Ear-to-Shoulder Confidence Check
Use one visible distance to correct closed, low-confidence posture
- Difficulty
- Starter
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 4
- Confidence
- 93%
This check reduces power posing to one practical signal: maximize the natural distance between the earlobe and shoulder. Anxiety, shame, or defeat often causes shoulders to rise and the head to sink, closing that gap and protecting the torso. Reverse the pattern by rolling the shoulders down and back, opening the torso, and holding the head up and out. Apply the check before a photograph, at the start of a call, while walking into a room, or when carrying a laptop. A head tilt can still communicate engagement as long as the shoulder does not rise to meet the ear. The method is not about occupying exaggerated space; it is a simple diagnostic for avoiding a visibly closed and vocally constricted posture.
Origin
Van Edwards offers the ear-to-shoulder distance as her practical alternative to broad claims about hormonal power posing.
Core principles
- 01Anxiety and defeat shrink the space between ears and shoulders
- 02Open posture supports perceived confidence
- 03A single visible check is easier to apply than a complex pose
- 04Head tilts can show engagement while preserving openness
How to run it
- 1
Check the gap
Look in a mirror or camera frame and note the distance between each earlobe and shoulder. Identify whether tension has compressed it.
Pro tip Use the check immediately before the first impression rather than only during practice.
- 2
Open the frame
Roll the shoulders down and back, open the torso, and lift the head up and out. Keep the position comfortable rather than rigid.
Watch out Do not force a painful posture.
- 3
Test movement
Practice greeting, waving, sitting, and carrying work items without collapsing the gap. Adjust how you hold objects that pull the shoulders inward.
Pro tip Carry a laptop at your side when possible instead of clamping it to the chest.
- 4
Pair openness with listening
Use a head tilt when you want to show engagement, but preserve shoulder space. Confirm that the voice remains open and supported.
Watch out Do not confuse a listening tilt with a shoulder shrug.
In the wild
A speaker leans toward the webcam with shoulders raised and says hello from a compressed posture. Before the next call, she backs up, lowers the shoulders, and lifts the head before greeting.
→ The visual impression and vocal sound become more confident.
Someone enters a meeting clutching a laptop tightly across the chest, shoulders hunched toward the ears. They change the carry position so the torso and ear-to-shoulder gap remain open.
→ The entrance no longer broadcasts smallness and protection.
Common mistakes
Chasing an exaggerated pose
Raised arms and dramatic space claiming are unnecessary. Focus on a comfortable open gap.
Shrugging through a head tilt
A head tilt signals listening only when the shoulder remains down. Lifting the shoulder closes posture and vocal space.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for profile photographs, video calls, entrances, greetings, and seated presentations.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal for treating medical posture limitations or replacing comfort and accessibility needs.
From the transcript
“All that I care about is the distance between your earlobe and your shoulder.”
“When we are anxious or defeated, we tend to roll our shoulders up. We tend to sink our head down.”
“They roll their shoulders down and back. They usually use armrests. They usually have their torso open. They have their head up and out and…”
From the episode
Episode 516: The Best of Habits & Hustle - Vanessa Van Edwards (The Behavioral Investigator)