Smile on the phone

Yesterday, I wrote about being yourself. Today, I am going to suggest that when you are being yourself you should smile. Yes, even when you are having a bad day, you should smile, at least when you are interacting with others.

I was talking to someone the other day trying to settle a case. It wasn't going well. However, I smiled the entire time. When I was done negotiating with the adjuster, he commented on how pleasant it was, even though we did not settle the case.

My theory on why it was pleasant is simple: I smiled when I talked to him. That is it. I smiled. Try it. Talk to someone with a smile on your face. Your voice sounds different. You use different words. You come across differently. And when you sound happy, you sound confident. And that helps you in dealing with clients, potential clients, opposing counsel, and anyone else you are talking to.

Smile when you talk. See how it works.

------Jonathan