Smile ~ Your Life Depends On It

Now I have proof that it is ok to smile as much as I do. Even during presentations. Yes, I mind the situation and audience but I do tend to be a smiler. If you look closely at my picture (to the left) you will see that my eyes are smiling too. The crinkles in the corner are the giveaway. This full on smile is called a Duchennes smile.

A brilliant article in New Scientist collaborates the cerebral feeling I get when I smile will help me to live well into my 80′s. We live longer as smilers and our social networks run deeper. The article also states that forced smiles increase longevity too. Hmmm, let’s just call that practice smiling or the warm up to genuine smiles, only because I am not a fan of disingenuous smiles. Humour me.

As a speaker, smiling does help me to feel connected to the audience. Certainly when I rest my eyes for a few second on an audience member and elicit turned up corners of a mouth. The audience member’s reaction enables us to feel we are both on the same page and encourages me. The return smile also gives me insight into audience reaction in that my ideas and concepts are resonating.

While presenting, the importance of audience engagement and connecting to individuals can’t be stressed enough. As a vulnerable human being, whether through storytelling or facial gestures – smiling –  you improve your chances of communicating your ideas.

I look forward to getting to 80 sage and smiley years. Will you join me?

A smile was the original form of social media ~

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Tags: Audience Engagement, Long Life, Presentations, Smiles, Smiling