Smiles are funny things (is that a pun?). They generally convey trust and happiness but in some cultures they can be seen as devious. In the Western world, however, a smile is usually a good thing.
As speakers, in our culture, our smile can be a most powerful tool to connect. A small genuine smile shows our audience we are comfortable with our message and the people we are speaking to. It can very effectively draw our audience into our words.
Many of us, myself included, don’t have a natural, casual smile when we speak. We default to serious. And that causes us to look like we are lecturing our listeners without any emotion. Add to that the very common effect that many of us have — we lose our smile when we begin to think or try to remember our material. It seems the smile is the first thing to go.
I have found two techniques to help remedy this:
1. Know your material cold. Don’t put yourself in the position of trying to search your brain for the next point. Your smile will evaporate if you start thinking.
2. Practice smiling. Get used to how it feels watching yourself in a mirror. Try different intensities. More genuine smiles also include the eyes. Video record your rehearsals and look for the appropriate smile at the appropriate time. Practice, as always, makes everything work better.
Even a serious presentation can benefit from a slight smile every now and then. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are taking your topic lightly. A small smile can covey your experience and familiarity while still showing respect with a weighty presentation.
For the naturally smile-challenged, a little experimentation and practice will go a long way.
