Poise

Poise is a term with multiple meanings. In everyday use, it denotes a state of composure, self-possession, and balanced, confident bearing. It can also describe readiness or the manner in which someone presents themselves, such as a poised posture or a poised performance. As a verb, to poise can mean to place in a position or to prepare for action.

The word historically derives from notions of weight and balance, with early senses linked to equilibrium. Over time, its meaning broadened to include mental and emotional steadiness, leading to the common use of “poise” to describe dignified confidence, grace, and even the assurance seen in public speaking or formal behavior.

In social and professional contexts, poise is valued as an indicator of control under pressure. People described as poised tend to exhibit calm speech, measured gestures, direct eye contact, and steady posture. Poise is often associated with leadership, diplomacy, and performance arts, where balance between composure and expressive energy contributes to effective communication.

In science, poise is a unit of dynamical viscosity in the CGS system. The symbol is P, and 1 poise equals 0.1 pascal-second (Pa·s); equivalently, 1 Pa·s equals 10 poise. Although the poise remains a standard term in some fields, most modern practice reports viscosity in SI units (Pa·s).

See also: composure, bearing, viscosity, dynamics.