Smile First And See The Reaction You Get From Others
11. Smile first and see the reaction you get from others.
This is actually a fun one to try and my self-kept statistics have it working about 90% of the time. The concept is simple, before you walk up to any person or situation just put on a smile. Nine times out of ten the person will smile back and that sets up the interaction to have a greater probability of success or positive interaction.
One of the first benefits of doing this is that you drastically reduce the probability of rejection. Before you have even said a word the person is much more receptive to the things you are about to say. Chances are the person you are interacting with has received few smiles or compliments all day. There is also the possibility that you may even be the first to do so.
The second part of this strategy is that your interactions with people will be much more enjoyable. It’s just human nature that people will be more cooperative when they are dealing with someone they like. So your window of opportunity to be liked initially is a small one, especially if you are dealing with someone at a counter who has been getting yelled at all day.
When you come up with your smile on, it is almost like a timeout for them. In my travels I have had to deal with a flight agent or two. These people get yelled at more for no reason than most industries. Going up to these people with a smile on my face has helped me get where I was going more often than not. I am convinced I have made flights, connections, and received better seating due to a simple smile. If you asked these people, or any industry for that matter, I bet they would tell you when they can that they will go out of their way for someone who has a smile on their face.
Lastly, I’m certain that if I asked you to think of the people you know who always have a smile on their face, you could name them. Chances are you have a smile on your face just thinking about that person or persons. The truth is if you smile at someone, they almost have to try not to smile back. And when you get a smile on someone’s face, they are much more likely to cooperate with you and assist you the best they can.
Keep in mind I am not saying to use this to get your way, people can see through that insincerity right away. The best part about this is that as you put it into practice, it becomes automatic after awhile. The nice thing about that is you become one of those people who are smiling all the time.