How's Your Posture?

My mother had a thing for posture. She deemed it her mission that her girls would never be slouchers, physically or emotionally. “Sit up straight. Head up, shoulders back,” she would chide after catching one of us slouching at the dinner table. “Strong posture dictates confidence and elegance.” We would sigh, roll our eyes and frustrate her further. One of us would usually make a stupid teenage comment like, “What do I need good posture for? Nobody cares.” Funny, as I write this commentary years later, I sit, head up, shoulders back, projecting the confidence through my words she deemed so important.

Physically, good posture exudes confidence, authority and a sense of being. I know this as I grew up in a short family – we were always trying to look taller. It is the same emotionally. Think of the last time an individual criticized or hurt your feelings. Your emotional posture probably matched your physical - defeated, exhausted and diminished. The natural tendency as you type at a keyboard is to slouch your shoulders and lean forward in a relaxed position. Great posture defies gravity and must be worked at to maintain.

The next time you are meeting a client or prospective resident, entering a conference or networking event, or even strolling down the concourse at an airport, stop first, make sure you are standing up straight, head up and shoulders back. Then say to yourself, “My emotional posture is strong and confident.” Watch what happens. Individuals will comment on your confidence. They will look to you for your opinion. They may even expect you to lead.

Mom was right. Posture is everything.