How do you stand?

I did a keynote in Macau a few years ago. As usual I had the Ilocana (a term of endearment I have for my wife Lilia) with me. After the work my very kind and generous client surprised us with a treat and brought us to a show – a water show.

We were fascinated as we watched highflying trapeze artists swing from one place to another and dive from what seems to be hundreds of feet high into a magnificent stage that converts into a pool. The audience marveled at how the artists delivered their acts with grace and precision.

I thought to myself that these artists/ athletes must have taken years to perfect their craft and wondered how many injuries they had to suffer for them to reach their level of mastery.

There is something similar with these artists/athletes and ballet dancers. Then it hit me. It is the way they handle their posture. I have never seen a ballet dancer slouching. Their balance, their equilibrium and most importantly their posture is not only aesthetically desirable but is a matter of life and death as well in this dangerous profession of athletics and acrobatics.

One slump of the shoulders, one false move and one slouching of the body can mean “show’s over” for the high-wire acrobat or the partner whose very life depends on his or her movement. In this case, posture really matters.

Now you and I are not expected to go up a structure and swing and dive like these athletes and acrobats for a living and maybe this is the reason why we slouch most of the time and more often without us even noticing that we actually do.

The Ilocana constantly calls my attention when I slouch especially when all of my attention is riveted on the screen as my fingers bang the keyboard away doing another article or writing another page for my new book.

Like a schoolteacher she would give me a stern look and say, “watch your posture” and then I will straighten up. When she sees me walking up, down or around the stage doing my training or presentations during break time, the schoolteacher of my life would say, “Sweetheart, you are slouching again.”

You are probably wondering why I would make such a big deal out of posture and what it has got to do with doing business and success but let me tell you one discovery I had as I was studying books and audio materials on public speaking. This is what I discovered. That in the eyes of the audience as well as employees, THE BAROMETER FOR SUCCESS IS POSTURE!

A good posture is a sign of assurance, good health and confidence. A good posture is actually a knee-jerk reaction and an assurance every time something good happens to us.

For example, when somebody tells a nice funny story, when the boss announces promotions, or when the client signs on the big order and an immense jolt of happiness hits your heart and you feel like a winner.

Watch the signs and the behaviors as your head jerks up automatically, your shoulders straighten back, a smile forms on your face and a sparkle lights up your eyes. It is as if the body releases its instinctive reaction every time you and I experience a “win.” And all these exude confidence. This is the posture of winners. Their posture reveals their confidence. They move with assurance. There is a soft smile on their face that shows they are in control of the situation and you cannot help but be inspired and encouraged.

This is the posture that wins the hearts of their people and trust me, I have been in the presence of some of the most powerful business people in this country and they all exhibit this winning stance.

Perhaps it would be good for us to imitate their winning posture. Maybe we do but we are just not aware of the ramifications of it.

But the key to this is confidence that is derived from knowledge and self-improvement, assurance that what we do is right and honorable. A good posture that is indicative that you and I are in control of the situation and trust that we are doing things that are not to fulfill selfish interest but for the good of others. “Watch your posture.” “Do not slouch.” Now you know why I love my schoolteacher.

(Francis Kong’s Big Event is coming up! “Stand Out for Outstanding Performance” will be held on Sept. 9, 2015 at the Metro Tent inside Metro Walk along Ortigas Blvd. Be inspired and learn from speakers Chinkee Tan, Bryan Kong and Karen Davila as they share principles on how to become great achievers. For further inquiries contact Inspire at 09158055910 or call 632-6310912 or 6310660 for details)