Body Language Poise and Composure

Body Language – Poise

Particularly as you apply for positions and go through the interview, but all the way through your work environment, poise is a valuable trait.

Poise is defined as “graceful and elegant bearing in a person.” A comparable work might be ‘composed’ which is defined as “having one's feelings and expression under control; calm.”

As you go into interviewing, you need to be calm. This is another case for your attitude.  “I can do this”; and adjusting your self-talk to say “I am great at interviewing”

Stand tall, a pleasant smile on your face and let your confidence flow through you. 

Watch your posture.  Slouching might come off as underprepared or not focused enough.  There is the old adage, “You only get one chance at a good first impression”.  Let your body language say positive things about you.

Some pet peeves about posture and body language.

Over my many years as a professor, I found that women who were nervous would play with a strand of their hair.  Their hand would slide down the strand of hair and before long I was noticing that motion and missing their words.  A second observation from some females was fingering a necklace – running their hands up and down the necklace as a nervous gesture. 

Men are not immune to nervous habits.  The toughest one for men is ‘what to do with my hands?’ If you are standing in front of a group or giving a presentation, all too frequently, men will put their hands into their pockets.

http://www.2knowmyself.com/Reading_body_language_hands_in_pocket says “The subconscious mind, which thinks in a primitive way, believes that putting your hands in your pockets is a good way to hide and to avoid the situation.”

So .. guys – what to do with your hands? Let your hands drop to your side – but using arm motions to accentuate.  Arms crossed in front of you generally is considered to be you are ‘closed’; Hands touching your chin as a motion indicating thinking; hands touching your ear has been interpreted by some as possible lying.

Using http://www.2knowmyself.com/Body_language_of_the_hands, this site gives these hints:

·         Clinched fist -    anger (not good in an interview)

·         Showing palms – understood as being open or honest

·         Hands clasped behind your back – confident

·         Hands on hips – facing a challenging situation and maybe not ready to confront it

·         Finger tips touching – feeling confident

·         Hands touching chin – Thinking or evaluating

·         Hands touching ear or nose – generally viewed as negative

·         Squeezing hands together – as a form to relieve stress

·         Rubbing hands together – interpreted as possible excitement

·         Using your hands – gesturing – positive use of the hands / arms

·         Resting your hands on a chair (or similar) – generally a good sign.

So, how might you come off as poised and composed? 

Practice being poised and composed