😬 Why Your Facial Expressions Might Be Costing You the New Job

"Ana... can I ask you something embarrassing?"

"For sure!"

"I'm worried my face looks angry when I speak English in meetings. Can you help me with my expressions?"

My answer?

🤠 Absolutely.

It's one of the most overlooked business communication skills.

🥇 That was my top question this week.

😬 Which made me realize...

Facial expressions might be costing people new work opportunities.

🥷 Here's a sneak peek inside one of my coaching sessions.

Let's dive in.

😊 Tour Stop #1: The Smile

The Foundational Principle:

A full smile is required for accurate American pronunciation.

Not a half-smile.

A full smile.

Your mouth position directly impacts clarity, precision, and sound production.

It makes your first impression:

😊 Approachable

💼 Confident

🤝 Open

🚨 RED FLAG

Some people claiming to teach pronunciation and networking will tell you that smiling is optional.

It isn't.

After 38 years of study and thousands of client outcomes, I've seen this principle work over and over again. It’s not common in all cultures, but it is for US business, so it’s something we cover automatically 🙂

My clients' results speak for themselves. And guess what? They smile now 🤠

⭐ + 750 100% 5-Star Reviews

⭐ Over 12,000 meetings completed on one consulting platform alone.

👀 Tour Stop #2: The Eyes

In the US, we often say: "The eyes are the windows to the soul."

Your Eyes Communicate:

✔ Confidence

✔ Curiosity

✔ Interest

✔ Empathy

✔ Authenticity

Your eye contact builds the relationship.

😊 Tour Stop #3: The Cheeks

Your cheeks give your smile life.

Without cheek engagement, your smile rarely reaches your eyes.

Energy is contagious.

Pro Tip: Lift your cheeks into your eyes.

🎯 30-Second Challenge

Stand in front of a mirror and say: "Hi, I'm [YOUR NAME]. It's great to meet you."

Say it once smiling. Then without a smile.

Now record both versions using audio only.

Listen back.

Same sentence.

Same words.

Same voice.

Completely different person.

People can hear a smile.

Why This Matters

Technical skills get you qualified.

Communication skills determine selection.

When two candidates have similar experience, executive presence often becomes the deciding factor.

Don't lose opportunities now that you know. 😎

At AurumBorealis.com, we help professionals develop the communication habits that lead to stronger interviews, promotions, leadership opportunities, and business success.

Executive presence is just something you train.

A few summer coaching spots are still available.

👇 Have you ever recorded yourself speaking and noticed something you didn't expect? Tell me what surprised you most.