This is how to use power poses to be successful in life

This is how to use power rumliche lages to be successful in lifeThis is how to use power poses to be successful in lifeSuccessful FBI agents understand that its vital to create power poses that will produce results, and theyll do it within the first few seconds of meeting someone.Often, people focus on how to memorize important points and rehearse their presentation so theyll come across as credible. In the process, they forget that their audiences appraisal is only partially determined by what they say. Listeners make a simultaneous evaluation of a speakers competence and trustworthiness based on their gestures and poses.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreThe roots of effective power poses can be found in the study of body language. Thereslittle or no science which supports the claimthat power poses produce higher levels of testosterone, lower levels of cortisol, or higher levels of risk-taking behavior.Its not that we are changed instead, we can use body language to influence the way we are perceived by ur audience. Many of us make snap judgments and base important decisions on small amounts of information.As leaders, business owners and entrepreneurs, you need to find ways to create a favorable impression. Dont give yur power away - instead, use power poses to be successful1. Your face says it allResearch by psychologist Alex Todorovsuggests that when our brain sees a new face, it decides if that rolle is trustworthy within a tenth of a second. The research confirms that we respond to faces so rapidly that our reasoning mind may not have time to influence our reaction.Most of us assume we take a more sophisticated response when we see a new face and filter our opinion through our thinking brain, but this is not the case. Our snap judgments about attraction, competence and trust are among the first that we form. Those opinions may not change over time, eit her, because our first impression sticks with us.Fear is produced in the amygdala, a part of the brain that existed millions of years before the development of our rational, thinking brain. Research indicates that trust might be a case where our high-level rational opinions are influenced by our low-level brain structure.How to make it work for you Despite what you read in literature, micro-expressions are very difficult to read with accuracy. Were trained from childhood to control our expressions and get that look off your face. As a result, we get really good at it. The easiest and fruchtwein effective power pose is your smile. When you smile, you tell others that youre genuine, trustworthy, and competent. As simple as that sounds, it does need to be the right smileDump the botox and live with creases around the eyes- those lines are essential if you want to give a real smile and signal to others that you are genuinely happy about seeing them.You give away power with tight-lipped smiles that dont reveal teeth. They send the message that youre hiding something. Its a common way for women to signal rejection.The drop-jaw smile, where the lower jaw is dropped down, also sends the wrong message. It feigns enjoyment and only gives the impression of a smile.2. Gesture with hands and armsTheScience Of Peopleanalyzed TED talks that were popular and found that viral speakers used an average of 465 hand gestures in their twenty-minute talk. People who use hands and arms as power poses are viewed as warm, agreeable and energetic.Power poses are critical to your success because when get them right, you connect with your audience. To use hand and arm gestures, you need to know how youll be perceived.How to make it work for you The easiest and most basic hand gesture is numerical where you use a finger to count off a number.Close the space between forefinger and thumb to show a small thing.Open the space between forefinger and thumb to demonstrate a specific part of an id ea. When you turn your hand, this gesture separates or pulls out the idea you want to emphasize.When you plant fingers that are spread apart on a hard surface, such as the desk or table in front of you, its an unmistakable display of confidence and authority.Extend both arms in front from the elbow, palms up. Raise one hand to slap down on the other. It draws attention and lets people know this is important.Arms spread over chairs or over the shoulder of a person communicates confidence.Hands placed on your waist, elbows out, and thumbs to the back signals authority and issues that need to be addressed. When you place your thumbs forward, it changes the power pose so now it signals you have questions and it lessens tensions.3. Watch the feet and legsAccording to Joe Navarro, the feet are very honest. In his book Louder Than Words, he reminds us that our feet and legs have ensured our survival since the caveman days. Body parts that are further away from our brain often do things of which were not aware. We are almost oblivious to our legs and feet. That means legs and feet are an important source of information about a persons attitude.How to make it work for you There are many ways you can use your feet and legs as power poses. Glass tables are an effective way for you to monitor the reaction of others in the room because legs and feet are in full view.Keep legs apart for an effective power pose as it signals, Im in charge here. Think of gunslingers and