Body language is a universal sign of leadership and confidence. Studies have shown that the majority of human interaction relies on non-verbal cues (65-95%). Confidence often appears through open, tall postures rather than small, slouched ones. However, women’s body language can be influenced by societal norms.

Research indicates that women often adopt closed, modest postures, while men display more open and confident body language. For example, we like to sit with legs crossed, while men typically display more expansive, open body language, and establish long and direct eye contact, which signals to others – more seniority and confidence.

This information allows us to bring body awareness into our goals, we can pay more attention to our body position and change it to portray a confident look and help create more power.

5 Simple Steps to Tap Into Body Awareness

Body awareness or mind-body connection is an engaging journey of self-discovery and exciting experiment. This exploration allows us to connect with our true selves, learn the body’s language, and notice the sensations, which can in return foster body comfort and boost self-esteem. 

Here are a few tips to get started with body awareness and how women can implement it at work: 

• Explore your senses

The first step to awakening your receptors is exploring how your body feels, perceives, and experiences the world around it. Take some time each day to focus on bodily sensations both in stillness and motion.  Close your eyes and first start noticing sensations on your skin: the clothes touching, the connection with the floor or the chair. How does that feel? Nice or itchy, soft or hard. Now you can start moving your limbs, slowly shifting the balance, changing weight distribution, and engaging more muscles. How does your body feel now – is it heavy or light? Balanced or unstable? Strong or weak?

When at work, before a meeting, take a moment to ground yourself by feeling the connection of your feet to the floor and the support of the chair. This helps center your mind and body, making you more present and attentive during the meeting.

• Embrace free movement

Go beyond your comfort zone by engaging in unexpected movements and body positions. Embrace the curiosity of a beginner’s mindset trying to explore how you feel in a new body shift, allowing your body to surprise yourself.

At work, if you’re feeling stuck or need a boost of creativity, take a few minutes to walk around the office, stretch, or even do some light exercises. This can invigorate your body and mind, helping to break through mental blocks.

• Body-Scan

Sit in a chair or lie down on your back, and slowly bring awareness to each part of your body, starting from your head, mindfully moving towards the toes. Notice any areas of discomfort in your body, notice the pleasurable sensation, but don’t change anything, notice and accept your body and its sensations.

Use this technique after a stressful meeting or task. A quick body scan can help release built-up tension, making you feel more relaxed and ready to tackle the next challenge.

• Practice posture awareness

Posture is an incredible and powerful source of self-confidence and empowerment. During the day, try paying attention to your posture and how its positioning influences your mood and relaxation. Notice how adopting an open and expansive posture brings ease and self-assurance to the body, cultivating inner confidence and peace. Practicing posture awareness on a regular basis can not only improve physical alignment but also enhance your sense of poise and self-assurance.

During presentations or important meetings, consciously adopt a confident posture. Stand or sit tall with shoulders back, which not only boosts your confidence but also positively influences how others perceive you.

For a practical tool to help women develop posture awareness, I highly recommend the Etalon posture bra. Speaking from experience, when I co-hosted the TechCrunch women’s breakfast, I made sure to wear the Etalon posture bra both before and during the event. It really helped me stay mindful of my posture, allowing me to confidently maintain an upright, powerful stance while on stage. I guess you could say I used my own secret weapon to feel strong and self-assured!

• Creative process and art-therapy

Cultivate your innate creativity to deepen your body awareness. Creative practices – drawing, painting, pottery, or sculpting, something you can do with your hands – will keep you focused on the body sensations and develop new mind-body connections. Allow your intuition to guide your movements in the process, and explore the emotions arising from this creative engagement. 

Use creative breaks to enhance problem-solving skills. For example, doodling during a brainstorming session can stimulate your mind and lead to innovative ideas. Engaging in hands-on creative tasks can also be a great way to unwind after a busy day.

Conclusion

Today, female leaders only represent 30-40% of the workplace, signaling a pressing need for society and corporations to reshape this landscape in the future. However, women have more power than we think. Any practice that brings attention inward and helps cultivate body awareness will profoundly impact our lives and careers. By focusing on body awareness, female leaders can enhance their presence, confidence, and effectiveness in the workplace.