How to Influence Anyone, Anywhere, Every Time

CHAPTER 10PHYSIOLOGY

Have you ever watched an old silent movie? While there were some captions you could read to hold the story together, those actors relied entirely on their physiology to convey the story, the emotion, the jeopardy, the humour and the action. Charlie Chaplin became one of the world's most famous actors using his physical expression alone.

We are always communicating with our bodies, even when we are alone. Have you ever felt down or depleted and your body turns into a heavy sack that you drag around the house?

Have you been sitting alone at work, getting ready for an important presentation, and you move around to shed any nervous energy?

Your body plays a crucial role in all communication, shaping both the delivery and interpretation of messages.

Understanding the components of posture, gestures, movement and facial expression — all elements of your physiology — will offer profound insights into the dynamics of work communication and enhance the effectiveness of all your interactions (see figure 10.1, overleaf).

Figure 10.1 Mastering your physiology

Amy Cuddy in her TED Talk on Presence simply talked about posture.¹⁸ Over 50 million people have watched her deliver the message that good posture enhances your presence.

Posture

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