law enforcement officers. Men can get away with a wider stance, but a narrower stance works best for women.Crossed legs when you stand is a power pose that implies comfort and relaxation. Its impossible to fight or flee in this position, so the limbic brain system is not under duress.Feet that jiggle are usually happy feet, unless the jiggle starts in the middle of a conversation. In that case, it may signal discomfort, so watch for when the jiggle starts.Pay attention if the jiggle becomes a kick. This indica tes a very negative reaction to whatever has happened or has been said.Repetitive flexes of the foot sideways at the ankle signals stress, irritability or impatience.Notice if a client or colleague has shifted their stance so that one or both feet point away from you. It means I want to leave.4. Secrets of the head and neckYou send the wrong message if you touch or stroke your neck because its a pacifying behavior to calm you down.We only touch our neck area when something disturbs, threatens or confuses. Many people stroke the side of their neck with their forefinger or pull the skin under their chin.How to make it work for you A head tilt communicates that youre friendly and willing to listen. Its difficult to tilt your head when youre anxious or fearful.Chin up is a good power pose because it implies youre confident. Avoid a tucked chin because it denotes the opposite - you lack confidence.5. Posture as a power poseWe pick up posture habits without thinking about them. Often we walk into a meeting with slumped shoulders and head tucked in. It tells everyone that were stressed and suffer from tech-neck after too much time in front of a computer. This is a low-power pose and one that doesnt instill confidence or trust.Research from the Kellogg School of Managementsuggests that when we open up our body and take up space, it signals a sense of power in ourselves and in the eyes of our audience.How to make it work for you Torso movements are great power poses because they are governed by our limbic brain system and are indicative of our comfort level.Turn your torso toward a person to signal vulnerability and trust. Notice when you turn your torso away from a person so youre in a bladed stance. There is something you dont like about them.Lean forward rather than stand stiff and upright. It helps engage people because it sends the message that youre interested. It helps to get your message heard.You exude a power pose when you stand up from the table when you sp eak at a meeting. It helps to command the attention of other participants.The power poses listed above are simple and effective. If were intentional about our body language, we an create a favorable and lasting impression on the road to our success.This article originally appeared on SmartBrief.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Did You Hear the Buzz About the Federal Hiring Process

Did You Hear the Buzz About the Federal Hiring ProcessDid You Hear the Buzz About the Federal Hiring ProcessDid You Hear the Buzz About the Federal Hiring Process?Just in case you missed the big hoopla last week about the announcement by OMB to overhaul the federal hiring process, I have included the full article from FedManager.com here. This is big newsArticle from www.fedmanager.com/current_e-report.php1659OPM and OMB Unveil Major Overhaul of Federal Hiring ProcessLast Tuesday, OPM Director John Berry and U.S. Chief Performance Officer Jeffrey Zients unveiled a major overhaul of the federal hiring process, outlining reforms ordered by President Obama. Speaking at OPM headquarters alongside Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Berry detailed President Obamas initiative to bring a 21st century approach to the federal hiring ordnungsprinzip. The announcement was made before an audience of high-ranking offi cials from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs, as well as federal employees and private sector human resource experts. The announcement came shortly after President Obama issued a memorandum to federal agencies directing them to overhaul their hiring procedures within 180 days.Federal workers fill crucial roles that defend Americans from terrorism, infectious diseases, food-borne pathogens, forest fires and countless other threats. We cant afford delays in filling these jobs, nor can we rely on a system that causes qualified candidates to give up in frustration. President Obama and I believe that we must cut the red tape clogging the Federal hiring process in order to bring aboard outstanding applicants quickly, OPM Director John Berry said at the announcement event. President Obama has undertaken a series of reforms today that arent so much steps, as leaps forward. I understand the frustration of every applicant who previously has had to wade throug h the arcane federal hiring process. If qualified applicants want to serve our country through the federal service, then our application process should facilitate that. These reforms are concrete, broad, and will help us do just that. They honor core merit system principles and the sacrifice of the men and women serving our country by preserving their veterans preference. And, these reforms will save the American taxpayer money and free up scarce resources that will allow Federal agencies to better serve our nation.The best talent doesnt wait around for 140 days they find another job, said Chief