Earn trust and become a likable boss in one move

Deloitte conducted an external marketplace survey of 1,000 full-time US professionals. The findings indicate that 77 percent of respondents say they have experienced employee burnout at their current job, with more than half citing more than one occurrence. According to Gallup research, employees who trust their employers experience 74% less stress and 40% less burnout.

It’s clear that when team members trust their leaders they enjoy their jobs more and retention is increased as a result. So what’s a simple way that you can gain trust and become more likable?

Smile.

It’s not possible to smile all of the time (that would be weird), but you can become more aware by thinking about it. Just thinking about smiling will add a smile to your face and your smiles are contagious.

Whether you are walking through your office or staring into your webcam, your smile makes you more approachable, friendly, and trustworthy. It also makes you feel better - and this has been scientifically proven.

In a 1988 study by Strack, Martin & Strepper, they found respondents found comics funnier when they were forced to smile as they read them. To do this they held a pencil in their mouths lengthwise. They compared these findings to when respondents held a pencil straight into their mouths which produces a pout instead of a smile.

They discovered that respondents found comics funnier with this forced smile than when they were forced to pout. A smile tricks your brain into feeling better.

The release of endorphins through smiling also increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure. You can lower your risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems – just by smiling. And smiling is contagious.

Smile and your team will smile too.

The Contagious Leader: Impact of the Leader's Mood on the Mood of Group Members, Group Affective Tone, and Group Processes study found your positive mood helps your team.

The study found that when leaders were in a positive mood, in comparison to a negative mood, individual group members experienced more positive and less negative moods, and groups had a more positive and a less negative affective tone. The authors also found that groups with leaders in a positive mood exhibited more coordination and expended less effort than did groups with leaders in a negative mood.

It’s not just leaders who spread joy with a smile. Did you know watch advertising uses the hands at 10:10? This is partly because the hands appear like a smile which makes the brand seem more positive. Timex used to set the time 8:20 in their advertising photos until they realized this looked like a frown.

The Nicest Leaders Smile

Try this today. When you’re strolling through your workspace, talking on your phone, holding an all-hands meeting, and even staring into your webcam for another Zoom meeting. I use a Post-It note with a smiley face next to my camera to remind me to smile.

Your smile will leave your team feeling more positive about you. Employees who trust their employers experience much less stress and burnout, which increases retention and saves you money.