Can smiling Benefit your career?
Charles Darwin was one of the first people to suggest that facial expressions may intensify feelings. This theory is commonly known as the feedback loop or facial feedback hypothesis.
A smiling expression feeds our mood, makes us feel happier, and can even make a joke seem funnier. But did you know the benefits of smiling extend to the workplace? Before you dismiss the idea, consider these facts:
1. It puts others at ease
It is tough to get ahead in business if people are guarded around you. When you smile, you help others feel more relaxed in your presence. And when people feel comfortable, they are more receptive to you and your ideas.
2. Its Contagious
People are attracted to those who smile because it signals positivity, which is infectious. Smiling signals that you are approachable and kind, making you more likable. Also, workers who smile frequently can bring out the best in their peers. If you try to smile as much as you can, you may feel good about your everyday work. And over time, these positive feelings may extend across a workplace, leading to better results.
3. It inspires confidence
A study from Penn State University confirmed that people who smile appear to be more competent.
4. It's good for you
One of the surprising benefits of smiling is that it affects you at a biological level. Smiling instantly activates your brain to release feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, which improve your mood. Smiling is also a free, drug-free way to relieve stress, lower your blood pressure, and boost your immune system. And when we feel good, we worry less, gain new perspectives, and tend to be more productive.
5. It can make you more creative
The dopamine that is released from smiling helps with learning, processing, and decision- making, and allows for heightened creativity related to problem-solving and artistic endeavors.
6. It can help you avoid sick days
Research indicates that smiling has positive effects on the immune system. For example, Psychology Today notes one study of 350 adults that evaluated the correlation between positive emotions and the cold virus. It revealed that adults who experienced positive emotions such as feeling energetic or happy were less susceptible to cold symptoms.
7. A smile contributes to a positive work environment
Smiling promotes happiness which fosters productivity. In fact, research conducted by Jessica Pryce-Jones, author of “Happiness at Work,” shows that on-the-job happiness frequently results in a higher income, better performance reviews and other career benefits.
Practice makes Perfect
Children smile on an average, four hundred times a day, whereas the happiest adults only smile 40 to 50 times a day. But smiling can be learned, practiced diligently, and improved upon. How? Watch funny movies or TV shows, play with your kids, hang out with positive people who make you feel good. The smile on your face could make you happier, healthier, more productive.