Smiling: An Effective Personal and Business Strategy

Friday, 04. 17. 2009  –  Category: T2 Communications

All of us have heard a variety of expressions that encourage and remind us to smile.  “Say, ‘Cheese’!”  “Show me those pearly whites!”  “Turn that frown upside down!”   It seems like a simple thing to do and is many times done without thought, but many people don’t realize how much they do not smile.  Even when smiling doesn’t occur naturally, people should smile intentionally and regularly.  It is so beneficial for us and those around us when we smile because it gives a sense of friendliness, acknowledgment, and confidence.  Take notice of yourself everyday.  Are you smiling?

I notice the amount of people not smiling, and it makes me wonder if they are paying attention.  Smiling acknowledges people and personal gestures.  In a meeting, it’s nice to have the leader smile at us when we contribute an idea.  It’s a form of positive reinforcement and lets us know that our involvement is encouraged and appreciated.  Acknowledgment is important.  When driving, we let people merge in front of us in heavy traffic and they smile at us and wave as an acknowledgment of our gesture.  It makes us feel good and it lets us know that they realize we did not have to do that, but we did anyway.  Smiling reinforces the appreciation.  When they don’t smile, we just feel annoyed that they didn’t make it through the light with enough time for us to make it, too.

Putting a smile on our faces makes others feel better about us and it’s a great way to show acceptance.  I remember to smile when I enter a building or an event.  I want those around me to feel at ease and smile back.  In the office I want others to know that I’m ready for the day.  When customers walk in the door, the first thing I do is smile at them.  Smiling is inviting and says, “You can approach me.  I’m a helpful person.”  That usually lifts their mood, too, even if they are coming to me with an issue that makes them unhappy.  I smile, they smile.  Now we can get down to business professionally and come to a solution together without letting our emotions get in the way.  People can hear our smile on the phone, too; it puts an inflection in our voice.

Smiling follows through into all areas of life and all types of business.  When a person doesn’t smile, we sometimes think he or she isn’t good at their job.  A waitress doesn’t smile, and her table feels like she is giving poor service, even if she didn’t do anything else to suggest it.  A bank teller doesn’t smile, and his customer thinks he wasn’t very helpful, even if he answered all questions courteously.  A new acquaintance doesn’t smile, and we don’t think he or she is a nice person, even if there wasn’t anything else to indicate unfriendliness.  A genuine smile allows others to develop positive perceptions about us.

Smiling lets others know that we have a positive attitude and we can handle a challenge.  People are impressed by others who can keep a smile on their face when the going gets tough.  Ever see someone smile after a small disaster?  Maybe a power point didn’t work during their presentation or they were treated poorly by a customer or co-worker, but they put a smile on their face anyway.  What composure!  Smiling helps me stay calm.  I take a deep breath and smile during difficult situations.  It has helped me hold back facial expressions of embarrassment, frustration, and disappointment.

Put a smile on your face and see how it changes your day or your situation.  Your co-workers and customers will notice and react to you in a positive way.  If not, you will still feel better just because you are smiling.  Smile at more people, even if they don’t smile back.  Eventually, they will respond to it.  They will realize that you are aware of them, which makes them feel significant.  People like other people who make them feel important.  It is imperative to realize how many people in your life are affected by your smile.  Even if you are not in a good mood, fake it!  You could be improving your relationships in life and in business just by smiling more at the people around you.

Katie Petre works for T² Communications, a CornerWorld company.

Tags: article, customer service, Katie Petre, sales, smiling