How can power posing increase your confidence?

Building Coalitions
Written By Stacia Aylward

The Challenge

The next time you have a meeting or presentation you're nervous about, find a secluded spot 10 minutes before go time and strike the following pose: lift your chest, hold your head up high, and put your arms either up in the air or on your hips. Hold this pose for two full minutes. 

Why do this?

Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist at Harvard Business School, calls this stance a "power pose." Research she's conducted suggests that holding a pose like this for two minutes increases your confidence and performance.

Finding tools that help you master your nerves is extremely important. When you're able to project an air of poised confidence even when you've got the jitters, the people listening to you will find your point of view more convincing. 

What’s next?

Try this pose whenever you're about to enter a difficult situation. A test, interview, performance review, presentation, or even a tough conversation in your personal life.  

Stacia Aylward

Zelos CEO Stacia C. Aylward is an executive leader and lifelong learner with broad professional experience in envisioning and leading programs, projects and teams; facilitating and teaching adults; conducting research; and developing client relationships using proven methodologies in many government and technical fields, including economics, education, healthcare, housing, non-profit governance, IT and law. Stacia holds a master’s degree in Communication and Information, a bachelor’s degree in English, a Six Sigma black belt certification, and a Coach Approach to Leadership credential.

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