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» Columns
| RESEARCH Smile for success Staff reporter
From Tom Cruise to David Bowie, today’s male celebrities are turning to beauty products, including full-on face makeup and cosmetic dentistry, to manufacture a look they like. “I would estimate that at least half of the people that you see in movies or on television have had some sort of cosmetic dental work done,” Dr. Mark Lowenberg, New York dentist to the stars, said. And their fans are not far behind. In Europe alone, the British male cosmetics market has grown by 800% since the beginning of the century and is expected to reach 1.5 million pounds in the next two years. “Men are becoming far more interested in enhancing their appearance by any means possible,” says Marcel Hartman of tooth whitening specialists BriteSmile South Africa, whose recent research shows that new acquaintances sum up each other in seven seconds flat. “With such a short time to make the right impression, it is all the more important to flash a gleaming smile." Seven Seconds to Make the Right First Impression The report is based on a nationwide survey of recruitment consultants to determine the role of a smile in job interview techniques. This shows that 85% of job interviewers take no more than seven seconds to assess the suitability of their candidates. Two thirds of the polled consultants rated a great smile as the most immediate requirement for success, more important than smart dress or groomed hair. The importance of a smile Smiling is a powerful cue that transmits:· Happiness · Friendliness · Warmth · Liking · Affiliation People who smile frequently and spontaneously, are perceived as more likable, agreeable, confident and approachable. “Our smile contains important clues. Combined with eye contact, it reveals truths about us, even those we want to conceal, before a word is said. In even the most simple interaction, our attention naturally gravitates to the face, seeking to read some of the vital information we know is ‘written’ there. We constantly monitor the face because it provides vital insights into our personality,” says BriteSmile dentistry consultant, Dr Ross. But producing a winning smile to order is harder for men than women. Guys need practice. The research shows that seventy percent of respondents expressed a tendency to mistrust a man’s smile, unless it seems entirely natural and genuine. “While girls are programmed almost from birth to get their own way by smiling flirtatiously, guys need to actually practice their smile if it is not to appear false,” Dr Ross added. Guidelines for perfecting non-verbal communication techniques Your smile: To appear genuine your smile must reach the eye. BriteSmile recommends you spend two hours a week in front of a mirror exercising the muscles of not only the upper lips but also around the lower eyelids. If the eye muscles don’t crinkle, the smile will just be a bearing of teeth. In men this can appear wolfish and threatening. A smile must also be an emotional reflection, so practice feeling happy. A radiant smile inspires confidence while also itself producing joy-making endorphins, releasing tension and fostering companionship. Eye contact: Eye contact is an important channel of interpersonal communication, conveying credibility, reliability, interest, concern and warmth. Gestures: If you fail to gesture while speaking, you may be perceived as boring, stiff and creatively stifled. A lively and animated approach captures attention and makes you appear more interesting. Head nods communicate positive reinforcement and reassurance. Posture and body orientation: You communicate numerous messages by the way you walk, talk, stand and sit. Standing erect, but not rigid, and leaning slightly forward communicates that you are approachable, receptive and friendly. Looking at the floor or ceiling while speaking indicates disinterest. | | |
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