For Business Women: Does your Posture Communicate Confidence?

By Stacey Hanke (Read about her here.)

(Listen to it here.)

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Do you walk into a room like you belong there? Does your posture communicate confidence—or uncertainty?

Last week I attended a conference and was observing individuals as they walked into the room. The individuals who caught my attention walked into the room as if they were saying, “I’d rather be having a root canal than entering this room.” Their posture conveyed a lack of confidence and credibility. Not only did they walk with hesitation, but their seated posture communicated uncertainty.

If only we could see what others see when we enter a room, sit in a meeting, or participate in a face-to-face conversation. If you want to be taken more seriously and have more impact and influence, a powerful place to begin is with your standing and seated posture.

The challenge with communication behavior is that there is no right or wrong. Throughout this year’s podcasts, I’ll give recommendations on what I’ve found are the most effective ways to communicate with impact and influence.

Posture is a Confidence Skill
Since posture is a confidence skill, begin by improving how you carry yourself.

If you are somewhere where you can stand while you read this (or listen to the podcast), please stand up now. Try this posture: Distribute your weight evenly on both feet with toes forward and legs hip-width apart. Relax your arms at your sides to avoid fidgeting with your rings, fingers, notes, etc., which may distract your listeners.

How do you feel? You’re probably feeling uncomfortable if this is not how you normally stand. Therefore, you’re tempted to go back to your previous posture. However, remember that changing communication behaviors is not about comfort—it’s about effectiveness.

This posture is called the “neutral stance” or “home base.” You don’t need to stand in the neutral stance at all times. Instead, when you complete a gesture or movement, come back to your home base.

At some point during your talk or conversation, you need to be quiet and still by relaxing your arms at your sides in home base. When you are fidgeting, rocking back and forth, or pacing, your mind can’t work effectively, which prevents you from thinking on your feet. You are trying to do too much at one time. As a result, you may lose your train of thought and not be as effective as you could be.

You also need to be quiet and still for your listener. When your posture becomes a distraction, listeners will focus on what you are doing rather than what you are communicating. Returning to home base gives you time to think on your feet..

The neutral stance also applies when you are seated. Give this a try:

Uncross your legs and place your feet flat on the floor. When you slouch or cross your legs, it’s more difficult to breathe from your diaphragm, which negatively impacts your voice.

If you are seated at a desk or table, keep your gestures above the table to add emphasis to your words. When you gesture underneath the table, your listeners may wonder, “What is she doing under there?”

When you’ve completed a gesture, relax your arms on top of the table. If you are seated without a table, relax your arms in your lap or on the arms of the chair.

Most importantly, avoid fidgeting with your pen, fingers, rings, etc.

Where should you sit?

When possible, avoid sitting directly across from your listener. The table, desk or podium becomes a barrier between you and your listeners. Instead sit next to your listener, creating an open posture to enhance the relationship.

If you’re facilitating a meeting with a group seated at a conference table, sit at the head of the table. This position makes it easier to connect and increases listener participation.

Practice the neutral stance whenever you are standing or sitting, talking to co-workers, friends or family members.

Business Women’s Tip of the Week:

Twice a day for a week, pay attention to what your posture communicates. If you begin to fidget or slouch, move to the neutral position. Begin creating new habits.

Be sure to visit our site, WomensMedia to get Expert Advice for Business Women.

For quick updates for Business Women you should follow NancyFClark on twitter here, or StaceyHanke here.

Sign up for the WomensMedia Newsletter.  We make it easy!
On our website, WomensMedia you should read this: Table-Talking Your Way to Networking, or this: 8 Tips for Fearless Communication in the Workplace .

It may help to listen to Gender Communication with Authority And Care —A Business Woman Can Be Careful Without Losing Her Authority
or read it here.