A smile shows a lot about your confidence. It causes others to see you as someone who is approachable. I have learned to do this as a coach, especially as I work with young children. Other coaches and parents have commented on how players from on my team–and even players from other teams–are drawn to me. I have learned to smile. It’s actually a skill I have learned from coaching courses many years ago.
When you are around people whom you don’t know or are not around frequently, it’s best to smile to break down barriers. It creates psychological safety. For my players, especially the youngest ones, they are often in an environment where they are out of their comfort zone. It’s important for them to feel safe.
What smiling often does too is show the joy that one has. I love coaching and working with children and sharing the passion of soccer with them. Give it a shot to smile more. Over time, hopefully more people are drawn to you and you create a safe space for people.