Starfish Up!

We all know that people are more afraid of public speaking than dying. And when much of your work depends on captivating an audience (wowing clients), public speaking anxiety can be a real problem.

After reading Amy Cuddy’s book, Presence, I started encouraging execs to do a 1-minute power poses before big pitch meetings. Superman, Wonder Woman, Starfish Up! Your arms out, chin up, in a joy and victory stance. These exercises help you get in the power zone – and out of the anxiety zone.

I realized how much I talked about this when my then 5-year old stopped me on the way to a playdate she was nervous about: “Can we do Starfish Up first?”

So that’s what we did, outside of a bodega and before ringing the apartment buzzer. I encourage you to do the same – in your office, before your Zoom call, or in front of a bodega.