I’ll be honest — before I watched Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk on body language, I never thought much about body language beyond the usual advice: stand straight, make eye contact, and do not stand or walk lazily. But what she shared completely shifted how I see myself and the way I handle pressure.
Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist, talks about something called power posing — and no, it’s not just standing like Wonder Woman for fun (although that’s part of it). It’s about how your body language can actually change your brain. Just two minutes of standing in a high-power pose, like arms open, chest lifted, taking up space, can increase your confidence and lower stress. Seriously. Research shows it boosts testosterone (the confidence hormone) and reduces cortisol (the stress one). That blew my mind.
She also talks about something we often overlook — how much our nonverbal cues (like facial expressions, body language, and gestures) shape the way others see us. Whether it’s a job interview, a big presentation, or just meeting someone new, people start forming impressions of us long before we say a word. And the wild part? Research shows that these little things — our posture, our presence — can actually predict big life outcomes, like who gets hired… or even who wins an election.
But what really hit home for me was Amy’s own story. After a life-altering car accident, she struggled with imposter syndrome and didn’t feel like she belonged in the academic world anymore. A mentor told her to “fake it till you make it.” She took that advice, but later changed it to something even better: fake it till you become it. That felt real.
I tried it. Before an interview, I stood tall in front of a mirror, arms out, breathing deep — just two minutes. I felt silly at first, but when I walked in, I wasn’t the same anxious version of me. I felt grounded, capable, and ready.
Amy encourages us not just to use this trick for ourselves, but to share it with people, especially with those who feel small, overlooked, or unheard. That’s why I’m writing this. If you’ve ever doubted yourself before a big moment, try this. It’s free, it’s simple, and it actually works.
Remember, ‘’Tiny tweaks lead to big changes.’’
You don’t need to be born confident. You can build it by just one powerful pose at a time.