Stance
Stance
Have you ever seen Michelle Obama slump?
I don’t think so.
Now imagine someone standing up to present but having his or her feet close together. What’s the impression they’re giving, one of being rooted and confident, or of vulnerability?
Conversely, if you imagine someone else taking a stance wider than hip-width, don’t they look like a cowboy ready for a shoot-out?
We want to look confident and competent and let our messages do the talking, not have our bodies crumple our message. But unfortunately when we’re under pressure, our body can let us down and we can assume some pretty weird postures.
A client told me today about a colleague of hers who did her whole presentation as though she had just got out of bed. Slumped, and speaking with little enthusiasm, her energy was so relaxed that my client said it came across as if she didn’t care.
But this was far from the truth. It turns out that her colleague had been so nervous about her delivery that she’d taken beta-blockers.
And this is the problem. We actually do need some nerves. They mean we care enough, and they give us an extra frisson of energy to up our game. But if we rely on beta-blockers, we can come across as a catatonic zombie.
Not how you want to get your message across.
The Power of Posture in Executive Presence
Another question I get a lot is: “should I stand or can I sit to deliver?”
These are usually people who would love me to say, “sure it’s fine to sit”, because they believe they will feel more vulnerable.
But the danger of sitting is that you’re less able to own the room, and so your influence is limited. Sitting isn’t as authoritative, and it’s harder to keep your energy up because you can easily slump, affecting your mental acuity.
My preference when delivering is always to be on my feet. I believe in claiming your space and taking a stand - aren’t those postures that you want to embody?
You want to be:
Rooted - feeling the pull of gravity
Upright - energised by your interaction
Still - to land your point
Intentional - moving only for effect
Our stance reveals what’s going on inside us. But the good news is if we change our posture, we can change our mindset.
So stand tall and see how your executive presence rises with you!
