Tuesday, July 9, 2013

How to Make Body Language Work for You


Our body language can tell the world a lot about us. People draw conclusions about how confident or insecure we may be simply through our gestures and posture. But what does our body language say to us?

According to Amy Cuddy, psychologist and Harvard Business School professor, we can change our outcomes by simply adjusting the way we carry ourselves.

Through Cuddy’s research she has defined what she calls “power poses.” These poses involve making ourselves big, with outstretched arms and legs. This body language can actually change how we feel by increasing our testosterone production, a hormone that gives us energy and confidence, while decreasing our cortisol levels, which is a hormone associated with elevated stress levels.

Cuddy believes that by simply striking a power pose, you can infuse yourself with the confidence and self assurance you need to achieve your goals. She suggests trying these poses before job interviews, speeches or important meetings.

No, you don’t have to strut down the street with your hands in the air. But you can find a private space to strike a power pose that Cuddy suggests will inject you with the confidence boost that you need to carry yourself successfully through each day.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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