Whole Living Daily

The other day, I was working out at the gym passively watching CNN on the wall in front of me.  Suddenly, there he was on the screen… George Clooney.  It was a replay of the actor-activist’s press conference at the White House when he spoke about Sudan. I couldn’t hear a word he was saying, and it didn’t matter.  His swagger said it all.  

What is swagger?  It’s a confident way of moving that non-verbally says, “Pay attention, what I do and what I have to say matters.” Clooney’s swagger mixes humble with cocksure ease like nobody’s business.

Before the recession, many of you had Clooney-like swagger. You would walk into a room like a CEO and make things happen.  You knew who you were; and told yourself you could do anything.  Then, it all changed.  Some of you lost customers or got taken down a peg with a pink slip.  In what felt like a blink of an eye, you were brooding instead of producing – shell shocked instead of firing away.

I’ve been there, and I have to tell you there are ways to get your swagger back, and get it back better than before.  Swagger and charisma go hand in hand. Think of Jennifer Lopez as she strides onto the American Idol stage on route to her judge’s chair.  Wow!  Before she goes on, I can imagine her backstage telling herself, “I’m beautiful, amazing and loved.”  Self-talk is a big component to getting your swagger back.  Here are six others:

1.  STAND TALL. Height communicates authority. If you’re tall, accentuate it, own it and for goodness sake, don’t slouch. If you’re not tall, practice moving with confidence and wearing clothing that’s tailored to fit you.  A clean line from head to toe gives the appearance of stature.
2.  WALK RIGHT IN, SIT RIGHT DOWN. When you enter a room, don’t hesitate in the doorway or bashfully poke your head in.  Remember, you belong!  And if you have a choice, choose any upright chair over a sofa, which can swallow you up in a single gulp.
3. PASSIONATELY ENGAGE. Know these expressive tools: Wide eyes demonstrate interest. A very gentle nod indicates understanding, agreement, and approval. When you lean forward, your intensity and passion come across. It goes without saying that a gesture doesn’t substitute for what it represents, but with practice, using these positive and powerful physical communicators can become a natural way of expressing interest, understanding and passion.
4.  LISTEN TO YOURSELF.  Sit down with a tape recorder and talk. Then play it back.  How did you do?  Do you sound confident or fragile?  Try lowering your voice down an octave and speaking from your diaphragm.  Clooney and Lopez do this.  Like them, you’ll be taken more seriously when you do.
5. EVALUATE YOURSELF AS A STORYTELLER. Grab a friend and tell him or her a how you see yourself. Unspool a story about your life.  Again, make a recording.  Listen for ums, ers, you knows and other hesitations. Listen for word tics, words that you overuse. Do you sound stilted? Does your enthusiasm and confidence come across in your voice?
6.  SPEAK WITH A SMILE.  We are living in a time where business relationships can go on for years without ever a face-to-face meeting.  So knowing how to communicate swagger in your tone is essential.  If you smile when you answer the phone, your smile will shine right through the lines. If you’re smiling, you’ll sound as if you couldn’t be more delighted to be talking to the person on the other end. An upbeat personality communicates self-assuredness, personal comfort, and a positive outlook.

Swagger comes from a place deep inside you. To reconnect with your swagger, go back in time to when you aced a presentation, won a project, received an honor or captured a major piece of business.  Now, stand tall, speak with authority and smile ear-to-ear from that place of strength.  You’ll find your self-esteem growing as you quietly say to yourself, “Clooney, step aside.”

Robin Fisher Roffer is a leading brand strategist and reinvention specialist.  Founder and CEO of Big Fish Marketing, she is the author of Make A Name For Yourself: 8 Steps Every Woman Needs To Create A Personal Brand Strategy For Success, The Fearless Fish Out Of Water: How To Succeed When You’re The Only One Like You and Reinventing Yourself: 10 Steps To Shifting Your Career Into High Gear.  Learn more about Robin at:  http://bigfishmarketing.com/