by Bai Maleiha

Created on: July 24, 2008

Is there any better way to communicate across cultures but to start it with a SMILE?None,right?
Smile with your heart.Smile with your words.This simple act of welcoming friendship will cross all cultures and soften a stranger's heart.

Let me expound.

A smile melts away anger and greets strangers with a warm and an embracing welcome of friendship.Regardless of hidden motives in every smile,nothing beats a positive attitude to facing life's obstacles.It seems like a magnet attracting all the good things to come your way.

Why smile?Many reasons,of course,but as a whole it is very enlightening. Let us touch the benefits of a smiling face.A politician is excused to forget many things out of accident but not going out in public without a smile.

Yes!Powerful people have to smile as often as they can.It is demanded of them to exercise diplomacy to bridge friendship and unlock closed doors during any political negotiation.
Exploring further the positive effects of a "smile," let us consider the following facts:

1.A smile opens friendship.
Whether a leader smiles to enemies or friends,he or she will be able to decrease the gap between him and the relevant people in his circle.He has to smile to increase the number of his allies.It permeates the building of cooperation leading to close coordination. The result is positive.

2.A smile gains approval and eliminates animosity among people who are engaged in public or private debates on vital issues important to them.Conflicting views often end up with sarcasm.It pays to smile when concession is far to achieve and egoism instead rules.A warm smile cools down hot temperaments.

3.A smile paves the way for a win-win situation when negotiating.
This is sometimes called as "a smile to win." Tomas Andres,a Filipino value educator and known worldwide for his expertise in negotiation said,"One of the Filipino characteristics is smiling when he is happy,embarrassed or shy." To negotiate is a hard job if the other party wants to monopolize victory.Flexibility is very important and a "smile" is its indispensable tool to arrive at a win-win situation.

Smiling helps to get there easily.It clears anger instantaneously. Leadership in both public and private sector demands a positive attitude to managing people and resources.One of the most significant requirements to a sound and quality leadership is managing with a smile.

In politics,especially during elections, it is imperative to smile when meeting people because first impression lasts for many voters and this will affect the garnered votes of the political aspirant running for a public office.

This act,however,sounds so insincere on the part of any politician who has to wear a mask for his vested interest.It is a glaring truth looking at us straight to the face-HYPOCRISY! Hypocrisy is sometimes defined as diplomacy.But for many political and business leaders,it is the best visible way to open the door of victory.

After touching the salient points of a "smile",the next question is,"how do we know if a smile is sincere or not?"It is a difficult question for there is no clear-cut description of a real smile.I guess,we will just have to rely on our instincts this time.

No one is perfect.Let's start from this point. Let me conclude by saying that a "smile" is indispensable when facing changes in life.It is important to smile when the degree of stress is overpowering our concentration.

Little do we know that our sincere smile can inspire a desperate individual.Lifting up his spirit is a great contribution to life,for it does not only touches other people's heart,it also touches you as well.

So do smile and maintain your cool in public.Smile with kindness and sympathy to make you an angel of other people's lives.

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