Don’t feel like smiling?

A quick search of the Internet and you will get a variety of answers to the question “How many muscles does it take to smile?” They vary from 10 – 17 but my favourite is by a gentleman called Varun who writes in Junior Dentist.com. He lists 13 in total but goes on to say that different smiles use different muscles – a grin uses more than a blushing smile for example.

However many muscles it takes, there is no doubt that a smile affects the sound you makes as you speak; it makes you appear more personable and warmer. At least a real smile does, a fake smile does the opposite! A fake smile doesn’t reach your eyes, gives you the look of a snarling animal about to attack and has little effect on your voice.

So, what do you do if you don’t feel like smiling? If you are nervous, uncomfortable or just tired and worn out?

You have to think of something that makes you happy! It doesn’t matter what it is, no one else need know … but a happy thought you must have or else your smile won’t work. No happy thought and you risk looking like a politician towards the end of a campaign trail or a salesman at the end of the day on an exhibition stand; your smile will be quick to go and others will doubt your sincerity.

If you need any help smiling whether you are presenting or walking into an important meeting, then think of the thing or person that puts a smile on your face as you walk in … you will appear more approachable to everyone in the room.