Smiling is one of the simplest techniques for effective communication. It’s a non-verbal communication that can speak louder than any words we say – yet it’s something we don’t often put conscious thought to.
Why smiling is good for business…
- Leaders who smile find that employees are more eager to listen and engage with them.
- Smiling communicates a friendliness and openness. A smile says “I am interested in you” and draws people to us. It’s the first step for building relationships within and outside of the workplace and creating an open culture.
- A study conducted by the University of Michigan found that people who smile more manage, teach and sell better.
- Remember the saying: “A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.”
Why smiling is good for your health:
- Smiling can relieve stress – it helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you’ll be better able to take action.
- Smiling helps the immune system to work better, by helping you become more relaxed.
- Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin, which reduces blood pressure. Together these three make us feel good, so smiling is a natural drug.
- Research shows that even if a person fakes a smile, chemicals that are normally present when we are really happy, and smile automatically, are released in our brain. In other words, you can enhance your feeling of wellbeing when you consciously make an effort to smile.
- Smiling is contagious – smile and the world smiles with you!
And finally … make a point to smile when you answer the phone (even when it’s interrupting what you are doing) – it transmits a more positive message to the person on the other end, and ultimately improves the quality of the conversation you then have.
Get to know us…
We are a consultancy specialising in psychological safety, communication training and coaching and conflict resolution, based in the South West of England, and operating worldwide.
Since 2005, we have made it our mission to find ways of bringing compassionate and authentic principles into the workplace, so that employees may experience connection of a different kind; one that cultivates a healthy working environment, stimulates high performance and unlocks true potential.
In this aim, we have developed multiple tools and programmes to help organisations embed these vital skills within their teams, their management and their culture.
We are committed to changing the way we speak at work.
