You can leave a lasting impression with a beautiful smile, and there are even a number of studies that show that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. It’s also the feature that others are most likely to remember about you. Because of this, and many other reasons, having a healthy, beautiful smile that stands out in a crowd can help you land the job or promotion you’ve been wanting, negotiate a better salary, and even motivate the people around you to improve their own job performance!
When you consider the components of professional success, you may not have thought about the impact that straight teeth, good oral health, and a functional bite can have. So what happens when you’re struggling with misalignment, crooked teeth, or other orthodontic issues? Here at Foothill Orthodontics, we aim to help you unlock your full potential. Whatever the state of your smile, you can reach any goal you set for yourself. If you’re looking to add a little something extra to your personal or professional life, our treatment options are the perfect place to start! Let’s take a look at why your smile matters regarding your professional success and how you can work with Dr. Jeff Chandler and Dr. Brain Anderson at Foothill Orthodontics to achieve it!
Smiling Catches On
Humans naturally mimic facial expressions, often without our even realizing it. This can trigger a similar emotional state and briefly boost our mood based on those around us. This also allows us to understand the person with whom we’re communicating and respond appropriately – which is why we tend to smile back when someone smiles at us.
A great smile may also show 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. Volunteers were divided into small groups and assigned specific tasks, with one team member secretly told to act upbeat upon entering the room. When that person came in with a big smile on their face, the mood was almost immediately improved! Barsade also discovered that each individual’s performance improved and the group itself was more likely to achieve the goal it had been given.
A similar study was done by scientists at the University of Kansas. Subjects were assigned stressful tasks to complete. Some participants were asked to smile during these tasks, while others were told to keep a straight face. Researchers measured the heart rates of each participant, 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 didn’t succumb to stress as easily as those who kept a straight face. They also reported feeling more positive overall than the others, proving there is power in a smile! A positive attitude and a big smile are attractive to employers and coworkers alike. This is something that can give you a great advantage at your job.
What’s the Halo Effect?
Researcher Edward Thorndike coined the term “halo effect” in 1920. It describes the shortcut our brains take to attribute multiple positive qualities to a person if we see even one positive quality. Essentially, we generalize information about a person based on our own perception of them. While it may not be a particularly fair way to process the new people we meet, it’s human nature, and highlights just how important first impressions can be!
One trait that’s been shown to kick the halo effect into gear 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 someone who doesn’t smile often or struggles with their oral health. If you’ve been trying to get your foot in the door at a new job or close out a 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 doubt that a genuine smile helps put others at ease. Most people you meet for the first time will remember your smile and if you come across as welcoming or unfriendly. For example, when you attend a job interview, your credentials are only half of what the interviewer will be looking at. If you present yourself as stiff, unfriendly, or unable to connect with others, it could lessen your chances of being offered the position or promotion you desire. The most successful businesses look for more than just a qualified candidate – they want someone who will be a great addition to their team by contributing to a positive work environment and building relationships with coworkers and clients alike.
Your Smile Can Increase Your Self Confidence
If self-confidence is something that you struggle with, it can be intimidating to step outside your comfort zone and take chances. However, this is often necessary for success! Being happy with your appearance and having a smile you love can make you feel more confident in yourself. Invisalign conducted a study on this and learned that nearly 80% of adults who completed orthodontic treatment said that having a healthier smile gave them more confidence to try things they never would have considered before. That’s pretty significant!
While it may not be ideal that physical appearance plays such a big role in how we feel about ourselves and how others see us, but the truth is that there’s no denying that it can influence your ability to be hired. Orthodontic treatment can give you a smile that you’ll want to share with the world, including potential employers!
Find your most successful smile at Foothill Orthodontics
Here at Foothill Orthodontics, we strive to give patients of all ages healthy, beautiful smiles that look and feel amazing! We provide a variety of orthodontic treatments, including traditional metal braces and Invisalign clear aligner therapy. Thanks to the advances in modern technology, these treatment options are more comfortable and efficient than ever before and, in many cases, are relatively subtle. This is great news for our older teen and adult patients who may not want everyone to know they’re in treatment.
Speaking of adult patients, we’re seeing more of them than ever before! In fact, about 1 out of every 5 current orthodontic patients is over the age of 18. Healthy teeth can be straightened at any age and current treatment options make it easier than ever to get the smile you’ve always wanted. While correcting orthodontic issues will improve your oral health, don’t underestimate the importance of improved self-confidence, too! Smiling has been associated with better moods, increased positivity, and being able to connect with others more easily. It’s also been linked to reduced stress levels, something most of us can appreciate in this day and age.
Last but not least, a beautiful smile can increase your self-esteem, help you make a positive first impression, and even give you the extra spark you need to reach the career goals you’ve set for yourself. If you’d like to learn more about how we can give you a smile that will help you get ahead, get in touch today to schedule a complimentary consultation with the doctors at Foothill Orthodontics. There’s never been a better time to take the first step towards a successful smile!
