Amy Cuddy: Prepare to Speak With Presence
You need to ask a supervisor a question or introduce yourself to a new group.
Choose, practice, reflectA practical lesson
The Lesson
You need to ask a supervisor a question or introduce yourself to a new group. You keep rehearsing how confident you should look. Give yourself another task: prepare what you actually want to communicate.
Amy Cuddy’s Presence describes connecting with personal values in challenging situations, rather than concentrating only on the impression one makes. That theme offers a useful starting point for preparing what you want to communicate. Presence, official book page. Amy Cuddy’s official site.
A useful preparation note keeps the conversation connected to something real. What do you know? What do you need to ask? Why does the exchange matter? Those questions give you content to return to if nerves make it difficult to organize your thoughts.
You can be honest about a limit without making it your entire introduction. “I am new to this process and want to understand the next step” offers a clear starting point. Confidence may vary from day to day; you can still prepare a relevant question and listen carefully to the answer.
Reflection
- What value do I want to express in this conversation?
- What one point does the other person need to understand?
- What can I ask if I lose my place?
Practice
This is an original SelfGrowthVideos exercise inspired by the ideas above.
- Choose an upcoming, ordinary conversation rather than a high-risk confrontation.
- Write one value, one main point and one genuine question on a small note.
- Practice saying the point aloud in your usual voice, without trying to sound like someone else.
- During the conversation, use the note if helpful and leave room for the other person to respond.
Before asking about a new work assignment, you might write: “Value: reliability. Point: I want to clarify the expected result. Question: What should the finished version include?” That note is more useful than rehearsing a performance of perfect self-assurance.
Review
Afterward, ask whether you communicated the point and understood the response. What wording helped? What needs clarification? Judge the preparation by the exchange, not by whether you felt completely calm or impressed the other person.
Go Deeper
Explore the Amy Cuddy teacher profile and the Confidence learning hub. Choose one related idea to try before collecting more material.