How to appear more powerful: Body language experts reveal the tricks that make you look confident INSTANTLY - and why you should always keep hand gestures shoulder-width

• Body language expert Blanca Cobb has shared how to appear more confident 
• She said it's vital to focus on your body language and non-verbal communication
• Dr Diederik Gelderman also said most people don't realise this significance 
• It's important to make eye contact, avoid pointing and correct your posture 

If you want to appear more confident and 'powerful' at work and in social situations, adjusting your body language could be the key to your success.  

Body language expert Blanca Cobb said if you want to present confidence or power you must practice specific skills in non-verbal communication and posture.

Dr Diederik Gelderman, a certified trainer and founder of Body Language Australia, agrees and believes everybody is born with 'super powers' that can increase their influence and even double their business success.

'Most people don't realise how important body language and non-verbal communication is in their daily lives,' Dr Gelderman said.

Correct your posture

Whether you're in a work meeting, going for a job interview or at a function, it's essential to maintain a good posture in order to avoid appearing sluggish and bored. 

'Assess your own posture,' Ms Cobb told The Thirty, 'good posture will make you look and feel more confident.'

'A lot of times women who aren't feeling confident, they'll look down. Make sure that your chin is up, that your head is level with your shoulders.'

She also recommends walking at a medium pace; not too fast or too slow.

Be aware of gestures and pointing

When speaking with your hands, it's important to avoid making a lot of circles and ensure you don't point at someone as this can seem rude, Ms Cobb said.  

'It's almost like a non-verbal highlighter, but you want to be in control of those movements,' said Ms Cobb.

Interestingly, Ms Cobb said it's important to 'keep your gestures within shoulder distance' when speaking to one person to appear more in control and less over-excited.

Maintain eye contact

While it's the polite thing to do, many people find maintaining eye contact uncomfortable or 'intense' in social situations.  

If a person breaks or resists eye contact, it can also be an indication of how they're feeling or if they're telling the truth so Ms Cobb suggests keeping eye contact within an 'invisible triangle' if they feel 'uncomfortable'.

This triangle can be drawn between the outside the corner of the right eye brow, corner of the left eye and the tip of the nose.   

This, she said, ' still gives the perception that you're looking at somebody without directly looking at them in their eye,' Ms Cobb said.

Ensure you have a 'high power' body language

High power body language occurs when you take up space; your chest is out, shoulders are back and you stand tall and confident – this instantly makes you more credible, gives you more charisma and gets people to like, trust and respect you more.

'Low power body language is the opposite and occurs when you make yourself 'smaller', when you occupy less space and in this situation, people are less likely to find you credible and less likely to trust and respect you,' Dr Gelderman said.

'Checking your mobile phone typically puts you into a low body power situation. This will most definitely impact the outcome of your meeting. So, leave your phone in the car.

Place your feet hip-distance apart

By standing with your feet slightly apart is one simple but effective way to come across sturdier, stabler and powerful.

'Let's say you're standing up, that your feet are together - you look like a pencil,' Ms Cobb said.

This tip along with maintaining a good posture work very well together.

Show a great smile

'A smile is the only facial micro-expression - there are seven - which can be detected at 300 yards,' Dr Gelderman explained.

'Again, like the visible hands, a smile engenders trust and likeability – this also goes back to our caveman roots.

'A fake smile - where the cheeks are not raised, nor are the wrinkles around the eyes present - can be easily differentiated by most people you meet,' he added'Ensure that when you meet people, you show a genuine smile.'