Communication: Is It Important To Smile?

There are people who always seem to have a smile on their face and then there are other people who are not as expressive. They will smile from time to time, but it won’t be as often as someone who smiles freely; it could be said that they like to hold back.

However, when it comes to something as powerful as a smile, it could be said that one doesn’t need to hold back. At times it is going to be important for them to express themselves differently and yet, this is not to say that one should feel bad for smiling.

The Context

As a human being, one has the ability to express themselves in many different ways and each expression they have is going to have a purpose. One might find that they’re able to use the right expression to get the response they want from others in most cases.

This will show that one is aware of their expression and the effect they are having. There is also the chance that one is not aware of their expressions and this is likely to mean that they end up getting responses that they don’t want.

Facial Expressions

Their facial expressions could then end up being a mismatch and this could cause them to offend others or to simply push them away. If one is aware of their facial expressions, it will allow them to make the changes they need to make.

The problems will arise when one is not aware of the part they are playing in how other people are responding to them. While one is not completely responsible for how other people respond to them, it would be inaccurate to say that they have no affect either.

Listening

Let’s say that one was with a close friend or someone else they are close to and this person was talking about something important. As one respects and values the other person, it is going to be important for them to listen to what they’re saying.

Firstly, one is going to need to keep quiet and they might even tilt their head to show that they are listening. And as well as this, one will need to mirror the other person’s facial expressions and/or to express themselves in a way that matches the mood of the interaction.

Mismatch

If, on the other hand, one didn’t look at the other person and expressed themselves in a way that invalidated the other person for instance, the person who is talking might end up feeling disrespected and angry, amongst other things.

And as the person who is talking is important to them, one is likely to realise how important it is to get this right. It could then be something that just happens; without one having to think about it.

First Impression

When it comes to making a good first impression, one is going to want to express themselves in the right way. There are many things that one can do, and one of those things is to smile.

This puts other people at ease and this is because when one smiles, they’re not coming across as unfriendly or as a threat. Other people are able to see that one is approachable and this then gives them the permission or the all clear to reach out.

Other Interactions

So this will play a part in one being able to form a good first impression, and it will also have a positive affect on the other interactions that one has. For instance, if one smiles when they meet a friend, it shows that they are happy to see them. Their friend is then likely to mirror back their reaction, that’s if they’re not already smiling, and it’s likely to enhance the interaction.

The same would apply if one was about to go on a date with someone. If one smiles when they see the other person, it can allow the other person to feel more relaxed. This can then mean that the interaction is able to get off to a good start.

Influence

Smiling is then something that can allow one to have more influence and a greater impact on others. This is because it will play a part in how they feel in ones company and therefore, how one is perceived by others.

And through smiling, one is also going to feel good and this is another reason why it is good to smile. This shows that smiling not only has a positive impact on other people, it also improves ones wellbeing.

Action

If one is not used to smiling, it might feel uncomfortable at first but as time passes, this will soon change. One option would be to observe other people and then to model their behaviour.