Why Smiling is Required
The research is in and it’s conclusive: smiling is key to success.
Lisa B. Marshall
The most important non-verbal behavior is smiling. It is critical that you smile while having conversations with company representatives. Many studies have confirmed the value of smiling. (Yes, there really are smile researchers.) Smiling reduces tension, it helps people reach agreement, and it increases attraction.
One study showed that smiling promotes trust among strangers. One of the co-authors, Rick Wilson, in an interview said,
“People who have friendly expressions are rated better or perceived to be nicer.”
Another study found that looking at an attractive face activates regions of the brain associated with drug addiction. If the face is smiling, the brain lights up even more.
One really interesting study found that when mothers viewed their baby’s smiling faces, the same regions of the brain were activated. The researchers suggested it was like a natural high. That certainly explains the feeling I get when I look at the photo of my twin girls that I keep in my wallet.
Finally, a very recent study reported that smiling faces were easier to remember.
I hope I’ve convinced you of the importance of smiling. But I know from experience, there are some of you who are thinking, “Well, that’s interesting, but smiling just isn’t me.” I usually hear this from people who are task-oriented and analytical.
My response is always the same: The data strongly suggests that smiling is beneficial, so if you have a choice, why not smile?
Woman smiling image from Shutterstock
About the Author
Lisa B. Marshall Lisa holds masters with duel degrees in interpersonal/intercultural communication and organizational communication. She’s the author of Smart Talk: The Public Speaker’s Guide to Success in Every Situation, as well as Ace Your Interview, Powerful Presenter, and Expert Presenter. Her work has been featured in CBS Money Watch, Ragan.com, Woman’s Day, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and many others. Her institutional clients include Johns Hopkins Medicine, Harvard University, NY Academy of Science, University of Pennsylvania, Genentech, and Roche.