Photo by Jonas Kakaroto on Unsplash
The ancient maxim “Mind over matter” is well-known, but a compelling counterpart in leadership may be “Matter influences the mind.” While optimizing PropTech to create human-centric spaces, don’t forget to consider how something as simple as body language impacts your leadership style and the cognitive outcomes in your organization. It’s an extreme juxtaposition of ideas, but humans are not yet exiting the stage. Being present with your body language and that of others is important.
The Science of Body Language
The body’s posture speaks volumes. Amy Cuddy, a renowned social psychologist, has asserted that body language can influence other people’s perceptions and change our hormones and behavior. In her studies, she discusses the idea of “power poses,” wherein adopting open, expansive postures can increase testosterone levels and decrease cortisol, thus making you feel more confident and less stressed. In contrast, closed-off, contracted postures can have the opposite effects1.
The Multifamily Leadership Implications
Understanding this relationship is important, where decisions have an immediate and lasting impact on your team, customer, vendor partner, and property’s performance. Suppose you are perpetually in a “closed” posture, crossing your arms during discussions on important topics like PropTech innovations or human-centric strategies. In that case, you may inadvertently constrain your thinking, leading to less optimal solutions.
Open Body, Open Mind
On the other hand, adopting an “open” posture with arms at your sides or on the table in front of you promotes a more expansive mindset. This could be especially beneficial in the creative aspects of your work, such as devising new marketing strategies or rethinking the design of your multifamily spaces. It might even spur disruptive innovation by enabling you to think more freely and absorb diverse perspectives: an open posture leads to an open mind, thoughts, and ideas.
Tech-Enhanced Training
Interestingly, an emerging trend exists in utilizing Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies for body language training within leadership development. These tools can simulate real-life scenarios, allowing you to practice open postures in a risk-free environment and receive immediate feedback2.
Quick Adaptation: The Proactive Strategy
Adjusting your body language could be your new secret weapon for adjusting to market changes and unexpected situations. Depending on the situation’s context and cognitive demands, you can consciously alternate between “open” and “closed” postures.
For example, adopting a more closed posture during risk assessment phases can help focus your thinking, while shifting to an open posture during brainstorming sessions can promote innovation and collaboration. This dual approach equips you with broader cognitive tools to address diverse challenges ahead of us in the multifamily space and life in general.
Embracing the power of body language adds another layer to your leadership tool kit. Beyond your human-centric management techniques, your body can lead your brain to new ideas if you let it.
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