Amy Cuddy Power Pose and Presence Priming
Prepare for high stakes interviews using the Amy Cuddy power pose routine to establish posture, steady breathing, and clear delivery. This sequence combines expansive physical postures with structured vocal practice.
5 time blocks, 17 minutes in total.
Time blocks
- High-Power Body Expansion: 2 min
Stand tall with feet wide and hands on hips in a private space - Diaphragmatic Breath Anchor: 3 min
Breathe slowly into your abdomen to steady your heart rate - Core Value and Example Audit: 5 min
Review your personal stories and core strengths out loud - Deliberate Speech Rehearsal: 5 min
Practise answering questions using calm pauses instead of filler words - Final Open Posture Reset: 2 min
Roll shoulders back and maintain an open chest before stepping in
About this routine
The Amy Cuddy power pose routine focuses on physical posture and self-affirmation to manage pre-interview anxiety. Based on social psychology research published by Amy Cuddy in her book Presence, adopting expansive postures before challenging events helps foster authentic confidence and mental clarity.
Before walking into an interview or presentation, set aside two minutes to stand with an open stance and hands on hips. Following physical expansion with deep abdominal breathing helps reduce physical tension, allowing you to speak with greater ease and composure.
Finish the session by rehearsing key stories and answers aloud. Focus on clear articulation, steady pacing, and intentional pauses rather than rushing your words. Using a daily routine timer helps keep your preparation structured so you arrive relaxed and prepared.
Why this routine works
- Reduces physical tension and pre-interview nervousness
- Improves vocal clarity and pacing during answers
- Helps project authentic confidence and poise
- Keeps warm-up concise and repeatable before high-stakes meetings
FAQ
What is Amy Cuddy's power pose routine?
It is a pre-performance sequence where you hold open, expansive physical postures for two minutes in private, followed by calm breathing and vocal preparation.
How long should you hold a power pose before an interview?
Amy Cuddy recommends holding an expansive posture, such as standing with hands on hips, for two minutes shortly before entering your meeting.
Does power posing work for job interviews?
Research by Amy Cuddy suggests that expansive postures help people feel more present, comfortable, and authentically confident during high-stress evaluations.