Insights from Head of Coaching

Dear Students,
 

You may recall a relationship-building suggestion from Dr. Travis Bradberry in our post earlier this week – a simple smile can help an ambitious international student like you to connect with just about anyone.
 

Smiling, a universal gesture, is actually a (power) skill that candidates like you can learn (if it doesn’t already come easily to you), and one which will serve you enormously well when seeking to forge new relationships, particularly with individuals in and from the West. Indeed, a range of published resources indicates that smiles may, at times, be used somewhat differently, by those hailing from Chinese cultures, particularly with strangers. So, it’s not surprising that it may take a bit of work for MCI coaches to help “tease out” the natural smile that Westerners often expect, the first time (and really, every time) an aspiring professional like you meets them at a networking event, in an interview situation or even on the job. And yet, it’s critical to learn how to do so.
 

As Kara Baskin’s article below meaningfully highlights, when a student or new grad (which could be you!) seeks to establish any kind of new relationship, you are, in a matter of speaking, “marketing” yourself to the new person. Basic marketing principles would dictate identifying, understanding and delivering the benefits expected by your target audience (in this case, the individual who you want to positively impress.) Research conducted by Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Shunyuan Zhang, along with four colleagues (below), shows that receiving a smile, importantly, helps others to overcome uncertainty. And doesn’t every student – even you – feel at least a little uncertain when meeting new people? But surprise! The person(s) you’re meeting must also confront and overcome that very same feeling! And, as Zhang points out, “People make a lot of inferences based on the faces of other people. [This information] may be hard to quantify, but it’s important in influencing our daily decision-making.” What aspiring talent – and that means you – wouldn’t want to generate favorable inferences? We’re all familiar with the saying that “You never get a second chance to make a first impression (attributed to both Oscar Wilde and Will Rogers).”

The value of smiling isn’t limited to live meetings, either. Zhang and her colleagues also encourage your smiling in LinkedIn and other profile photos, which draws a viewer into your photo and engages their interest in learning more about the person behind the smile (that’s you!). Intriguingly, at least within Zhang’s study, the benefit of a “photographic smile” is more pronounced among men (which isn’t really surprising, as men are typically acculturated, at least in the West, to come across as more serious, to convey more gravitas, rather than likeability).

With this in mind, how can a student (maybe you?), who might be unfamiliar with the kind of warm smile often shared in warmer climates around the world, and in many parts of the US, begin to become more comfortable smiling with new contacts? Since our coaches have all been smiling upon greeting and saying “goodbye” throughout their lives, they’re great partners to practice role-playing with, to build this valuable competency. Coaches can also help aspiring professionals like you to unpack and resolve any internal resistance to doing so that may be present, along the way.

By the way, smiling benefits us personally in other documented ways, as well, as described here:
 
https://www.dentalclinicdelhi.com/blog/the-science-of-smiling-fascinating-facts-and-statistics/
 

Wishing you a weekend that makes you (want to) smile!
 

Best,
 

Amy-Louise