Being hard to read isn’t the goal. Being hard to rattle is.

Hiding what you think is a defensive habit that costs more than it protects. People trust you less, you get less help, and the effort of keeping the mask on is energy not spent on the actual situation. Steadiness is the thing worth having, and it does not require concealment. You can be completely readable and still not come apart.

Next time something goes wrong in front of people, let your face be honest and keep your voice level. Say what you are thinking in a normal tone. That combination unsettles anyone testing you far more than any amount of blankness.