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Illustration of "The Obama" power pose.

Strike a Power Pose: The Benefits May Surprise You

Written by Rita Silvan | Published on December 18, 2018

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Do you want to feel more confident, competent and successful? Well, you many not want to take this news sitting down. Harvard University psychologist Amy Cuddy has shown that how we hold our bodies — what she calls "postural feedback" — can influence our emotional states, behaviours and self-assessments.

Cuddy's original study also claimed that "power poses" could change our hormone levels by increasing testosterone and decreasing cortisol. However, these particular results haven't been successfully replicated.

In her book Presence, Cuddy describes five postures that mimic the body language of powerful people like world leaders and celebrities. These poses, she says, help micro-shift our mindsets to help us feel and perform better. They may even be more effective than simply telling ourselves how great we are to boost our confidence.

According to a 2018 study by researchers at the University of Toronto and Yale University, who surveyed 1,013 U.S. individuals on their investing beliefs and behaviours, 45 per cent of respondents were fearful of rare economic disasters and admitted that their anxiety was an extremely important factor in their participation in the stock market.

How can postural feedback help investors? Power poses activate what psychologists call the behavioural approach system, which increases our feelings of strength and decreases feelings of fear. All power poses expand our body space and for best results we're to hold the posture for two minutes. (Note: some postures may best done in private; you be the judge.)

Ready to strike a pose?

Here are some of the poses Cuddy characterized, although a few of the names were tacked on later based on famous examples that fit the bill.
 


The Performer: Channel the stagecraft of a Mick Jagger or a Beyoncé by throwing your hands in the air and widening your stance as you imagine receiving rousing applause. Perfect to practice in an empty elevator or even a bathroom stall before a big meeting.

The Loomer: This pose is named after former American president Lyndon B. Johnson, who at 6'4" hovered over most people. The stance involves leaning forward or over others to show interest as well as dominance. Sound like anyone you know?

Wonder Woman: Despite the name, this one's the perfect gender-neutral stance. Place your hands on your hips and your feet hip-width apart. It's the classic crime-fighter pose. Go get 'em!

The Obama: This one is tricky to execute and requires practice, Cuddy says. It's also context-dependent, like being in a pitch meeting or at The Oval Office. It involves resting your feet on the table while clasping your hands behind your head as you lean back.

Illustrations by Greg Stevenson.

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