Healthy Benefits Of Smiling On You & Healthy
Converting a prospect to a client is a lot like evidence-based investing; it’s simple to
explain but can be difficult to implement.
Before I started coaching other financial advisors, I never paid much attention to
smiling. If something amused me, I smiled. Otherwise, I didn’t. I certainly didn’t
understand the science behind smiling or the impact a smile has on others.
Smiling begins in the womb
For years, it was commonly thought that babies learned to smile from being held by their adoring
mothers and copying their facial expressions. However, advances in ultrasound technology have
demonstrated that babies in the womb start smiling about 26 weeks after conception.
Smiling makes you happier
One seminal study looked at pictures taken of women in college. It followed their lives over a 30-year
period. The study found that the participants who smiled the most had happier marriages and a more
general feeling of personal well-being.
Another study examined two sets of photographs of the same person. The first were in college
yearbooks. The second were from a variety of pictures taken from childhood through early adulthood.
In both studies, the participants who smiled the most had reduced levels of divorce.
Smiling increases longevity
A study reported in Psychology Today looked at the smiles of Major League Baseball players in trading
cards for the 1952 season. It then analyzed the 150 players in those cards who had died as of June
2009. Baseball players who didn’t smile at all lived an average of 72 years. Those who smiled slightly
lived an average of 75 years. But the players with genuine, broad smiles lived an average of 80 years.
Other benefits of smiling
Mark Stibich, Ph.D., a behavior-change expert, describes these additional benefits of smiling:
- Makes us more attractive
- Reduces stress
- Alleviates pain
- Changes our mood
- Makes those around us happier
- Boosts our immune system
- Lowers blood pressure
- Makes us feel good by releasing endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin
- Makes us look younger
- Makes us appear more confident and successful
- Helps us stay positive
Smile to convert more prospects
The power of smiling is undeniable, but how can you use it in your efforts to convert more prospects in
clients?
One study measured the physical facial features of 1,000 people who appeared in images taken from
the Internet. The researchers looked at 65 variables in an effort to determine how they would impact
the social judgment of participants who rated the images. The purpose of the study was to try to isolate
those features that impacted first impressions.
The researchers found smiling faces created an impression of greater approachability and friendliness.
Another study found that smiling positively affects the perception of trustworthiness among strangers.
The study concluded that participants “were more likely to trust photographs of smiling persons than
non-smiling photographs of the same persons.”
The power of smiling in a sales context may be best illustrated by a study demonstrating the subliminal
impact of even very brief exposure to a smiling and a frowning image. Participants were shown images
of a smiling or angry face for only 16 milliseconds, which was too short to register consciously.
Participants were then asked to rate the qualities of a “mystery beverage.”
When participants were thirsty, they consumed more of the drink after exposure to the smiling images
than after exposure to the angry ones. They were also willing to pay significantly more for the beverage
after seeing the smiling image.
One of the authors of the study observed that smiles “can activate a process in your brain that basically
makes you more positively predisposed to whatever comes next.”
Smiling is contagious
There is compelling evidence that smiling triggers a process called “emotional contagion.” It sends a
positive message that is “received” by others. When positive emotions are conveyed, it sets off a chain
reaction, which may include a positive mood, more cooperation and less conflict.
It’s difficult to imagine a situation where the chances of converting a prospect into a client would not be
enhanced by harnessing the awesome power of a simple smile.
Why people don’t smile
There is no doubt that smiling can have long lasting benefits for your health & wealth, but sometimes smiling can be a little hard to do with stains on your teeth. This is why it’s always better have a shining smiling. It is a fact that people with whiter teeth tend to smile more. the reason behind this could be the fact that with whiter teeth people have higher sense of confidence which leads them to smile often. There is a really in-depth article on Espresso Gurus that goes deep into the best teeth whitening products.
If you don’t smile because of stained teeth you should not give up, instead take advantage of widely available teeth whitening products. Get sparkling white teeth so you have another reason to smile.