Social psychologist Amy Cuddy reveals in the below video that altering your physical posture, even for only 2 minutes, can change your hormone levels and the way you feel and are perceived by people. This can equate to better interviews.
Use expansive body language which can include shoulders back, arms out, and smiling. She recommends practicing such actions prior to an interview to raise your testosterone level and to lower your cortisol level. Higher testosterone is associated with confidence, power, and higher risk tolerance. Lower cortisol levels are associated with less stress and calmness. This combination is linked with effective leadership. Contracted body language (closed) is linked to feelings of lower status and worth, and is exemplified by hunched shoulders, head lowered, crossed arms and legs, and not smiling.
This research gives scientific evidence to what most of us already know–that simple actions of smiling and using open body language can improve how people are perceived by others. Try it before and during your next interview!
Amy Cuddy: Power Poses from PopTech on Vimeo.
