CAPÍTULO 2. MARCO TEÓRICO
2.2 La e-in-migración: cuando los prefijos son tan importantes como los prejuicios
2.2.1 Gestionar las e-in-migraciones para que la pescadilla no se muerda la cola
This simple but effective technique will form the basis of all the rest of the work you’re going to do . In body language terms it’s a one-size-fits-all . This realignment technique will be appropriate whatever your circum-stances . It creates a perfect springboard for all your other gestures and signals . Get this one wrong and you’ll never get the other stuff right .
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There are two very good bits of news about doing this:
1 . It’s quick and easy .
2 . It will affect the way you feel .
chAngIng yOUR STATe
You can use your posture to motivate, invigorate, uplift and even nourish yourself . The Power Pose you’re about to do will make you look better, feel healthier, and grow in confidence and self-esteem . It’s an instant body language make-over .
Let’s take a look at your “normal” posture . How do you normally stand or sit?
I Are you straight-backed or stooped?
I Do you pull your shoulders forward in a self-protective gesture or stretch your chest wide, looking confident or confrontational?
I how do you stand or sit when you’re under pressure? Does your posture become more compliant or more arrogant? Do you curl up or does your chest widen out?
I how do you stand or sit when you’re tired or depressed? Do you slump more? Do you lie with your knees pulled up?
Power Posing is part of the technique called changing your state . By looking more confident you’ll start to feel more confident . Body language affects your emotional
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and mental well-being hugely . It’s hard to look positive and feel down at the same time . The latest psychological thinking states that putting your best face forward is much more important than previously thought . We’re now told that actually putting on a “best face” of the type you’d use with strangers when you’re trying to be polite is really good for you! It makes you feel better!
The act is self-prophesying! What you look like is what you feel .
POWeRIng UP
Now that I’ve sold you on Power Posturing, you’re about to feel cheated . Why? Because it’s so darned easy . Virtually effortless, in fact . You’ll wonder how something so basic can also be so life-changing . You’ll think I overestimated by telling you it will make you feel better, look better, lose weight, and get a partner . You’ll think “no pain, no gain” and wonder if I’m selling snake oil . But try it . It really does work . No one says everything good has to be hard to do .
Get yourself in front of a full-length mirror . If possible, find a place where you can see your back and side views too . Stand nude or in your underwear (unless you’re doing it in a public place of course, but I suggest you’ll feel safer in the privacy of your own bathroom or bedroom) .
Stand normally . And I mean normally, no cheating .
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Now, take these ten simple steps:
1 . Pull yourself up to full height by stretching your spine as though you’re trying to touch the ceiling with the top of your head . This will make you look pounds lighter .
2 . Keep your head straight, so that your chin is held at a right angle .
3 . Wriggle your toes to make yourself feet-aware . Your feet are your power base, like the roots of a tree . If your feet aren’t “well-planted”—for example, you’re wearing wobbly high heels or your body weight is unevenly distributed because you’re shifting between one foot and the other or your legs are crossed—then you’re depleting your own personal power dramatically . I’m no fan of sensible shoes but it’s possible for women to wear boots or well-balanced shoes that create a feeling of power . A higher heel can add to this perceived self-confidence but please steer clear of anything that makes you teeter about . Men’s shoes are designed for proper power walking but women tend to wear shoes that aren’t practical . This adds to the perception of inequality and an unequal power-versus-status balance in the workplace . Stand with your body weight evenly balanced on your feet .
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4 . Roll your shoulders in a circle, upward first and forward, then back and down . Keep them in the back and down position .
5 . Allow your fingertips to brush against the sides of your thighs .
6 . Subtly push your lower pelvis forward a little so that your spine is completely straight . This entails pushing your bottom in and under . (Men should be rather more subtle with this move than women .)
7 . Take a deep breath in, and then allow all the air to be expelled from your lungs in a slow exhale . 8 . Pull your stomach in .
9 . Realign your shoulders in case they’ve slumped as you exhaled .
10 . Smile!
Look in the mirror again . How do you look? How do you feel? Better? More positive? How long did that take? A couple of seconds? I told you it was easy . Now all you’ve got to work out is how to get that charismatic posture in motion so you can get off to work .