In business, a smile is more than polite—it’s powerful. A study I read this month revealed that 77% of people who bought a car said they connected with their salesperson because of how that person made them feel. Nothing creates that connection faster than a genuine smile. It communicates warmth, trust, and sincerity before a single word is spoken. If messaging matters—and it does—your smile may be your most powerful message.
Yet the truth is, smiling isn’t always top of mind. We all have good days, tough days, and those days when we’re locked in so tightly—focused, grinding, deep in the zone—that smiling doesn’t even occur to us. I fall into that place myself. But one intentional smile, even in those moments, can reset the tone and remind the people around us that they matter. It lightens the room without weakening the work.
From there, everything else becomes a bonus. Zig Ziglar said that among the things you can give and still keep are your word and your smile. In a world where transparency matters more every day, that smile signals honesty and openness far better than any scripted line.
And beyond business, smiling simply makes life better. It reduces stress, boosts immunity, and lifts your mindset. Award-winning songwriter Patty Griffin captured it beautifully when she said a small smile is her way of saying, ‘I see you. You’re not invisible to me.’
A smile makes business better. A smile makes life better. And your smile may be your most powerful message today.