When blind athletes cross the finish line in a race, they have been observed to clench their firsts and raise both arms above their head in a victorious gesture. This is despite the fact that they have never seen anybody do this owing to their blindness. The implication of this is that a victorious gesture is an evolutionary rather than a learned behaviour.
Scientists have discovered that when people engage in open, expansive, victorious gestures (such as fist pumps or holding their arms up in triumph) for as little as one or two minutes, the levels of testosterone in their body increases and the levels of cortisol decrease.
Why is this important?
Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone. Our bodies release cortisol when we are feeling stressed or anxious. We also release more cortisol when we adopt meek body postures, such as wringing our hands or sitting forward with our shoulders slumped.
Experiments have been carried out where one group of people adopted powerful poses for two minutes (the victorious, triumphant gestures mentioned above) whilst another group adopted meek poses for two minutes. Not only did the scientists detect increased testosterone in the first group, and increased cortisol in the second group, when the participants then went for a simulated job interview (where they had identical job experiences and education), the group with the increased testosterone were universally selected as preferred candidates compared to the higher cortisol group. Apparently the increased testosterone makes us act more confidently and in a more assured manner to the extent that it results in superior performance as perceived by others.
Although there are some debates about the research, it has convinced me, so when I have to deliver an important presentation or participate in an interview I try to slip into the bathroom and do two minutes of power poses immediately beforehand. I have found that it does have a calming effect on the butterflies in my stomach and I do have confidence that it does trick my body into delivering a much better performance.
Of course, I haven’t been able to measure if it has actually improved the outcome, but given there is no downside to doing this, I figure there is nothing to lose and potentially much to be gained. So give it a go, and try the power pose before your next important meeting or presentation.
To learn more about this hack:
- Watch Amy Cuddy’s TED talk (https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en)
- Read Chapter One (“Stand up straight with your shoulders back”) in Jordan Peterson’s book called “12 rules for Life”.
