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In 2010, Wayne State University began a research project that examined the baseball cards of players in the Major League from 1952. The study found that the researchers could predict the lifespan of the players based on their smiles. The players who smiled in their cards lived an average of 79.9 years. Those who didn’t smile lived an average of only 72 years.

UC Berkley did a similar study, examining the smiles of students in yearbooks versus their general well-being and success. The thirty-year study found that researchers were able to predict how successful a student would be based on how wide their smiles were in the photos.

The concept of smiling is universal, with studies conducted in Papua New Guinea with tribes completely disconnected from Western culture. These tribes were found to also attribute smiles to happiness, security and confidence.

So how can this knowledge help someone in a real world or workplace setting? Timothy Ketelaar, an associate professor of psychology at New Mexico State University that has run similar studies says, “Smiles can put you in a positive light by signaling that you’re friendly and trustworthy, and that you aren’t a threat to others.”

In fact, even sounding like one is smiling can be beneficial to building trust. Many call center companies train their employees to smile while they speak, as the act of smiling can alter one’s voice to a happier, pleasant tone which can translate over the phone to clients.

The act of smiling is also contagious, as one Harvard University study found. The research showed that when a person is happy or smiling, a person nearby has a 25 percent higher chance of becoming happier themselves.

These studies and results show that if you want to appear confident, calm and competent, smiling is a straightforward and universal way to display it. Tap into the simple superpower of smiling, and you’ll find yourself feeling better, building trust and establishing long-lasting, positive relationships.

Check out the Cydcor Sales YouTube page for more information about the work that Cydcor has done to benefit Operation Smile.

About this book:  The Cydcor team chose to review Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by renowned psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.  Through the science of psychology, the author reveals that a state of positivity can be achieved through conscious choices of the mind.  As information comes into our minds, we can organize it to make the best of it and thus find the key to true happiness.  Flow refers to the state of consciousness that allows us to experience stimulus and find deep enjoyment and pleasure.  Flow is the way that artists, musicians and other passionate people can immerse, or “lose” themselves in a project or creative work.  Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is a professor at Claremont Graduate University and former chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago. His previous books include The Evolving Self.

Cydcor recommends this book to everyone because:  Al humans seek happiness and fulfillment.  This book will show readers how to get there.  Rather than offer concrete lifestyle tips, Dr. Csikszentmihalyi offers decades of scientific research on the subject and presents the information so that readers may design how to achieve the flow state on their own.  Getting to flow requires critical thinking and effort, but can be the key to unlocking unending enjoyment. From Aristotle to Maslow, this book is full of great minds discovering what brings satisfaction to life.

Our favorite part:  Csikszentmihalyi gives you the information without giving you all the answers. Although it is a work of scientific research it is still easy to read and uses many examples of real life to help apply the ideas discussed.  Having an answer is still up to readers.

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Description of this book: Delivering Happiness by Zappos founder Tony Hsieh is the story of how this young man created a new kind of company.  Hsieh wanted to build a business that valued customers, employees, and investors equally.  The CEO puts a strong focus on positive company culture, operating under the theory that a good corporate culture will let everything else fall into place naturally.  A company of happy employees stay in the job longer, work harder and provide better customer service.  Company success has to come from being unique and creating something people will get excited about.  A focus on happiness not only attracted better talent, but gave Zappos a unique edge.

Cydcor recommends this book to leaders because: Hsieh has been able to build multiple companies in his career and has learned how to create a team of people that will work hard for his vision.  Zappos now does over a billion dollars in sales annually.  That is no small feat considering the competitiveness of online retailing.  Future leaders should have a lot to learn about this company and take some ideas that challenge the norm of business leadership.  Building a positive company culture can be a challenge and this book will lay it out for leaders.

Our favorite part: Zappos actually pays employees to quit.  By giving them $2,000 to leave Zappos is they are unhappy, the company is less likely to retain team members who may be a negative influence on the work environment.  That concept and other ideas.

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