Do power poses to feel confident

I’m writing this article to give full credit to the Ted Talk by Dr Amy Cuddy. In fact, it is a personal thank you. Amy, I am so grateful from your work and all the help it has given me.

In this Ted Talk presentation (link below), she explains how “the mind controls the body, but also how the body controls the mind”. From her research, she proves how you can “trick” your brain into feeling more positive. This is by adopting poses that appear more powerful and dominant, such as taking up lots of space by raising your hands high into the air.

Ever since watching this Ted talk many years ago, before each big presentation I need to make, I use a key lesson from it. This lesson is, to go to a place for two minutes where you can be on your own, for example like a toilet cubicle. Or in the days of lockdown working from home on your own, just do this before you entering the important videocall meeting. In these two minutes, make poses that are BIG! Don’t sit slouched looking down at your phone for the two minutes before an important presentation, but instead literally stand there with your head and arms held high in powerful looking poses.  

Personally, I go a step further and I put on some music to get me going, end up clenching my fists above my head, and generally looking ridiculous if anyone would see me. But I can say after using it more times that I can count that it makes me feel active, strong, and physically feeling confident. Therefore, when I start whatever key important meeting or presentation that I make, I am literally buzzing with the right chemicals from my two minutes of power poses, music, and in most cases I’ll be honest, caffeine too.  

In her Ted Talk, Dr Amy Cuddy explains it in a lot better scientific detail than I do. All I can say is that I would recommend anyone, especially for someone not used to public speaking, should watch and take the lessons from this video. Thank you again Amy.

Link to Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk on “Your body language may shape who you are”.