The Smile That Isn’t Yours

In 1954, Smile became an anthem of quiet endurance. The melody was written by Charlie Chaplin for the closing scene of Modern Times, with lyrics later added by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons.

Recorded memorably by Nat King Cole, the song urges us to smile though the heart is breaking, to keep trying, to believe life is still worthwhile.

But what does that really mean in professional life?

In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn explores the concept of emotional labour, first described by sociologist Arlie Hochschild in The Managed Heart. He unpacks the difference between shallow acting, where we fake the emotion, and deep acting, where we attempt to align our internal state with what the moment requires.

This conversation includes:

• A personal reflection on delivering a training programme during a week of grief

• The emotional demands placed on nurses, doctors and leaders who must hold steady for others

• Why acting is not necessarily dishonesty

• The hidden cost of always being composed

• How emotional intelligence helps us protect ourselves while still serving others

Acting, Michael suggests, is not automatically false. Sometimes it is disciplined self-care. Sometimes it is leadership. The real question is whether we know the difference and how to recover afterwards.

If you would like to explore these themes further, Michael’s books Mind the Gap and The Next Station Is… are available on Amazon.

Thank you for listening.