When it comes to professional success, your smile can have a more significant impact than you might think. A number of studies have found that your smile is one of the very first things people notice about you and the feature they most easily recall. Having a healthy smile that stands out can help you land the job or promotion you want, negotiate a better salary, and even motivate others to improve their job performance! When you choose to pursue orthodontic treatment from Designer Smiles, you can leave a lasting impression with a beautiful smile.
Straight teeth, good oral health, and a functional bite are essential components of professional success that you may not have previously considered. So what happens when you’re struggling with crooked teeth, misalignment, or other orthodontic issues? Here at Designer Smiles, we believe in helping you unlock your full potential. Whatever the current state of your smile, you can reach any goal you set for yourself. If you’re looking for a way to add a little extra pizazz to your career path – our treatment options are the perfect place to start! Let’s explore why your smile matters when it comes to professional success and how our team can help you achieve it.
Smiling is contagious
Us humans mimic facial expressions, often without even realizing we’re doing it. This can lead to a similar emotional state and briefly boost our mood. It also plays a part in how we understand the people we are communicating with and respond appropriately, which is why we tend to smile back when someone smiles at us. It turns out that there really is something to that old saying, “Smile and the world smiles with you!”
Another perk of a great smile is that it can show your potential employers that you could provide a positive influence to those around you. Yale University professor Sigal Barsade, Ph.D. conducted a study to demonstrate this theory. Volunteers were divided into small groups and assigned specific tasks, with one team member instructed in secret to act upbeat upon entering the room. When that person came in with a big smile on their face, the mood was almost instantly elevated! Barsade also found that each individual’s performance improved, and the group itself was more likely to achieve the goal at hand.
Scientists at the University of Kansas conducted a study where subjects were given stressful tasks to complete. Some participants were asked to smile during these tasks, while others were told to maintain 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 told to smile had lower heart rates, and their bodies showed more resistance to stress. They also reported feeling more positive overall than those told to keep a straight face, proving the power in a smile! A positive attitude and a big smile are attractive to employers and coworkers alike and can give you an advantage in any career.
Taking a look at the Halo Effect
Researcher Edward Thorndike coined the term “halo effect” in 1920. It explains the shortcut our brains take to attribute multiple positive qualities to an individual if we see one positive quality. Essentially, we extrapolate information about a person based on our own perception of them. While it may not be the fairest way to assess new people we meet, it’s human nature and highlights just how significant first impressions can be!
One trait proven to kick the halo effect into overdrive is a bright, healthy, and attractive smile. People with a beautiful smile are naturally seen as smarter, wittier, more successful and hardworking, and more trustworthy than those who don’t smile often or don’t maintain their oral health. If you’ve been trying to secure a new position or close out a major deal, your smile could set off that halo effect in a way that will serve you well.
Set the tone with a smile
There’s no denying that a heart-felt smile can help set others at ease. It can also make you appear friendly and welcoming, something that most people will notice when you meet them for the first time. For example, when you attend a job interview, your credentials are only part of what the interviewer will be looking for. If you appear to be stiff, unfriendly, or lacking the ability to connect with others, it could lower your chances of being offered the position or promotion you’re going for. The most successful businesses don’t just look for a qualified candidate – they also want someone who will bring something extra to their team by contributing to a positive work environment and building a rapport with coworkers and clients.
Boost your self-confidence
If you don’t feel confident in yourself, you’re less likely to want to step outside your comfort zone to take risks, but this is often precisely what’s necessary for success! Being happy with your appearance can make you feel better about yourself, and having a smile you love can dramatically boost your self-confidence! Invisalign conducted a survey on this and found that almost 80% of adults who completed orthodontic treatment said that having a healthier smile gave them the confidence to do something they never thought about before. That’s pretty significant!
While it isn’t ideal that appearance plays such an essential role in how we feel about ourselves and how others perceive us, there’s no denying it can influence our overall hireability. Thankfully, orthodontic treatment can give you a beautiful smile that you’ll want to share with the world, including potential employers!
Find your most successful smile at Designer Smiles Orthodontics
At Designer Smiles, Dr. Benton and Dr. Barry help patients of all ages achieve a healthy smile that feels great and looks amazing. We’re proud to offer a variety of orthodontic treatments, including traditional braces and the innovative Invisalign clear aligner system. Thanks to modern orthodontic technology, these treatments are more comfortable than ever before, and in many cases, are also nearly unnoticeable. This is great news for adult patients and those who may be more image-conscious!
Speaking of adult patients, here at Designer Smiles we’re seeing more of them than ever before. In fact, about 1 in 5 current orthodontic patients is over the age of 18. Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, and current treatment options make it easier than ever to get the smile you’ve always imagined. While correcting orthodontic issues will improve your oral health, don’t underestimate the importance of improved self-confidence, too! Smiling has been directly linked to better moods, increased positivity, and the ability to connect with others more easily. It’s also shown to reduce stress levels, something most of us can appreciate in this day and age.
Start your smile transformation with Designer Smiles by Benton!
There’s no denying that a beautiful smile can increase your self-esteem, help you make a positive first impression, and even give you the edge you need to smash the career goals you’ve set for yourself. If you’re ready to learn more about how we can give you a smile that will help you get ahead, contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Benton or Dr. Barry. There’s never been a better time to take the first step towards a successful smile!