“The expression one wears on one’s face is far more important that the clothes one wears on one’s back”
– Dale Carnegie
Today I was reminded of an important principle in building team trust: One of my friends mentioned that she had taken a picture of a colleague in a meeting while he was looking at his smart phone. The expression on his face was not radiant.
In building strong team trust, approachability is critically important. Our team members must be comfortable approaching us with questions, ideas, and genuine concerns. If the “at-rest” expression on our face is stern or intense, many will avoid us. This leads to a weaker team.
Many years ago I was coaching a business owner who talked about his most significant growth as a leader. A friend commented about the normal expression on his face. He said, “You look mean.” Carl was smart enough to realize that if he had a mad countenance, many of his team would hesitate to approach him. That day, Carl decided he would develop the habit of having an approachable expression as much as possible.
Carl got to work. It was tough. He claimed it was nearly 2 years before the sparkle on his face became a habit. Carl said the effects his efforts on teamwork and productivity were immeasurable.
I realize there are times when we will not have a sparkling expression on our face. We may be in a serious or intense conversation and we want our facial expression to match our message. The objective is, whenever possible and appropriate, always have a friendly expression on our face. This builds trust and leads to stronger relationships.
