How much better would the world become if we all just smiled a little more? As the title implies, the smile is a tremendous form of body language. What does it say about us? We are content, meek, tempered, happy, joyful, stress-free, blissful. The list literally goes on and on. Without uttering a single word we can say so much.
Why don't we all try it now. Look into a mirror (or a phone, did that make you smile) and let's give it our best wedding-day smile. How did that make you feel? Did it remind you of anything? I often enjoy looking at family pictures. According to these pictures my family is always happy and having fun. Wow. If we could turn those pictures into reality then all is well.
What is stopping us from making this a reality? Of course we shouldn't envision hysteria in our life. I propose another word, joy. According to one dictionary the definition of joy is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son's success. After reading the definition again I think it is safe to say that time spent with our family should in nearly all cases provide the precise definition of joy.
So what does all of this have to do with leadership? The next time you smile, smile at a toddler, smile at your spouse, smile at a coworker, smile at your boss. As we master the control over our own self we can begin to imagine how our behaviors are received by others. Imagine now how smiling in each of those situations might make you feel. Even further, imagine how smiling in each of those situations might make the other person feel. We all possess the ability to create joy. Smile sincerely, and watch what happens.
Copyright © Robert Clinton Chedester 2012
Why don't we all try it now. Look into a mirror (or a phone, did that make you smile) and let's give it our best wedding-day smile. How did that make you feel? Did it remind you of anything? I often enjoy looking at family pictures. According to these pictures my family is always happy and having fun. Wow. If we could turn those pictures into reality then all is well.
What is stopping us from making this a reality? Of course we shouldn't envision hysteria in our life. I propose another word, joy. According to one dictionary the definition of joy is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son's success. After reading the definition again I think it is safe to say that time spent with our family should in nearly all cases provide the precise definition of joy.
So what does all of this have to do with leadership? The next time you smile, smile at a toddler, smile at your spouse, smile at a coworker, smile at your boss. As we master the control over our own self we can begin to imagine how our behaviors are received by others. Imagine now how smiling in each of those situations might make you feel. Even further, imagine how smiling in each of those situations might make the other person feel. We all possess the ability to create joy. Smile sincerely, and watch what happens.
Copyright © Robert Clinton Chedester 2012