“It costs nothing but creates much. It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give. It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None are so rich they can get along without it, and none so poor but are richer for its benefits.
It creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in a business, and is the countersign of friends. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature’s best antidote for trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen, for it is something that is no earthly good to anyone 'til it is given away. And if in the hurly-burly bustle of today's business world, some of the people you meet should be too tired to give you a smile, may we ask you to leave one of yours?
For nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give.”
Psychology states that you can uplift your mood just by one simple trick, smiling. It is believed that the left cortex of our brain is the part which triggers happiness and by smiling, we stimulate it. Thus, leading to the release of endorphins, better known as the happy hormones, that calm us. A lot of health experts recommend this technique to reduce anxiety and keep hypertension at bay. Smiling in general can boost your health and it can also be your best tool at work.
Smiling is an essential part of our service and our culture at Quality Health Care. We encourage all team members, especially our leaders to smile, be approachable and friendly. We find that this approach puts people at ease and creates a positive culture and mindset. Below are 8 other reasons we encourage our leaders to smile while at work:
1. Smiling helps people relax
It’s a fact that people who smile help those around them feel more relaxed. It indicates that you are pleased with team members and the work that they are doing. Passing on good feelings via smiling can help others feel less pressured and relieve some of their stress, which ultimately helps productivity. Relaxed people are also more open to new ideas and are more trusting of those that have made them feel relaxed.
2. Smiling draws people to you
Smiling indicates to others that you are approachable. Leaders cannot be effective if people don’t like them, so next time you need to get up in front of a group of people, start out by smiling. It will make people more likely to listen to you and be more open to what you have to say. It can help you get what you want without saying a word.
3. Smiling people are happy people
Leaders don’t always have to smile just for other people–they can also smile because it helps them feel better. Smiling and laughing can help you feel happier and more positive. We can often trick ourselves into feeling an emotion simply by mimicking the actions associated with it. And everyone knows, a happy leader is a good leader.
4. Smiling indicates confidence
When leaders smile, it indicates that they are capable and on top of things. Smiling carries a message of confidence and ease with a situation and this can also instil confidence in your team and in others.
5. Smiling can act as a reward
Smiling lets others know that you’re pleased and is a clear sign of recognition, especially if accompanied with appreciation and/or praise. Good leaders let people know that they’re doing a good job in various ways, but an easy way to do it is to smile. A smile indicates that you care and have noticed the outcome of someone’s hard work, and it is an easy and simple thing to do.
6. Smiling creates good work culture
Having a positive culture in the workplace is always good. Not only does it make for more efficient and more in-sync workers, but it also makes people happier with their work situation and their leadership. Just the simple act of smiling can leave people feeling happier and more positive throughout the day.
7. Smiling can help seal the deal
Leaders have a lot of roles, and one of those is attracting business, whether it be for a company, a campaign, or a project. As a leader, you want people to want to help you, and they’re more likely to feel that way if they feel happy. Flash a quick and genuine smile, and people are much more likely to give you what you’re asking for. At the end of the day, a smile can mean the difference between a deal or no deal.
8. Smiling can have a domino effect
When people are smiled at, it generally elevates their mood and makes them want to pass on the positive vibes. Smiling at people can encourage the spreading of that behaviour around the office. This tends to make people trust and like each other more, and workers that are in tune with one another is the key to being the leader of a well-oiled operation.