No one wants to be boring. So I have a secret to make you the most interesting person in the room:
“If you want to be interesting, be interested.”
That sounds great. Simple, profound advice wrapped up in a single Tweetable quote. But how, exactly, do you do it?
In a word, eyebrows.
This week, whenever you see people you want to make a positive impression on, do an eyebrow flash.
An eyebrow flash is when both eyebrows go up for a moment, then come back down. Throw in a genuine smile and you’ve got the kind of eyebrow flash we’re looking for. You want to convey the emotion of “pleasant surprise” and “positive recognition”. This is an expression that is universal among all primates so it’s guaranteed to have the desired effect of “Hey! I know you. And I like you.” Unless of course, you mess it up.
Here are some cautions:
DO NOT bring your eyebrows together as they go up. This will convey a sad or possibly worried expression instead of likeability.
DO NOT raise only one eyebrow. Depending on the rest of your face, this could be perceived as either confusion, intimidation, or flirtation.
DO NOT raise and lower your eyebrows repeatedly and rapidly. See image below. ‘Nuff said.
DO NOT keep your eyebrows raised for more than a moment. This “mock surprise” face just looks unnatural.
DO NOT do an eyebrow flash without allowing your eyes to widen slightly. If your eyes don’t widen, or worse, if they close, then you look the exact opposite of interested. You look completely nonplussed.
THIS is what you want your eyebrow flash to look like:
So what’s the real secret to a great eyebrow flash? Be GENUINELY INTERESTED in the people you interact with. Forget your goals, your struggles, your mood, and yourself. Refuse to judge a message until it’s been delivered. Give people your undivided attention, your focus, and your interest. Who knows? Maybe they’ll surprise you.
Oh, and P.S. DON’T do this with your eyebrows either:
Which is your favorite? Leave a comment below!
50% Complete
"Good at People" is a free, snappy, (occasionally) weekly email. Might be a story, a life hack, a helpful link, or an upcoming live event notification. Makes you smile and think every time.