Have you ever found yourself heated in an argument, and ready to pounce verbally and/or physically? How you handle yourself under pressure  is extremely important in the corporate arena, where competition can be intense and undermining is witnessed on the daily.

Maintaining poise is critical to be seen as having professional behaviors.  Having poise can be described as to act in a dignified, self-confident manner and it is demonstrated by confident composure and self-possession that is evident in your body language (posture, verbal tone, etc.).

“Poise is power.”― Florence Scovel Shinn

Having poise is especially important in confrontational or challenging situations   Who would you rather have on your team: someone who lunges across the table and punches you in the face for disagreeing with her (think Bad Girls Club) or a chill female that remains calm, respectful and focused on arriving at a solution?

My manager asked me to take on a new project and after I agreed, in a casual BTW tone he informed me that I would not be getting the promotion I was promised.  I felt pretty manipulated and felt intense anger, denial and depression, but kept my composure externally, just giving a nod of grief but understanding.  I think I was in shock, but sometimes it is best to put the issue aside and come back to it with a clear head. – True story of yours truly

Have you been promised a promotion and then shorted?  How did you handle yourself?  Would you do anything differently if you could go back in time?

How you carry yourself says a lot about your self-confidence and conveys your opinion of yourself to others.  Here are some tried and true tips to exude poise.

1. Exude Poise In Your Appearance

• This starts with being aware of your posture.  Make a conscious effort to practice good posture.  Sit up straight or stand up straight and pull your shoulders back.  Ask yourself, do you feel like you appear confident and approachable? (Tips for good posture)
• Walk and stand tall, looking ahead rather than at the floor.  Wear professional shoes which enable you to walk comfortably and properly (i.e. 5 inch heels may not be helping your swagger – but then again, with practice, maybe they can!).
• Dress appropriately: Let your body convey modesty (clothes that don’t completely put your bosoms on display) and class.

“Proper posture sends a positive message since 90% of all communication occurs through body language and how you carry yourself… No amount of high fashion can make up for a lifetime of poor posture.” ― Cindy Ann Peterson, My Style, My Way: Top Experts Reveal How to Create Yours Today

2. Exude poise in interactions

• Exude self-confidence: stand up straight, make eye contact and remain calm and collected, regardless of the topic.
• Be respectful: When engaging in conversation, be courteous and remove distractions (don’t answer the phone)  to convey that their time matters.
• Be classy: Try to stay away from foul language… at least in business meetings.
• Convey approachableness by greeting everyone who crosses your path and makes eye contact, with a warm “Hello”, “Good Morning” or “Have a good night”.

 “Expressing your opinion is important, but it is imperative to do it with class, integrity and modesty.” – 7 Steps to Instant Poise, The Feminine Woman

3. Stay poised in charged situations

• If charged situation erupts, stay in control of yourself.
• Rather than letting the energy of others take hold of your emotions and responses, take a few deep breaths and think (regain mental clarity) before speaking or reacting “in the moment”.
• Remain composed and keep yourself polite, confident and calm.  The goal is to be proud of how you carry yourself and keep your job (if you want to!).  It’s easier to take a moment, rather than spend weeks feeling uncomfortable about something you said/did in the heat of the moment.

“Poise is about knowing your value despite the circumstances.” – 7 Steps to Instant Poise, The Feminine Woman

Affirmations to aid in developing poise:

• I love myself, believe in myself and accept myself exactly as I am.
• I treat everyone with kindness and respect.
• I inhale confidence and exhale fear. I am confident.  I trust myself.
• I remain calm and collected in all situations. I focus and think before responding and reacting.  When I do interact with others, I do so in a polite, confident and intellectual manner.

“On your way to accomplish greatness, you will hear a lot of noise. Listen to your inner voice and never let the distraction of the crowd discolour your poise.” ― Israelmore Ayivor, Become a Better You