Week 2 attitude challenge

This week's Attitude drill will make you flex your confidence muscles. The "Walk Tall" drill focuses on your body's presnence.

Many people take their posture and body language for granted. Big mistake. You're going to practice consciously comporting yourself in a way that reflects the way you want to feel: confident and in control. Commit to doing the following drill one day this week:

Spend 1 hour walking briskly and purposefully around a retail or commercial area.

Pay careful attention to your posture, body language, gait, and facial expressions

Walk tall, keeping your shoulders back, chin up, arms relaxed comfortably at your sides

Go into establishments and ask questions of the merchants

Stand tall but relaxed, without leaning, slouching, or putting your hands in your pockets

Greet those around you with a strong voice and clear intention, maintaining a warm and respectful tone

Keep eye contact and handshake strength appropriate

Make a mental note of how you acted, how people responded to you, and how it felt to you.

Post your results

Remember this is about being the best YOU, not impersonating the Duke. And it's not an endorsement to be rude. That sort of behavior is a sign of weakness and lack of confidence. Stand, walk, talk, and act as if you are relaxed and supremely confident, and your own feedback system will relay it to the brain and adjust your attitude accordingly.

Later, once the drill is over, spend some time reviewing your experiences. Take special note of how much better you feel when you are mindful of posture and postive body language. The review itself can change your future actions, thoughts, and feelings. So ask:

What went right in your interactions
Were there times when it was difficult to maintain your presence? If so, what kinds of thoughts were involved in those difficult times?
What solutions did you use to remind yourself to stay on task and how might you better approach such interactions in the future?

Remember you are creating experiences that can change your future actions; atttend to the details.

Each time you practice this presence drill, try to connect more meaningfully with those you encounter within a shorter and shorter time span. Like all the drills, the more times you try this, the more you'll develop the skill set. And, of course, you'll intersperse your shop visits with plenty of brisk, fat-burining walking.