Just Before Show Time

Adjust Your Mental and Physical Posture

In a recent public speaking workshop I conducted, I had the entire class, consisting of about fifty people, stand up and look straight ahead. I asked the students to take note of exactly what they were seeing at eye level. Next, I asked them to close their eyes, and to think about the words they were about to hear as I recited them. I began uttering a string of positive words and phrases, such as, “Yes I can, amazing, tremendous, and absolutely.” I kept this up for a minute, and then told them to open their eyes, and to take note of exactly what they were seeing at eye level now. Finally, I asked them to raise their hand if what they were seeing now was at a higher fixed point than what they were seeing before they closed their eyes, and 100% of the hands went up. I’ve repeated this exercise several times since, with the same results.

What does this tell us? It tells us the positive words improve not only your mental posture, but also your physical posture.

Clearly, if you are about to take the stage, you want to be in the most productive mental and physical posture you can. Shortly before you speak, take a few minutes and run a series of positive, empowering words through your mind to help elevate your mental and physical posture. You don’t even have to close your eyes; you can do this on the fly.

As you perform this exercise, you’ll feel your emotional state lift, and you’ll notice you’re seeing things that are at a higher fixed point, and that you’re standing a little taller. All these things enhance your performance as a speaker.

So, what’s the lesson? Adjust your mental and physical posture with positive words, and your entire attitude and physicality are enhanced.