What is a Power Stance & How Can it Help Me?
You have all heard about power stances and will have seen them used in film and on stage. Here I explain how to do it and describe how taking a power stance can quickly increase how confident you feel in yourself. This can quickly and easily be used in private to build confidence, overcome fear, anxiety and stress in a situation. Making yourself feel more powerful internally can also affect your non-verbal communication meaning people perceive you differently and take what you are saying more positively.
How to do a Power Stance - Like a Superhero
- Stand up strait with a stiff spine.
- Spread your feet shoulders width apart.
- Tense up your torso and push your chest out slightly.
- Put your hands on your hips with your elbows pointing out.
- Raise your head up and furrow your brow.
- Feel the power!
Taking a Power Stance Can Build Confidence
Power stances have been used in films and by public figures for years because, they work. Try it for yourself. Take 2 minutes privately, adopt the stance as pictured, see how more powerful and confident you feel afterwards. Afterwards you will understand better what Cuddy A (2012) means when she tells us when we feel powerful, we open up our body stance and make ourselves larger. So, with this mind body link why can’t the reverse be true? The stance can work even better when positively suggested during hypnosis.
It Has Been Used for Centuries in Combat Training
What proof is there is works you ask? Well for a start it has been used for centuries. The stance as pictured here has obvious historic links and visual similarities to other powerful stances such as, Shiko dashi (karate horse or box stance), shizen hontai the standing posture of judo and the on-guard position of fencing. You can see a link to power here as it is being used in self-defence. It can be likened to a triangle which is a powerful shape used onviously to strengthen bridges.
Making Yourself Feel Powerful Works
This stance can increase your internal feelings of power, dominance and thus confidence in any situation. It is power body language communication that most cultures and people will understand. So, not only can it improve confidence but, it can improve how others perceive you too. Try it and see how powerful it makes you feel! Even better do it on front of a mirror saying “I can! I will!” to yourself and believe it! Feel the difference!
References:
Cuddy A (2012) Your body language may shape who you are [online] available from https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are last access 06/03/2025
McKevitt J et al (2016) Power and Stature: Analysis of the Human Physiological Response to Stress [online] available from https://minds.wisconsin.edu/handle/1793/81632 last acces 02/03/2025
Waller D et al (2008) Student Notes Module Six Working with Self Esteem and Confidence;