Research shows the key to a trustworthy smile isn't showing teeth but engaging upper cheek muscles, creating eye crinkles. This “real smile” is contagious, making others feel happier, whereas a fake smile evokes no emotional change. This is crucial for profile photos or first impressions.

Simply promising a desired outcome feels like a generic 'win the lottery' pitch. By first articulating the audience's specific pain points in detail, you demonstrate deep understanding. This makes them feel seen and validates you as a credible expert who can actually deliver the solution.

Perfection is not relatable, but struggle is. Admitting your true emotional state, even a negative one like being tired or grumpy, to an audience (like a jury or a meeting) makes you more authentic. This vulnerability builds trust and rapport far more effectively than pretending everything is perfect.

Molly's approach to building trust centers on "affective presence"—focusing on the subconscious emotional footprint you leave. Instead of pitching, she works to disarm people and make them feel understood through fully present listening. This creates a sense of safety and certainty that is more persuasive than any sales script.

During negotiations or high-stakes conversations, observe hand gestures. Confident individuals spread their fingers, occupying more territory and signaling comfort. Fearful or anxious people do the opposite: their fingers come together, and in extreme cases, their thumbs tuck in as a self-protective measure.

Your physical energy is a key non-verbal signal of competence and reliability. Potential hires, investors, and partners subconsciously assess your energy to gauge if you can deliver on promises. Low energy can communicate untrustworthiness, causing you to lose high-caliber opportunities.

Gesturing doesn't just help the audience; it measurably benefits the speaker. Studies show that using hand gestures while speaking lowers one's own cognitive load, resulting in fewer pauses, faster speech, and the use of more sophisticated vocabulary. Inhibiting gestures makes explaining complex topics harder.

Trust isn't built on words. It's revealed through "honest signals"—non-verbal cues and, most importantly, the pattern of reciprocal interaction. Observing how people exchange help and information can predict trust and friendship with high accuracy, as it demonstrates a relationship of mutual give-and-take.

An experienced investor shares a five-point framework for great pitches: 1) Show, don't tell, 2) Use illustrative examples, 3) Synchronize visuals with speech, 4) One slide, one message, and 5) Get to the product in the first 15 seconds. This provides a repeatable system for founders to improve their presentations.