We often think of body language as the result of our attitude or how we feel. This is true, but psychologists have also shown that the reverse is true: changing your body language changes your attitude.
Here are 5 major changes induced by positive body language that will help you in your next keynote presentation:
- It increases testosterone. Testosterone improves your confidence and causes other people to see you as more trustworthy and positive.
- It decreases cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that impedes performance.
- It creates a powerful combination. A decrease in cortisol and an increase in testosterone creates the confidence and clarity of mind that are ideal for dealing with demanding situations like a presentation in front of a large audience.
- It makes you more likeable. Body language is a huge factor in how you’re perceived and can be more important than your tone of voice or even what you say. Learning to use positive body language will make people like you and trust you more.
- It conveys competence. Perception of competence has a strong foundation in body language.
Read more on body language on the blog of Dr. Travis Bradberry, coauthor of Emotional Intelligence 2.0.
Image @Steve Wilson