The Science of Smiling: Oxytocin for Others
In this part of the “Science of Smiling” real estate success series, Darryl why it’s in our DNA to be connected to one another as human beings.
I have been talking about the “Science of Smiling” over the last while, and in this article, I’m going to dive into the “O” in D.O.S.E. If you remember the acronym from past articles, it’s Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins. We talked already about Dopamine and how you can increase your dopamine levels by always having a dream to strive for, and now we are going to dive into the next one, Oxytocin.
Oxytocin is known as the “love chemical” because when you share smiles with someone, that chemical is released, and feelings of trust and camaraderie begin to develop. It’s the same hormone that is released when you are in love with someone, or you have some physical contact like a hug, or you think about someone that you really care about.
Some Fascinating Examples
The Keihin Electric Express Railway Company in Japan made the news when they had their employees check in at work first thing in the morning and smile at a camera they called the Smile-A-Tron. It would measure their smiles and give suggestions on improving their grin for maximized cheerfulness. This company discovered that when the employees smiled more, the customers were happier, and this boost of Oxytocin resulted in the company’s overall success. In fact, this company’s stocks doubled over four years, and they attributed their good fortunes to the smiles of their employees.
Here’s another example. Scientists did a study on the 2017 Superbowl ads. They discovered that the ads that made people smile more generated three times more revenue — just from making people smile!
Another study from the University of California showed that higher levels of oxytocin in the body had people donating 56% more money to a worthwhile cause than those on a placebo.
How Smiling Makes You More Successful
When we smile at people and they respond to that smile, oxytocin is released, which causes a sense of trust to build. As you have seen in the examples I just gave you, people feel more comfortable making important decisions when oxytocin levels are up.
Several other studies have shown that when a person is intentionally trusted by another (even a stranger), the oxytocin increases their ability to work in a partnership, and work more efficiently and with more excitement to reach the team’s goals.
So, how can you increase the oxytocin in your life? Focus on others! When you look at the word “DOSE”, Dopamine and dreams go hand in hand, just like Oxytocin requires others. When we focus on other people — contributing, helping, giving, and creating trust — it takes the focus from us and puts it on other people. This gives us the freedom to feel good about ourselves and what we are doing to help others. Give others the gift of your smile and your services, and you will be more productive, and more effective, and you will make a difference in people’s lives.
TIP: For more information about boosting our Oxytocin, read “12 Ways To Boost Oxytocin” By Healthline.
What’s Next?
Are you ready to start taking things to the Next Level®? If you don’t already know what you need to do to get to your next level, we can help!
Power Agents®, for more strategies in coaching your sellers, check out the Smile Techniques tab in the Classroom. Whether you need material to send out to your farm area to bring smiles to their faces, or a smile for yourself, this tab has plenty to turn that frown upside-down!
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