Ever notice how openly babies and young children show their emotions through facial expressions? As we grow, most of us learn to control these expressions, but under stress, our true feelings can still "leak" out. In public speaking, we might grimace or look startled, revealing discomfort or anxiety. Some people mask anxiety with a constant smile or nervous laughter. To avoid extremes, some businesspeople adopt a hyper-controlled expression, losing natural expressiveness. Listeners notice facial cues and any mismatch with our words can affect credibility. Given these challenges, what can you do to capitalize on your facial expressions?

Avoid constant smiling. If this is your habit, try to cultivate a neutral, pleasant look but avoid a constant or tight smile.
Avoid stiffness or tension. Look for tension in your forehead, your mouth, or between your eyes. This may be a habit you are not even aware of.
Soften your eyes. If your eyes look too intent, you may look like a deer caught in the headlights. Or you may look harsh or angry when you are not.
Match your face to your content. A smile is usually appropriate when the news is good, or when you are meeting and greeting a new audience or welcoming team members. A more somber expression is key when the news is serious, or bad. A neutral face is best on those occasions.
Practice smiling into the mirror. Get comfortable with your smile by practicing it. Ensure your smile reaches your eyes as well as your mouth, as smiling with your eyes is often effective.
Exaggerate slightly in front of a large audience. Subtle expressions may be lost, so use a bigger smile or an exaggerated frown.
Get feedback. Speak in front of a mirror, ask someone you trust to be honest with you, or video record yourself in action and see what your face is really saying. You might think you are smiling broadly and find out your smile is weak or even missing. You might find out you look too intense. Once you know for sure, you will be able to make corrections as needed.

As you see, your face is important to your listeners and your ability to build trust and rapport. Take steps now to be sure it is adding to the effectiveness of your talk.