It can also up your confidence when presenting.
Yes, our non-verbal communication influences the way other people judge us—at times it can be more powerful than our words. Poor posture, crossed arms, awkward hands can influence an audience’s perception of your strength as a leader. But more recent studies demonstrate that your stance can influence how you feel about yourself.
Presenters take note: Whether you’re pitching a room of dead-eyed venture capitalists, or trying to woo a potential client, or facing stadium size-audience, expanding your presence can actually provide you with a burst of confidence. This is especially beneficial to less confident presenters who feel exposed under the spotlight’s glare.
If you want to feel more powerful and ultimately be more powerful, one key presence enhancer is to use your body to take up more space.
Extend your arms in front of your body when speaking.
Find a position about 10 inches away from your body that feels natural and extend the arms there periodically in your next presentation. How do you feel when you consciously occupy more space? Get to love it.
When standing, lean forward over a table and position your fingers on the table gingerly as if you’re Glenn Gould attacking the keys on his piano.
This is especially useful at a conference table. If you want to see it in action, next time you watch the news turn off the sound and notice how their leaning posture indicates a more keen interest in the subject at hand. Use this posture to emphasize a point or reinforce a message. Try it and watch your audience come to life.
If you are shy or if you slouch, practice relaxing with your feet up on the table leaning back in a chair with your hands behind your head.
Studies show that confident people enjoy this position and that you can teach yourself confidence through body awareness. The more open you can feel, the more assured you will become. Warning: Do not do this in meetings—so obnoxious.
Widen your stance and stretch upward with your arms forming a Y.
Do this before any presentation or pitch to remind yourself that your body is an instrument that you can use.Stretch high and wide. Inhale deeply and picture yourself expanding.
Not surprisingly, women have more difficulty than men “presencing.” Social scientists have demonstrated that women who learn to sit coiled with ankles crossed or who touch their faces or necks at meetings come across as unconfident. Men, on the other hand, tend to sit back and distance themselves from a table. While this can be useful to create a sense of powerful remove, it does not invite collaboration. Men take note: You too can Lean In.
There’s one additional benefit to the increased confidence you can get from standing powerfully. It benefits for your overall well-being. Studies demonstrate that confidence can reduce cortisol levels, one of the main stress hormones. Increase your presence, decrease your stress.
For more on posture and presence by watching this 20-minute TED talk from Amy Cuddy: