Posture, Presence, and the Digital Age: How Technology is Re-Shaping the Way We Carry Ourselves
In an age where our screens rarely leave our hands, it’s easy to forget the quiet power of posture.
The way we stand, sit, and move through the world speaks volumes long before we utter a single word. Yet today, our collective posture is in decline — shoulders rounded, necks craned, eyes fixed downward — casualties of the DIGITAL ERA.
At June Dally-Watkins Education & Training, we’ve seen this transformation firsthand!
Our Modern Manners programmes for young people and professionals alike continue to highlight the importance of good posture, confident body language, and the ability to read non-verbal cues. Because while technology connects us faster than ever, it has also dulled some of the subtler ways we connect with each other.
Posture - Confidence - Connection
Our physical stance is not just about appearance — it’s deeply tied to confidence and self-perception.
Research shows that standing tall with open shoulders can actually boost mood and self-assurance. It’s what social psychologist Amy Cuddy famously called a “power pose.”
When we slump or shrink, we not only appear less confident, but we feel less confident.
Over time, this impacts how we, communicate, perform in interviews, and even how clothing sits and flows on our body.
Great posture doesn’t just make an outfit look better — it brings it to life.
Reading the Unspoken
Body language accounts for much of what others perceive about us;
Convey competence and warmth!
Qualities that no emoji can truly replicate.
At JDW, our Modern Manners curriculum includes practical activities to help students read and respond to these subtle cues; mirroring posture, practicing open gestures, understanding how to project calm authority in any setting - from the classroom to the boardroom.
We’re not anti-technology — far from it.
It’s an integral part of our personal and professional lives. The key is balance.
Just as we teach digital etiquette - when to put your phone away, how to make eye contact on a video call, and how to craft an email with grace -
We also remind students that Posture is part of Digital Presence.
Whether sitting at a desk, speaking on Zoom, or walking into a room, your body language remains your first introduction.
Good posture is the frame around the picture of who you are.
The Modern Manners Perspective
June Dally-Watkins built her legacy on the belief that confidence and kindness never go out of style.
In our 75th year, that message is more relevant than ever!
At JDW, we help students blend the best of both worlds — digital fluency and timeless etiquette — to ensure they not only keep up with the times but stand tall within them.
Technology may evolve, but poise, posture, and personal presentation will always be the foundation of how we show up in the world