When you meet something new, your smile is one of the first things they notice about you and vice versa. It’s also the thing they’re most likely to remember. These are just a few of the reasons your smile has a bigger impact on your professional success than you might think! If you have a bright, healthy smile that makes you stand out and stick in someone’s mind after you leave, it can help you land a promotion, motivate others on the job, and even negotiate a better salary. So, how do you handle struggles with crooked teeth, misalignment, or other orthodontic issues? Keep reading to learn why you’re more likely to get hired with a straight smile.
We want all of our patients at Damon Smiles Orthodontics to get the most out of their life, including their professional lives. Feeling insecure about how your smile looks can hold you back, but our treatment options will give you what you need to put your best professional foot forward.
Set the tone with a smile
Starting a meeting, interview, or any social interaction with a sincere smile will help put others at ease and make you seem more approachable and friendly. Potential employers are sure to notice this. When you attend a job interview, for instance, your credentials are only part of what the interviewer will be looking at! If you come across as stiff, unfriendly, or distant, it could hurt your chances of being offered the position or promotion you’re up for. Successful companies don’t just want a qualified candidate on paper; they also want someone who will contribute to a positive work environment by building a rapport with coworkers and clients.
Smiles spread like wildfire
The human brain does a lot of fascinating things. One example is the way we mimic facial expressions, often without even realizing we’re doing it. When someone else smiles and mimics it, we might catch a little bit of that happy feeling and feel a slight boost in our mood. It also helps us understand the person we’re talking to better and respond appropriately, which is why we tend to smile back when someone smiles at us. It’s true – smiling really is contagious!
This phenomenon helps potential employers determine which candidates are more likely to positively influence those around them and help cultivate a better work environment. A Yale University study showed this by dividing volunteers into small groups and assigning specific tasks. One team member was secretly instructed to act upbeat upon entering the room. When that person came in with a smile on their face and a positive attitude, the room’s mood lifted almost immediately! The study also found that each individual’s performance improved. The group itself was more likely to achieve the goal it had been given.
A team of scientists at the University of Kansas conducted a study with similar results. Participants were given stressful tasks to complete. Some people were asked to smile during these tasks, while others were instructed to keep a straight face. Researchers measured the heart rates of the participants, and the subjects were asked to self-report their stress levels as they performed the tasks.
Those who had been told to smile had lower heart rates and their bodies showed more resistance to stress. They also reported feeling more positive overall than those who were told to keep a straight face, proving the power in a smile! A welcoming smile can lead to some real advantages in the workplace since it’s attractive to both employers and coworkers.
The Halo Effect
The term “halo effect” was coined in 1920 by Edward Thorndike, a researcher attempting to describe how our brains attach multiple positive qualities to someone once we notice one. We may also attache negative qualities to a person if we perceive a negative quality. We generalize information about a person based on our own perception of them. While it may not be a particularly fair way to process new people we meet, it certainly shows just how significant first impressions can be!
One positive trait that often sparks the halo effect is a great smile. People who have a bright, beautiful smile are naturally seen as smarter, wittier, more successful and hardworking, and more trustworthy than those who don’t smile often or struggle with oral health. Have you been trying to get your foot in the door or close out a big deal? Your smile could be the exact tool you need to produce the halo effect and seal the deal.
Increase your self-esteem
Finally, your level of self-confidence often determines how willing you are to step out of your comfort zone and take risks. Often, taking risks is essential for real success. Liking your appearance, including your smile, can give you quite the confidence boost. Invisalign actually conducted a survey on this and found that almost 80% of adults who underwent orthodontic treatment said that having a healthier smile gave them the confidence to do something they would never have considered before. That number is nothing to ignore!
Find the secret to a successful smile at Damon Smiles Orthodontics
As you can see, your appearance plays an important role in you feel about yourself and how others see you. It can also influence how colleagues and hiring managers perceive you. That’s why you’re most likely to get hired with a straight smile. At Damon Smiles Orthodontics, we can help you achieve a beautiful smile that feels great and looks amazing, thanks to a variety of treatment options. These range from traditional metal braces to the innovative Invisalign system. Thanks to modern orthodontic technology, these treatments are more comfortable and discreet than ever before, which are perfect for our adult patients!
A beautiful smile can have a multitude of benefits. From increased self-esteem to a positive first impression at a new job, the investment of a beautiful and healthy smile is well worth it! If you’re ready to take the first step in achieving the smile you’ve always dreamed of, get in touch today to schedule your free consultation with the skilled team at Damon Smiles Orthodontics!
Posted by
Dr. Szymanowski