How To Have A Better Poker Face At Work
Mar 21, 2014 Practice, make lots of bluffs. Maybe set aside some money that you’ll just spend on making bluffs, so you don’t get stressed about losing. Watch people that bluff successfully and see what they do. How To Have A Better Poker Face At Work How To Have A Better Poker Face At Work 88probet is a leading Live Casino Online and betting agent in Southeast Asia, with a variety of slot games, trustworthy live casinos, and daily updated sportsbook in a smooth platform and fair play environment that maximize your efficiency and results.
Topic: Job Performance, Training
Publication: Journal of Applied Psychology (MAR 2011)
Article: Service Without a Smile: Comparing the Consequences of Neutral and Positive Display Rules
Authors: J.P. Trougakos, C.L. Jackson, D.J. Beal
Reviewed By: Ben Sher
Sometimes jobs require employees to convey specific emotions. For example, a funeral director needs to appear somber, a police officer must appear neutral, and a restaurant server needs to look cheerful. The guidelines that determine which facial expressions an employee needs to maintain are called display rules. In order to maintain a specific demeanor on a continual basis, employees must engage in emotional labor, unless you are a clown and you have a smile painted on your face.
Trougakos, Jackson, and Beal (2011) performed an experiment that trained poll workers to conduct surveys displaying either happy or neutral emotions, and they found that neutral display rules cause employees to suppress more emotions (both positive and negative) which requires more emotional labor – which may lead to decreased job performance. Specifically, the researchers found that poll workers instructed to remain neutral were less persistent in their recruitment of survey-takers and more likely to avoid potential survey-takers even as they passed right in front of them.
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Poll workers trained to display positive emotions were successful in influencing the mood of the people taking the surveys. These survey respondents were more likely to have favorable attitudes regarding the poll workers and the organizations represented by the poll workers.
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So if neutral display rules are emotionally taxing to the point of decreased job performance and positive display rules make everybody feel warm and happy, does this mean all jobs should require constant smiling? Not necessarily. Some jobs carry deep-rooted expectations that preclude too much smiling, such as emergency room doctors and courtroom judges.
And even when smiling does seem possible, it isn’t always the best strategy. For example, the poll workers in the study inspired favorable judgments when appearing cheerful, but the authors note that this creates an inherent bias in the survey data they are collecting. If an organization is truly interested in public opinion, neutral-display poll workers are most useful.
- Jan 24, 2015 Some people have a natural “poker face,” meaning they don’t allow emotions to affect their expressions, but most of us allow at least some of our feelings to leak onto our features.
- Have your poker face on at all times. In other words, act like nothing can faze you. Believe and convince yourself that you’ve seen and done it all. This behavior is some of the best techniques for maintaining composure. Not only do you trick others into seeing you as completely invincible, but you yourself, began to believe this idea.
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So what can organizations who require neutral display rules do to limit the negative side effects? The authors suggest three things. First, they note that negative outcomes seem to only stem from suppressing emotions, but there are other ways a person can remain neutral besides for emotional suppression. For example, reappraisal, or focusing on elements that will more naturally bring about the desired emotion, may also be a valuable strategy that does not require as much difficult emotional labor.
Second, employees should take breaks where they are encouraged to express natural emotions. The authors say that breaks where employees remain “in character” are inadequate in providing necessary emotional respite.
Finally, the authors emphasize the importance of increased intrinsic motivation in counterbalancing emotional labor. Employees, they say, should be encouraged to consider the virtues and significance of their jobs, which tapers the negative effects of strenuously keeping a straight face.
There was Mary, with a goofy smile on her face, telling her audience about a serious situation they were going to be facing. They had a hard time buying it.
There stood Frank, welcoming new customer to a plant tour, with a sour, grim facial expression. They didn’t feel the vibe.
Do facial expressions matter? Of course, so today let’s see how to make sure your face reflects appropriately your message.
Try these:
- Go neutral first. Make sure your face is relaxed and neutral. It should be neutral but pleasant. No frowns, no tension, no licking your lips. Check a mirror. This is your go-to facial expression.
- Smile! Practice in front of a mirror. Relax tension from your face. Soften your eyes. Now smile with your eyes as well as your mouth.
- Serious face. Practice looking serious and concerned without frowning or scowling. Think of a serious but not horrendous situation and reflect that on your face.
- Get feedback. Ask someone you trust to evaluate your face as you speak informally. What habits do you have that you may not be aware of? How expressive is your face when you are speaking naturally?
- Now see yourself. Video record your next rehearsal before an important presentation or meeting. As you review it, pay attention to your face. Is it expressive? Appropriate to your message?
- Bring it. Be aware as you speak of what your face is reflecting, and change it up as needed to match and reflect the meaning of what you are saying.
Next time you present or speak in a meeting you should be more aware of the impression you are making facially and be able to use a fuller range of facial expressions.