Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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First impressions
We usually think of performers as being people who appear on stage, on television or in film. Unless we’re an actor, musician, dancer, acrobat or comedian we’re not a performer. If we are in dress design, law, accountancy, business consultancy, IT, haute cuisine, marketing, finance, retail or floristry, performance is not our thing. Yet for every job we get, we’ve had to go through the interview process, no matter how informal that may be. We are there because we think we might like the job and because they think that we may be the right person for it. And when we’ve got the job, we usually have personal assessments and reviews that will be based on our performance throughout the year. If we want promotion and to reach the highest level it’s important that we portray a high calibre demeanour all of the time and not just for the one critical hour of an interview.
Let’s look at a hypothetical new job interview situation. When we arrive, we are trying to keep an open mind, not to judge too soon, not to appear too anxious, yet not so laid back that we give an air of indifference. We’ve done our homework, researched the company and got an idea about the role we’ll be expected to perform. We’ve developed some alternative ideas so if asked, we’ll be able to put them across, showing how wizardly creative we are, up to speed on current methods and thinking and can take the job and the company forward. The position carries a hefty salary, executive car, interest free company loan, and other executive perks. We know that if we get the job, we’ll be able to enhance our standard of living considerably. “New home with an extra room or two, afford another baby and the baby sitter, comfortable holidays in the Caribbean…New lifestyle…..here we come!” So we’re a bit keyed up, and when the time comes to walk into the room we are understandably a little nervous and wiping the sweat from our hands. Who’s got to perform now? The curtain goes up, the lights are on; we are there in front of a group of people who want to see what we’re made of. We have an impression to make, and it’s that impression that is going to have an influence on their decision about us. The next hour or so is critical. We want to do our best, indeed we need to do our best so that we don’t feel that we’ve let ourselves down.
But have we attended to everything possible? Are there any little things lurking that may undermine the performance of our lifetime? For instance, how is the body machinery working? Have we got a clue? Maybe we’re not aware at all and just running on autopilot, trusting that the legs that brought us here don’t let us collapse in front of the interviewer’s desk. We trust that our body supports us throughout. But these are exceptional circumstances. This is not an everyday situation where we can drift through the work, make the odd enlightened comment in a meeting then back off when we are uncertain. This moment when our interview curtain goes up and we are the focus of attention, is when we need all of our systems functioning one hundred percent!
First impressions
So we’ve walked in, and if our daily habits are with us, we’re probably a little off balance, so consequently stiffening our legs and lower back and neck, and nor are we breathing well. We are personable, remembering to smile, but the stoop and hunched shoulders tells a story too. Holding ourselves up straight is tiring, and we’ve never really found that easy since we were a child, and today is no exception. The first few moments of introduction and getting seated are a crucial stage where first impressions are made. Quoting an article in BBCi Health, “Before you’ve even spoken to the person you’ve got your eye on, the way you’ve walked and stood is more than 80% of their first impression of you!”
Being seated in front of the interviewers is also a slightly unnerving situation, and we don’t know where to put our hands. We feel self conscious and awkward. The tensing in our neck and shoulders and our poor breathing will also weaken our voice.
It doesn’t matter how tall, short or broad we are, or even how elegantly we dress. But it does matter how we carry ourselves. Body language counts for a huge amount, and particularly during a first meeting. If we’re standing rigidly with a stiff neck and narrowed across the shoulders, we are likely to look timid or even frightened, insecure, and lacking confidence. Do we give the impression of being up to the job? Given half a chance, is this the impression that we would ideally like to make for ourselves?
I am often asked what are the benefits of having Alexander Technique sessions. OK, it's commonly known to help with postural problems, stiffness, posture etc. But in my view it's about improving our performance. Are you a performer? Almost certainly in some situations. For many people, their sessions with me in the Alexander Technique helps them earn more money.
By improving their stature so they have a relaxed but upright demeanour, a great voice and exude calm confidence, they are promotable and worthy of the bigger job. It's all about making the most of ourselves and getting the most out of life. Feeling good, doing well.....doing our best all the time. It makes those first few moments when we walk in through the door really count.
