In this article I will educate you about the concept of ‘Personal Power‘ and how it plays a vital role in developing a confident identity. To some people this concept may seem a bit disturbing because they hear the word ‘Power’ and freak out. Just stay calm, and don’t prejudge until you have read the whole article. Lets begin shall we?
Nobody likes to feel powerless. Personally speaking, I prefer to ALWAYS stay in control of what I am doing, otherwise I start feeling uncomfortable and even nervous.
So what exactly is ‘Personal Power’? In lame terms, it is the energy that you are sending to yourself and others that demonstrate yourself as a person of power (also known as a person of high value). Either you are conveying power (you are in control) or you are conveying lower value (you are not in control). Obviously the range of control or power can vary, but the concept remains true. Someone always has the upper hand in the game.
Take for example the concept of driving a car. Obviously the driver is more in control of the direction that the car is headed towards as compared to the passenger. Similarly when you engage yourself with others, there is always someone who has more power (higher value) than others.
This is also one of those themes which I will talk about frequently in this blog. The basic idea is to convey as much power as possible when dealing with other people. Preferably you want to have the highest social value whenever possible.
I will provide you with two strategies which if implemented correctly can boost your perceived value around others. Make sure you practice them and incorporate them into your lifestyle. Once that happens, you will just naturally convey confidence and POWER.
Strategy #1 - Take Up LOTS of Space
This is what powerful people do. They take up lots of space to demonstrate they are very comfortable. This can be done in pretty much everything that you do. Whether it is sitting or standing, just remember to lean back and spread out. Wherever you happen to be, make sure you OWN the real estate.
People with low confidence tend to take up very little space. As a matter of fact, you can see this everywhere. Not only do these people lean in when presenting themselves to others, but they also keep their feet and arms close to their body demonstrating low self value. I guess these people are scared to take up other peoples space.
I know this sounds basic, but it is very powerful. Don’t be afraid to take up lots of space, even if it is not your property. Let others know that you are very comfortable in your skin.
Strategy #2 - Speak Slowly
Most people do not speak slow, and those that do are usually mentally challenged. All of us need to learn to slow it down when speaking. This sounds easy doesn’t it? Believe me, it is not easy.
Speaking slowly conveys a sense of confidence and it captivates your listeners. Seriously, this is one of those concepts that you will find mentioned in every book but it is hard to explain. Just take my word for it and practice speaking slowly. Make sure you do not sound like a robot speaking in mono tone mode. You want to speak slowly, loud and with emotions so it almost sounds melodic (I said almost, do not start singing your speech).
Another trick to really sound powerful while speaking is to practice pausing. While you are saying something, just pause and hold eye contact. Give the pause 2-3 seconds and then continue on. This is a killer trick which when combined with a slow pace of speech will create an almost hypnotic effect on others.
Remember I mentioned in an earlier article that people don’t listen, but instead they wait to talk? Guess what talking slowly does? That’s right, it forces them to pay greater attention to you.
Another thing you should know is that speaking fast conveys lack of confidence. It is like as if you are afraid that somebody will interrupt you and not let you continue talking. Get it?
In conclusion, you now have two great weapons that you can learn to use immediately. DO NOT confuse these with basic body language tricks. The above two strategies are very effective and need to be perfected. I will be touching on similar concepts over and over again so worry not.
Until Next Time
Atiff Rizwani
Tags: Personal Power and Authority
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