By Annabelle Okwara Macford

Without mincing words at all, I’m just going to say it as it is. An occurrence prompted this particular write up. I think I will be wrong to say “an occurrence” because if you ask me, I think this has become a usual occurrence in most workplaces. I had issues with my telephone line and I thought to myself “the friendship centres can handle this”. So I strolled into one of them expecting to get not just a solution to my problem but maybe, just maybe, a warm smile.

Now really I’m shaking my head just looking back, how sad. The front desk officer had an angry look on her face that made me wonder, did I come at the wrong time? Even when I walked up to her to ask questions, the angry look never left her face. A face that I thought would have looked really pretty with a smile all over it. You can only begin to imagine how it went between both of us. I left unsatisfied, irritated and unattended to coming from a supposed-to- be “friendship centre”. That got me thinking. It also got me writing. We all have our bad days but it is inexcusable to bring it to your workplace. It is totally out of place to transfer your aggression on your clients. Whether you are having a bad or good day should not be a criterion to determine how you treat your clients and colleagues.

Believe me, that can make you lose your job faster than a thunderbolt. A smile, as simple as it appears, goes a long way in saying a lot about who we are and what we represent. Is it really that difficult to wear a smile? Especially when dealing with clients? It shouldn’t be. Because when you dress up in the morning to come to work, you must have anticipated meeting with people. And I think the proper attitude to bring to the workplace should include being pleasant. It doesn’t matter if you are the boss or not. It makes it worse when it is the front desk officer that just cannot be pleasant. It is definitely a wrong picture of the organization being dished out to the public. Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins that make us feel good, can have positive effect on our health and make us more attractive to others.  Here are some tips that can assist with brightening up your day at work and keeping that smile on your face.

AVOID MOOD SWINGS

This may seem difficult, but it is not impossible. Don’t keep getting into mood swings while at work. To be productive, you must always stay happy and smiling. It is natural to feel a little beat down sometimes, it could also be hormonal but keep checking yourself. When you are about to get into one of those moods, quickly get over it and be happy.

YOU MAY NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR

Seeing a doctor may arise where the constant mood swing and unhappiness may be as a result of hormonal imbalance. When it seems like you can’t seem to handle it anymore on your own, I suggest you visit your doctor.

TRY MUSIC

Sometimes when you feel down and out, good music could help get you back on the track. Try it.

HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES

This cannot be over emphasized. You spend a lot of your active hours in the office so if you don’t have a good relationship with your colleagues, how then do you expect to function properly? You should be able to chat, laugh and have fun with your colleagues, that could help ease the strain of work and keep you smiling.

DON’T GET NEGATIVE

You can help talk yourself out of a sad and unsmiling mood. Change from saying “I made a mess” to “I will improve if I keep trying”. Change from saying “I can’t” to “I will”. Quit the negative side of life. And be more positive.

JUST SMILE

It is easy if you make a decision. Very soon it becomes a part of you. When you are done with dressing up in your room, look at your image in the mirror and wear that smile. While at it, say to yourself “I will wear this smile all day no matter what”. Smile to everyone you greet. Smile as you walk into the office and see how people will smile back at you. You will be glad to have won by smiling.

Cheers.