Smiling: Your Secret Strategy for Success
In our last post, we examined the goal of Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. David Zelby and the emerging research that clearly links smiling with emotional health, stress relief, and general well-being. In addition to lowered blood pressure, improved immune function, lower stress levels, and a better ability to enjoy positive emotions, smiling can also affect your social and professional success. In fact, a smile, particularly a healthy, attractive smile, can profoundly impact the way in which the people you come into contact with perceive you. Dr. David Zelby, an Atlanta Cosmetic dentist who has extensive experience working in the field of smile enhancement, discusses what the experts have to say about the connection between your smile and your chances for success.
The Effect of Smiling on Attraction and Influence
Imagine you are walking through a grocery store on a busy Saturday morning. With very few exceptions, the faces around you assume a neutral look, a thoughtful countenance, or a frown of varying severity. Very few people are smiling or laughing, yet those who are look like they’re having a wonderful time. You feel intrigued and wonder why they happen to feel so good in the midst of a less-than-exciting chore. This phenomenon describes the unconscious power of a smile. It can both attract people to you and influence them smile and, as a consequence, feel better because of your smile. Furthermore, smiling gives the people you meet a specific impression of you. Studies, such as one performed by the Max Planck Institute in Berlin, suggest that smiling not only makes you look more attractive, it can also help you look younger.
Nail the Interview… with a Smile
Being professional doesn’t have to mean being reserved, serious, and stern all the time. In the modern business world, having an approachable, confident, and pleasant demeanor lends you far more credibility than your ability to frown. Current research actually suggests that a smile and a generally positive manner can hold more weight than professional experience in an interview scenario. In a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology in 2004, researchers had over a hundred recent college graduates interview for a position. Those participants who maintained a positive and friendly disposition, smiled frequently (and genuinely), and maintained eye contact, scored much better than those participants who did not. Therefore, a genuine smile and a humble yet self-assured attitude can help you land a job or get the next big promotion.
It’s All About Perception
Fair or not, as a society we tend to judge people based on their appearance. While that certainly doesn’t mean that you should focus solely on your appearance at the expense of your physical, emotional, and psychological health, enhancing the appearance of your smile can clearly improve your chances of social and professional success. In fact, a survey conducted by Bell Research and Training of Chicago demonstrated that people with bright, symmetrical, attractive smiles are perceived as more popular with the opposite sex, more professional, more successful, more intelligent, friendlier, and more empathetic with others. A caring and experienced cosmetic dentist, like Dr. Zelby, can work with you to determine a personalized plan for achieving a gorgeous smile that looks inviting and natural.
Enjoy Your Best Smile with Your Atlanta Dentist
If you would like to see how cosmetic dentistry can help you achieve a beautiful smile and, perhaps, help you drive your social and professional success, call Dr. David Zelby at (770) 955-0550. Dr. Zelby and the expert team at Aesthetic & Implant Dentistry of Atlanta can return your smile to optimal health, function, and beauty. Our Atlanta dentist office proudly serves patients in Marietta, Smyrna, East Cobb, Buckhead, Vinings, and Metro Atlanta.
