“Effective leaders have a classic hormone profile: high levels of testosterone, low levels of cortisol (a stress-associated hormone). But levels are flexible. When an individual takes over the alpha role, their testosterone rises and their cortisol drops. We found two minutes in a power pose—arms and legs stretched out—spikes a person’s testosterone and drops their cortisol. It works for both genders. It’s the ratio that’s important.”
—Amy Cuddy (PopTech 2012), Power Postures Can Make You Feel More Powerful (via poptech)