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Inspire Smiles: Personable Approach Ups Relationships, Smiling Improves Sales and Customer Service

Patti was interview by Sonja Carberry for Investors Business Daily regarding Smiles. Ways that smiling in business interactions can improve sales and enhance customer service.  You can read Patti's  insights highlighted in yellow below. Or check out the actual article at the link below.
A pleasing delivery generates good vibes with clients. How to connect:
Delight them. First impressions count. How one hotel charms: Its bellman reads luggage tags as he assists new arrivals and he walkie-talkies the information ahead so the front desk clerk can greet lodgers by name.
"It's just a simple touch, but for me that inspires a wow reaction," said Liz Jazwiec, author of "Service Excellence Is as Easy as PIE (Perception Is Everything)."
You don't have to move heaven and earth to win a grin, "though it might require some outside-the-box thinking and a willingness to engage with your customers on a personal level," Jazwiec told IBD.
Extend yourself. The most important question you can ask, even at your busiest: Is there anything else I can do for you? "I'm here to tell you that when you ask people this question, they don't make up frivolous stuff," Jazwiec said.
By offering further assistance, you're perceived as helpful. Rush your customer off, and he or she will return with the same request — and a less-than-positive attitude.
Get together. So much business is done via email, text and Twitter (NYSE:TWTR), people forget the power of sitting face to face. "Social media and technology do have their place, but they are not, and never will be, a substitute for in-person interaction," said Michael Houlihan, Barefoot Wine founder and co-author of "The Barefoot Spirit."
The personal touch strengthens the wine maker's rapport with retailers and customers.
"People don't just buy your product. They buy you," he said.
Pay attention. Make the most of a get-together by tuning in completely. "In my experience, when you use someone's name along with eye contact and an attentive demeanor, they're more likely to be agreeable," Houlihan said.
Close the gap. When distance prevents physical meetings, Houlihan goes virtual with Skype.
"I love that I can make eye contact with someone who is sitting on the opposite side of the country," he said. "We can accomplish so much more when we become more than just an email address or a disembodied voice to one another."
Get clued in. Pay attention to the other person's facial expressions and verbal inflections. Picking up on those cues speeds comprehension. "It's much easier to get intentions behind the spoken word," Houlihan said.
Greet and grin. Facial expressions prompt reactions.
"A smile typically generates a smile from the other person," said Patti Wood, body language expert and author of "Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma."
To bump up your approachability, raise your eyebrows slightly when you meet someone.
Control reactions. You might smile and say yes when asked to take on a weekend project.
But if the slightest grimace crosses your face, your true mood will show through. Wood calls that fleeting expression a microfacial cue. "It reveals your true emotional state," Wood said. "You'd be surprised how often that happens."


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Great Music Videos of the Band Of Heathens



My Seatmate the Rock Singer 

I went to take my seat on a flight recently and looked at my seat mate. He was tall, with long black hair and beard and was wearing a vest and a leather cap and I thought, “He looks like the lead singer in rock band.”  We started talking and yes, my seat mate was indeed, Ed Jurdi, lead singer for the Band of Heathens.  Aren’t body language reads amazing? But really he looked just like a lead singer. Smile.   I knew his music, but not his face. In that moment, some women would have had thoughts of being a groupie, I had a two hour flight, and so I thought, “I will be a groupie light.”  Ed and I had a fantastic conversation about our creative process, the high we get from performing, the magic of connecting with audiences and what it’s like being on the road. You can link below to videos of three of his band’s songs that I love. I have two of their albums on my ITunes. 

Ed, who has been a musician for a very long time and tours three weeks out of the month, talked about how audiences have changed. Believe it or not, though most audiences are having a blast, some audience members are coming to concerts and spending the time they use to spend rocking out, connecting and enjoying themselves, texting! That’s right, even when the event is awesome and music should engage them, people are texting. As someone who loves music and finds it to be one of the most singular most transporting experiences we can have, I am stunned. It’s been awhile since I was at a live concert, but I have great memories of rocking out and signing to everyone from Rod Stewart, the Pointer Sisters, The Eagles, The Cars, The Beach Boys, Diana Krall, Chicago, and so many more.  Do you remember your first concert?  Listen to the music and go download one of Band of Heathens Albums.

Each song is very different. The first one is country, the second is rock and the third is rock out blues.  If you have a music preference play it first. In the first Ed with the black hair and beard and the band playing on Austin City Limits a song called LA County Blues.

This song makes me want to be a roadie working and traveling with the band, just so I could be back stage rocking out to this song every night.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-6EAqyZJgw  - Your Goanna Miss Me When I am Gone

Incredibly fun and funky blues tune. You will be rocking out and nodding your head and dancing in your seat.” This is the song you will find yourself singing the rest of the day.




Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Read of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick



What I love about this kissing photo is how emotional she is. Her eyes are lowered, and facial muscles curled up in tenderness, cherishment as if she can't believe she has him. 
He is lowering his check and body to her with gentle yielding, saying finally I can feel safe. I just love how both of them have their eyes closed to make it an especially intimate moment with each other rather than for the camera. I give them a 4 and half.




In this photo above they are so uncomfortable. Having said that, you see how they are overlapping their bodies, in a way that communicates they are still a couple. Also note how his back foot is pointed right at her and her shoulder is leaning down toward him and her pelvis is angled slightly toward him. My read of her with the "double cross" of arms and feet, hidden and tight pulled to her far right smile is she is mad at him on this day but his awe shucks I messed up downward turn smile and hands in pockets and other cues I mentioned indicate that and that he still loves her.  I give this photo a 2.



Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Read of Andi Dorfman and Josh Murray



Shortly after their engagement aired on national television, Andi Dorfman, 27, and Josh Murray, 30, sported matching frowns during a July trip to NYC.  "They seem stressed here," observes Patti.  "There's very little connection between them."

Patti gives this couple a 2 on the Life & Style True Love Rating Scale.

But the twosome had a glow about them as they confidently strode through LAX.  Although Andi pulls away from him, "Josh doesn't mind," says Patti.  "He's holding his hand in a way that shows that he's supporting her unconditionally."

Patti gives this couple a 4 on the Life & Style True Love Rating Scale.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Read of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner



The read of  them walking with all the space between them and her caring the suitcase purse. They are both upset, but I don't know if it is the relationship or the fact they are being photographed.  They aren't happy being together in the public eye in this photo. Look at his downward turned mouth and defiant up held chin, his furrowed brow and his left hand closest to her creates what is called a gesture cluster of suppressed anger.  Her lips are held in a "pretremble" about to cry position, her hand nearest him is held tight to her purse and her other is stuffed pushed down in her pocket and her head is turned away from him. These cues create a combination of suppressed tears of frustration.
Since they are not comforting each other through these negative emotions I rate them a 2 on Life & Style True Love Rating Scale.





 



This photo is so sweet. I love how far she is reaching to keep her hand and her head is lifting up on him I love how he is reaching and bending to put his arm around her in a "prekiss" position. And though he is looking and aware of  being watched his reach is natural rather than posed. ( Her other hand is touching her rear to "self comfort" in the stress of being watched and he is giving her the comfort she needs.  I give this couple a 4 on the Life & Style True Love Rating Scale.








Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.