Building your mental strength inside out will take time and considerable focus. However it is often important that we can display to others that we are mentally tough right now. We may need to appear positive and resilient and hide any weakness or frailty that we are feeling.
Here we have to build the bridge – and instantly – between how we are feeling and how we look to others. The secret is your body language and learning to “fake it till you make it”.
By projecting a visual display of confidence through our body language there are two powerful related outcomes – the impact it has on other people and on yourself.
A positive demeanor will influence, impress and sometimes even intimidate those around you no matter how wretched you are feeling inside.
No one can read your thoughts but they can see your body language. As a leader this is doubly important because you influence others, so ideally you want to appear consistently measured or positive whatever the circumstances and however you are feeling inside.
Just as importantly, as writer William James observed,
“Act the part and you will become the part.”
Due to the mind-body relationship a positive body language can radiate back to essentially tell your mind that you are confident. This in turn positively affects the way you behave.
So, how do you fake it till you make it?
Here are 8 powerful body language tips that can instantly boost your confidence.
- Smile.
- Stand and walk tall – measured but with good posture.
- Stretch – if you need some help use Amy Cuddy’s power posing technique.
- Maintain eye contact.
- Uncross your arms.
- Don’t fidget.
- Use ‘engaged body language – this involves open gestures, smiling and nodding, and mirroring the expressions and movements of the other person.