Your body is always talking — even when your mouth is silent. From your seating position at a meeting to the way you stand while waiting in line, your posture is conveying to the world around you how confident, powerful, sad or happy you are in that moment. Knowing these nonverbal clues can change the way that people see you, and how your see yourself. As body language makes up more than 50 per cent of our communication, it’s important to know what your physical self is actually saying.
The Power of Posture
Good posture is about more than sitting up straight, it affects how the rest of the world treats you. You look confident and authoritative when you stand up straight and push those shoulders back and lift your head high. That kind of presence can affect things like job interviews and social life, from afar. Studies show that humans form judgments about competency and trustworthiness in mere seconds, based primarily on physical cues.
Look at the way professional athletes comport themselves. Whether It’s breaking down NBA Odds or watching players step onto the court, you’ll quickly realize that the guys who win are the ones who maintain the right postures and behaviors that mentally primes them for their best game. This concept is applicable to street life as well.
Signs Of Posture And What They Mean
Even your physical position says more than you may have known:
- Crossed arms: They often are seen as defensive or closed off, but they also could just mean a person is cold or restricting pain.
- Leaning forward: Typically shows that a person is engaged and interested in the conversation or situation.
- Hands on hips: It is a way of displaying confidence and being ready for action, and in some cases it comes across as aggressive.
- Slouching: Suggests low energy, disinterest or a lack of confidence.
- Open chest and relaxed shoulders: Shows approachability and self-assurance.
Context is also crucial in decoding these signals. A person who crosses his arms during a confrontation sends a different signal than one who is keeping warm on a cool day.
Increasing The Quality Of Your Postural Communication
Gradual changes can lead to significant changes in way others view you. Employ the “invisible string” method — envision a string pulling you up from the top of your head. This puts your spine into natural alignment and separates your chest. Moving around intermittently throughout the day helps stave off the slouch that can result from sitting for long periods.
Mirror work: when you learn how to work with the mirror you begin to become conscious of your movement default, your posture. Take a few minutes a day to really watch the way you stand and the way you naturally position yourself. The mind-body link is a marvel, rising in the physical, to boost the mental.
Wrapping Up
It’s not about being perfect, yet mastering the body language basics; rather it is about being aware and communicating with intention. Your stance is saying a whole lot before your first word is uttered – one that has an impact on initial impressions and day-to-day interactions. Once you understand these subconscious signals, you can subtly alter the way you move, stand, and sit so that you appear confident and open — the kind of person who’s more likely to feel comfortable and succeed in anything from a job interview to a first date. Again, remember the point is natural self-expression, not a slavish adherence to any rule.
