Your physical energy is a key non-verbal signal of competence and reliability. Potential hires, investors, and partners subconsciously assess your energy to gauge if you can deliver on promises. Low energy can communicate untrustworthiness, causing you to lose high-caliber opportunities.

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Being playful and charming in all interactions—even with a wealth manager—can lead to better results than being demanding or passive. This non-sexual "flirting" builds rapport and makes people more willing to help you. It's a practiced skill for navigating professional and personal life more effectively.

In a collaborative setting like a mastermind, individual energy management directly impacts the group's collective outcome. Actions like getting enough sleep, avoiding alcohol, and staying off your phone are not just for personal benefit; they are a way to honor everyone's time by showing up fully present.

There are no universal cues for lying. Instead of assuming a gesture like crossed arms means someone is being deceptive, view it as a change in their state. This change is a signal to become curious and ask clarifying questions.

A leader's emotional state isn't just observed; it's physically mirrored by their team's brains. This neurological "energy transference" sets the tone for the entire group, meaning a leader's unmanaged stress can directly infect team dynamics and performance.

Molly's approach to building trust centers on "affective presence"—focusing on the subconscious emotional footprint you leave. Instead of pitching, she works to disarm people and make them feel understood through fully present listening. This creates a sense of safety and certainty that is more persuasive than any sales script.

The communication event doesn't end once you've delivered a message. You must also have the emotional and mental capacity to handle the subsequent dialogue, questions, and responses. If you lack the energy for the entire process, consider postponing.

True self-awareness involves publicly admitting your weaknesses. By openly stating what you're bad at (e.g., 'I suck at 99% of things'), you build immense credibility and trust when you then declare your strengths. This approach validates your expertise in your core competencies.

Stanford's famous "Interpersonal Dynamics" course teaches a counterintuitive leadership principle: sharing personal vulnerabilities and imperfections doesn't weaken a leader's position. Instead, it builds trust and fosters stronger connections, shifting relationships from a mystery to something one can actively shape through authentic behavior.

A bad boss is the number one predictor of job dissatisfaction. Because emotions are contagious, leaders have a professional duty to manage their own well-being. Working on your own happiness is not a selfish act but a gift to the people you are responsible for.

We often mistake skills for strengths. A more powerful definition of a strength is any activity that energizes and motivates you. To boost morale and performance, individuals and leaders should focus on aligning work with these energy-giving tasks, rather than just focusing on competency.

Your Perceived Energy Level Determines Whether Potential Hires and Partners Trust You | RiffOn