The signals your body sends when you speak can either reinforce or quietly undermine everything you say. In this QuickBites episode, Peter George breaks down the most common stances that signal nervousness — including the hunched posture, the crossed-ankle stance, and the classic one-hip lean — and explains exactly why each one works against you.
More importantly, Peter walks you through the confident stance step by step, with a technique you can practice right now. He also shares a practical everyday opportunity to rehearse it consistently, so it becomes second nature long before you step in front of an audience.
Welcome to QuickBites, public speaking tips and techniques you can digest in five minutes or less. Here’s your host, Peter George.
When you speak in front of others, which signal are you sending to your listeners — confidence or the lack of it? This matters because when people don’t have confidence in you, they likely don’t have confidence in the information you’re sharing. One of the most powerful tools for projecting confidence is your stance, and that’s exactly what this episode covers.
What Not to Do
When people are nervous, they tend to make themselves smaller — pulling their shoulders forward and inward, bending slightly, and bringing their legs together. Think of it as making yourself a smaller target. Another confidence-crusher is standing straight with legs crossed at the ankle, a stance that signals deep anxiety as your brain tries to protect your vital organs. And perhaps the most common ineffective stance is standing on one hip. When people do this and are asked why, they almost always switch to the other hip within 30 seconds — proof enough that there’s no good reason for it.
How to Stand with Confidence
If you can, stand up right now and try this. Place your feet about hip width apart with your weight centered. Don’t lock your knees — keep them flexible and let your whole body relax. Then imagine a string attached to the top of your head, gently pulling you upward. This aligns your body vertically, squares your shoulders, and opens your chest. Not only does this project confidence, it also helps you breathe more deeply and slowly — which calms you. And when you’re calmer, you’re more confident.
A confident stance doesn’t just look the part — it creates a physical feedback loop that actually makes you feel more confident in the moment.
Where to Practice Outside of Speaking
The only way this becomes second nature is to practice it consistently outside of speaking engagements. One great opportunity: pumping gas. Most people lean against their car or stand on one hip. You can practice your confident stance right there instead. If you live in a state where you don’t pump your own gas, try it at the grocery store register, the pharmacy counter, the bank teller’s window, or any retail checkout line.
Once this becomes your default, you’ll be able to see from where you’re standing that your audiences have more confidence in you and in what you’re saying.
Thank you for devouring another episode of QuickBites. Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let’s make it happen. I’ll see you next time.
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