One of the first lessons we teach at all our High School Volleyball1on1 Coaches Camps And Players Camps is “Power Posing”. Why? Because the results are instantaneous and the transformations can be astounding for your players along with your program!
Amy Cuddy, a professor and researcher from Harvard Business School offers powerful insights into her years of research on the topic in her “TED talk”, called “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are.”
In her talk she reveals how “Power Posing”, which is standing in a posture of confidence, even when you don’t feel confident, can impact the measures of testosterone and cortisol levels in your brain. Her research shows that you literally change your body chemistry by changing your body position.
As a High School Varsity Head Coach, how many times do you start your first practice and your Middle School or High School players are slouched over, arms crossed looking at the floor. You can literally see who is insecure and lacks confidence from the moment you walk into the gym to your first huddle.
In addition, if left unchecked, these players can go onto to become what we call your “Energy Vampires”. Meaning, unbeknownst to them or their team members, they set a negative tone for practice which literally sucks all the positive energy out of the gym, your practice, and your team. Creating a team culture of excellence begins successfully by tackling “Energy Vampires” through the powerful tool and education of your players utilizing “Power Posing”.
To introduce “Power Posing” to your players, we immediately start by correcting them and educating them through a discussion about Amy Cubby’s research. During our camp weeks with our High School Camp Programs, we help our High School Varsity Head Coaches set out rules for our Volleyball1on1 Practice, which include:
1. No arms crossed
2. Look each other in the eye
3. Hands on hips and take up space in a “Power Pose”
4. Try and look the way you want to feel.
We ask players to come up with two “Power Poses” for huddle and one “Silly / Fun Power Pose”. The Wonder Woman “Power Pose” (above right) is the ultimate “Power Pose”, whereby you put your hands on your hips, standing with your feet apart, and your hands on your hips. This may feel odd at first, but this is a true “Power Pose” in its essence.
The “Silly / Fun Power Pose” is like a body builder on stage and we teach players to utilize this pose to help make “light” of intense moments. Examples of athletes power posing are Usain Bolt or Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Usain Bolt – The Fastest Man in the World
Arnold Schwarzenegger – One of the Greatest Bodybuilders in History
Before launching Volleybal1on1.com in 2009, my business partner and wife Vanessa and me did Financial Empowerment Seminars for women with Jairek Robbins. Jairek would often repeat the words of his famous Father, a legendary author and motivational speaker named Tony Robbins.
“The quickest way to change your emotional state is to change your body language. If you mimic successful body language you will feel and become empowered. If you mimic dis-empowered body language you will instantly feel dis-empowered (depressed, angry, guilty, fearful…).” Tony Robbins
“Power Posing” is also important for volleyball matches and training your players to thrive in competition. We have heard High School Varsity Head Coaches tell us at Volleyball1on1, “My girls walked into the gym, took one look at the opponent, and lost!”
We encourage you to review “Power Posing” with your players parents too. Teams we work with sometimes send out an email to their players parents to educate them on this powerful tool and they are most often extremely grateful.
Learn here more about Volleyball1on1’s Superior Coaching Systems taught exclusively at our High School Summer Coaches Camps & Players Camps.
