How to always be there

If you are into public speaking or at a level where you need to take important decisions based on a meeting—you would have experienced the butterflies. However experienced, one does get tense and may find it difficult to get off the prepared script and lose one’s spontaneity. This happens because we drift at those precious moments. Psychologist Amy Cuddy has been a sought-after speaker since her TED talk about the significance of body language, which seeks presence in the face of powerlessness before pressure, anxiety, confusion, and frustration.

According to her, presence is the state of feeling connected with our own thoughts, values, abilities, and emotions, so that we can better connect with the thoughts, values, abilities, and emotions of others. Although she has put it simply, it is a tall order as presence calls for a lot of factors to come into play to get us focused and be on the spot and at the moment. It is a nice book, where Cuddy explores how we can use simple techniques to feel more confident and really to be present in every moment, including at events where we may feel tense.

The book uses a lot of techniques that are common in yoga—meditation, correct seating postures and even correct breathing. Where the book falls is the missing element of supporting what Cuddy suggests. There are no formal suggestions of how some of these learning can be applied and largely mixes academic research with actual experience of people which does make it relatable. If you are looking for ways to analyse your body language to be more effective and self confident—the book is for you.                                

olmdesk@outlookindia.com