High heels as a secret weapon: how shoes boost your self-confidence

An interview with Marie-Christine Höfler (Business Coach and Communication Trainer)

Gaby Wurth: Dear Marie-Christine, you are often described as a ‘trainer for appearance and impact’. But your work with women - and men - goes far beyond pure rhetoric. What role do high heels play in this?

Marie-Christine Höfler: A very big one! High heels are much more than fashion accessories - they are tools for impact. They change our posture, influence our charisma and - when used correctly - can boost our self-confidence enormously. My workshops are therefore never just about walking, but about how to move in high heels: confidently, confidently and authentically.

Gaby: You talk about the so-called halo effect. Why is this so important for today's businesswoman?

Marie-Christine: Because first impressions count. And it happens at lightning speed - in around 250 milliseconds, our counterpart decides whether we come across as competent, likeable or trustworthy. The halo effect describes how a single external feature - such as an elegant appearance in high heels - can positively outshine our entire effect. Clothing, shoes, posture: all of these send non-verbal signals that we can utilise. If the look is right, people often automatically think: ‘This person is professional and knows what they are doing.’

Gaby: And what happens if the performance is not coherent?

Marie-Christine: Then the halo effect turns into the opposite - the so-called horn effect. A wobbly gait in high heels conveys insecurity and immediately undermines your own credibility. That's why it's so important to learn how to walk in high heels - like a movement technique. In my programmes, we work with methods from dance, physiotherapy and body language training to specifically improve posture, stability and impact.

Gaby: Many women say: ‘High heels are beautiful, but impractical’. What do you say?

Marie-Christine: Then you probably haven't found the right shoe yet! A high heel should support the body - not weigh it down. That's why it's great that this is exactly where GLORIELLAS comes in: foot-friendly last shapes, intelligent heel geometry and cushioning footbeds are essential for turning fashion into function. If the shoe performs, the wearer can too.

Gaby: In your book ‘Selbstbewusst in High Heels’, you say that high heels are almost like personality training. What do you mean by that?

Marie-Christine: High heels demand presence. If you wear them, you have to walk consciously, show posture and position yourself in the room. This not only changes the external effect, but also the inner experience. Many women report that they suddenly feel more powerful and clearer - as if they are ‘dressing’ for a new role. And that's exactly what it's all about: Being a woman. POWER. BEAUTIFUL.

Gaby: What do you wish for every woman who dares to wear high heels (again)?

Marie-Christine: Courage. Joy. And the knowledge: It's not about being someone else - it's more about being yourself. With attitude. With style. And with shoes that carry you.

Gaby: Thank you, dear Marie-Christine, for your inspiring insights.

High heels are a symbol for many - for style, femininity, perhaps also for courage. But what they can be above all is a tool: for a conscious attitude, inner strength and a self-determined appearance.

And if in the end they not only make you look taller, but also make you a little taller - inside and out - then they have more than fulfilled their purpose.

You can find out more about Marie-Christine Höfler, her workshops and her book at: www.mariechristinhoefler.com.