Heightening Presence
Defining Presence
"Presence," as defined by social psychologist Amy Cuddy, is the ability to express your true self under pressure, enabling peak performance by fostering self-acceptance and awareness, particularly in high-stakes situations that trigger anxiety and social judgment.
Perceiving Presence
Amy Cuddy explains that true presence, characterized by belief in one's story, confidence, and synchrony between verbal and non-verbal cues, contrasts with inauthenticity, which can be detected through conflicting emotions and behavioral leaks.
Achieving Presence
American culture prioritizes acquisition, but Amy Cuddy emphasizes that true presence is an ongoing commitment to being emotionally and physically engaged in the moment, requiring self-affirmation and the harnessing of personal power to navigate stress and improve over time.
Improving Your Emotional State with Movement
Amy Cuddy teaches that adjusting your posture can influence your thoughts and feelings, emphasizing the body-mind connection and offering kinesthetic techniques to decrease stress and boost mood by promoting powerful body language and mindful breathing.
Self-Nudging for Progress
To effectively change old habits, avoid drastic resolutions and instead practice "self-nudging" by making small adjustments to body language and mindset, fostering incremental improvements and a growth mindset for enhanced emotional well-being and resilience.
“Presence” is a quality we admire and recognize as professionally beneficial. But what is it, and how does one attain it? Social psychologist Amy Cuddy defines presence as the state of being attuned to and comfortably able to express your “true self.” When you’re ready, open, and at home in your skin, you can perform at the top of your game no matter the circumstances.
Learning Objectives
- Define presence.
- Perceive presence in others.
- Recognize ways to achieve and maintain presence.
- Understand the relationship between posture and presence.
- Develop a growth mindset for positive change.