I remember, standing in front of the bathroom mirror stressing about the interview ahead. I had come so close to cracking this internship offer at the dream company, but all I could think about was how disastrous it could go. I take a deep breath recollecting my prepared, drafted, re-checked words I was to speak in front of the Deputy CEO and the Head of HR in the next 10 minutes. My palms were sweaty, my stomach in knots, and the clock kept ticking, 5 minutes to go now.
A thought flashes across my mind and I strike the Wonder Woman pose in the middle of the restroom almost scaring an old woman on her way out. Before you laugh about it, let me tell you why.
I recently watched the TEDx video on the impact of body language by Amy Cuddy. During the talk, Amy explains how our body posture increases or decreases a person’s confidence level, thereby “changing how your life unfolds”. I don’t want to bore you with the details so here are 3 steps you need to execute, to increase your confidence before you walk in for a high-stress situation.
The 3 steps are:
· Pick your favourite Power Pose
· Find an enclosed space
· Make the power pose for at least 2 minutes
A power pose is opening up your body in a posture of openness mirroring people in power.
So, what does this do?
When you assume a power pose, your testosterone levels, associated with confidence, decision-making, and ability to take risks, increase, thereby enabling you to perform better in high-stress situations. It also decreases your cortisol levels, which is associated with stress.
The science behind this:
When you walk into a room, you can tell who is in charge by their body language. A person in power has open body language with their shoulders back and feet wide. Others in the room may have closed postures, such as hunching or crossing their arms, indicating lower confidence levels.
Research indicates that our confidence influences our body language, but our body language can also affect our confidence levels. This is why engaging in power posing can boost confidence and reduce stress, allowing you to present your authentic self more effectively in any situation.
So next time you feel overwhelmed about a job interview, a client meeting, a sales pitch or even on your way to meet new friends at the start of your college or school year, find a space, strike a power pose, increase your testosterone, decrease your cortisol and go wow the people you meet.
Our bodies change our minds
Our minds change our behaviour
Our behaviour changes our outcomes
Truly informative content. Loved the article.