Presence summary

There is no shortage of self-help books that expound upon the benefits of self-affirmations, such as repeatedly telling yourself, “Every day I get better and better,” or, “I always see the bright side of life.”

Such affirmations are superficial and rarely do much good. However, there are different kinds of affirmations, and some can be truly effective, like taking the time to affirm your core values.

As you’ve probably noticed, many of the best communicators exude a certain confidence when they speak. But such confidence can prove elusive, especially if you struggle to feel a sense of self-worth.

Many of us have the feeling that we’re inadequate or undeserving of success. Or perhaps it’s the feeling that we’ll never be capable of speaking well in front of others, so why bother trying to improve?

As a psychologist, the author, Cuddy, was once contacted by Cassidy, a woman who felt lost and powerless in life. 

After talking to her, Cuddy realized what the problem was: Throughout high school and college, Cassidy had been a successful athlete, specializing in track and field. But after graduating from college, her empowering athletic life faded away, leaving her feeling helpless and uncertain.

There are other, more physical exercises that also encourage feelings of empowerment.

Take the Haka, for example. The Haka is a dance, often performed in a group, that originates with the Maori people but has been popularized by the New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks, who perform the dance before every match. The Haka is characterized by empowering movements like greatly expanding your chest, stomping your feet and slapping your thighs.

If you’ve ever confessed to being nervous before a big meeting or event, you may have had a friend put their hand on your shoulder and tell you, “Just relax.” This is sensible advice, since we want to avoid having tense, constricted muscles that signify powerlessness, but it’s easier said than done. 

As it turns out though, knowing how to relax can indeed be easier to do once you better understand how the nervous system works.

When Cuddy teaches at Harvard Business School, she not only encourages active student participation in class, but also lets them know that such participation will factor greatly into their final grades.

Yet, even with this considerable incentive, some of her students still wouldn’t participate.

As the author discovered, power poses are not only useful for feeling more confident and outgoing in life – they can also be used strategically, to prepare yourself for a challenging situation.

By striking a power pose, you can give yourself a much needed boost of relaxation, control and empowerment. This makes a power pose the perfect tool for getting yourself in the right frame of mind (and body) for whatever challenges you’re about to face.