“Smile in the mirror. Do that every morning and you’ll start to see a big difference in your life.”
Having an easy, ready smile is an asset in business and in life.
There is a Chinese saying that goes something like this: Do not open the door to your shop unless you are prepared to smile. Research has shown that people tend to mirror the behavior of others. So if you smile while talking to a customer, they are more likely to return the smile. The pleasant way they feel when they smile may make them more likely to buy your product and enjoy their experience with your company.
Infants smile reflexively, which helps them bond with caregivers who find the baby’s smile attractive. An adult can learn to smile, and smile they way they want to, by practicing it in the mirror. Try it. Pick a picture of you smiling to use as a model, then try to imitate it a few days for a minute or two. You can also check out the smiling exercises suggested by a Google search like “learn to smile.”
Smiling is a plus in most everything you do. It can make you feel better by releasing dopamine, endorphins and serotonin, the so-called pleasure neurotransmitters. If you prefer dealing with someone who wears a smile versus a frown, it may be because a smile make you better looking. There is research that suggests that pictures of smiling faces are judged as more attractive than those that aren’t smiling.
Talking to your coach. Some people seem to always have a smile on their face. Others may find it difficult to smile, or, more precisely, smile and mean it, feeling the positive emotions. Regardless of which applies to you, just try it. You have nothing to lose by practicing in a mirror, even if you already smile a lot anyway. Be mindful that a smile shows readiness to interact positively and productively. Did you smile at the beginning of every interaction today? Did you at least practive in private? Using that or your own measure of success, once a day or throughout the day tell your coach why you have—or haven’t—smiled and meant it. Your coach will ask questions to help you think about how to master the habit.
Few people would argue that smiling is bad for you, but new research is showing just how many ways smiling is beneficial to your career and well-being.
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