They say that before you pick up a phone, you should smile. It makes your voice sound friendlier. I think it also changes your focus away from the work you were doing or the television show you were watching or whatever you were doing when the phone rang to the actual phone call. So now you are sounding friendly and ready for the conversation.

A smile is also usually contagious. Have you ever heard a child laugh and not smiled yourself? It is really hard not to. It’s the same on a crowded elevator or on the street. Practice smiling at people. If they are paying attention and you are able to meet their eye and smile, they usually will smile back. So not only have you given the gift of a smile, but you have received the gift of a smile. And it cost you nothing, but you received something valuable in return.

It’s a little more difficult these days with everyone walking around with their heads down looking at their phones. I’m really guilty of this myself and am making a conscious effort to be better about walking with good posture and looking at other people.

So try an experiment this week and look up and smile and see what kind of reaction you get. Are you willing to do that?