Performance Officer Jeff Zients. We need to streamline our hiring process to make it mora competitive and candidate-friendly. Across twenty years in the private sector, Ive seen that the best performing organizations focus on people as their most important tool for improving performance. It is time for the federal government to start doing the same.At the announcement event, Director Berry outlined steps that President Obama has taken to reform the federal hiring and recruitment process.In his Memorandum, President Obama directed federal agencies to Dramatically reduce the time between when a job is announced and is filled. Eliminate essays as an initial application requirement. Essays may still be used later in the process. Under the previous system, if an individual applied for five separate federal jobs, he or she often needed to complete five separate sets of lengthy essays. Use shorter, plain-language job announcements. Accept resumes from applicants, instead of requiring them to submit complex applications through outdated systems. Allow hiring managers to choose from among a group of best qualified candidates, rather than limiting their choice to just three names, through expanded use of category ratings.Notify applicants in a timely manner (and at four points in the process) through USAJobs.gov eliminating the black hole that applicants often feel they enter when they get no response to their application. Submit a hiring and recruitment plan for top talent to OPM by the end of this year. Have all Cabinet-level and Senior Administration Officials visiting universities or colleges on official business incorporate time to discuss career opportunities in the federal service with students.Additionally, the President directed OPM to plan a government-wide plan for recruiting and hiring qualified, diverse talent. Review the Federal Career Intern Program and, within 90 days, offer a recommendation to the President on its future and on providing effective pathways into the federal service for college students and graduates. Work with agencies to ensure that best practices are being developed and used throughout Government.OPM is also launching a web site intended to guide federal agencies and hiring managers through this change at www.opm.gov/hiringreform.For complete details on hiring reform, including additional measures taken by President Oba ma and OPM, a Video News Release, and webcast of the entire press conference, visit the OPM website.

Couldnt take a vacation Make the most of the rest of summer

Couldnt take a vacation Make the most of the rest of summerCouldnt take a vacation Make the most of the rest of summerResearch has found that 52% of Americans didnt use all of their vacation days in 2017. So chances are, you may elend have been able to take a vacation this summer. But you dont have to give up on having free time during the warmer months just yet.Here are five ways to make the most of the remaining weeks we have left of the season.Work from home on a WednesdayThis reportedly is even better than working from home on a Monday or Friday (because your manager might be mora on board), for a variety of reasons including the fact that you get the convenience of staying at home during the middle of the week, even though it hasnt wrapped up yet.So the next time youre feeling burnt out this summer, consider asking your boss if you can clock in and out from home on a Wednesday. It might just be the break you need.Take a long weekendCall up a few friends and see if theyre availab le to take off on a Thursday and/or Friday and head somewhere special with you. Whether you decide to take a picnic tothe beach, take a road trip to the mountains or go on a retreat,youre sure to have a blast with the people you love the most.Get ready to make memories that will last for years to come.Just remember, its crucial to book a place to stay before Labor Day weekend hits in a few weeks, and everyone is trying to get away for a long weekend of their own. Also, keep in mind that solo tripsare a refreshing option.Go on a staycationWhether you take a day off during the work week to relax or take an entire weekend, consider going on a staycation where you live. Its a great way to save money and carve out time for self-care and relaxation practices after a brutal week.Get to know your surroundings a little better by visiting local attractions, dining at restaurants youve never been to before, and spending time in nature.Throw a dinner party on a Saturday nightNo time for a stayc ation or a long weekend? Why not get everyone together for a dinner party at your place? It can be as formal or as casual as you want- being surrounded by your favorite foods and people is whatreally counts, of course.Just have everyone bring a different entree, drink or dessert (which, lets be real, they can buy if theyre not ready to show off their cooking chops), and enjoy them as the night unfolds.Spend time with your kids before the back-to-school seasonOnce your kids head back to college, thats it Unless they live at home and commute to school, chances are, you wont be seeing them until Thanksgiving rolls around.So you should make an effort to fit in a little more quality time in before theyre swamped with work, heaps of social plansand extracurriculars. This is a good way to tie up any loose ends after the summer months, which can feel both too long and too short at the same time.