hand. Listen here → Leanne on Demand

3. Get Work Famous in Brisbane on 20 August

   I’m hosting an IABC Queensland chapter event, sharing how to showcase your talents and open the door to incredible opportunities. → Grab your ticket

---

👉 If you enjoy reading this post, feel free to share it with friends! Or feel free to click the 💙 button on this post so more people can discover it 🙏

Til next time,

Leanne "Writing this so I can get back to watching America's Sweethearts" Hughes

P.S. If your team’s being overlooked, not because of talent, but because they don’t know how to signal it, I can help. Reply with the word “SIGNAL” and I’ll send you more info.