Amy Cuddy TED Talk - Fake it Till You Make it

Summary

This engaging talk explores the profound impact of body language on our self-perception and how it can influence our lives. The speaker introduces the concept of 'power poses' and their effects on hormones like testosterone and cortisol, which can alter our feelings of power and stress. Through personal anecdotes and scientific research, the talk encourages individuals to adopt confident postures to not only project strength to others but also to internalize that power, ultimately transforming their mindset and behavior.

Takeaways

• 🧍‍♂️ Posture Matters: Changing your posture for just two minutes can significantly impact your life by affecting your feelings and behavior.
• 🔍 Self-Audit: The speaker encourages the audience to audit their current body language to understand their natural state of openness or closed-off posture.
• 🤔 Nonverbal Communication: Body language is a powerful form of nonverbal communication that can influence others' perceptions and judgments about us.
• 🤝 The Power of a Handshake: A handshake or lack thereof can communicate a lot about our intentions and feelings towards others, even influencing political outcomes.
• 🦁 Dominance and Power: Nonverbal expressions of power involve expanding one's presence, such as taking up space and opening up the body.
• 🐥 Universal Expressions: The expressions of pride and power are universal and can be found across different cultures and even in those who are congenitally blind.
• 🤗 Power Dynamics: High and low power dynamics are evident in classroom settings, with some students exhibiting dominant body language and others appearing more submissive.
• 👩‍🏫 Gender and Participation: Women tend to exhibit more submissive body language, which may be related to their lower participation rates in evaluative situations.
• 💪 Fake It Till You Make It: The idea that adopting powerful body language can lead to actual feelings of power and confidence, affecting one's behavior and outcomes.
• 🧠 Minds and Hormones: The speaker discusses how our body language can influence our thoughts, feelings, and even hormone levels, such as testosterone and cortisol.
• 🚀 Small Changes, Big Impact: Small adjustments in body language before stressful situations can lead to significant changes in how we perform and are perceived.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's presentation?

The speaker focuses on the impact of body language, particularly power dynamics and non-verbal expressions, on both how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us.

What is the initial 'no tech life hack' suggested by the speaker?

The speaker suggests changing one's posture for two minutes as a 'no tech life hack' to potentially change the way one's life unfolds.

Why does the speaker ask the audience to perform a 'body audit' at the beginning of the presentation?

The speaker asks for a 'body audit' to make the audience aware of their current body language and posture, which will be revisited later to demonstrate the impact of body language on self-perception.

What is the significance of the handshake in non-verbal communication according to the speaker?

The handshake is highlighted as an important non-verbal cue that can lead to discussions and judgments about the individuals involved, even influencing media coverage.

What does the speaker mean by 'non-verbals' in the context of social science?

In the context of social science, 'non-verbals' refer to non-verbal cues or body language that people use to communicate, which can convey messages as effectively as spoken language.

How do social scientists study the effects of body language on judgments and inferences?

Social scientists study the effects of body language by observing how people make judgments and inferences based on non-verbal cues, and how these judgments can predict significant life outcomes such as hiring or dating decisions.

What is the 'Pride' expression as described by the speaker and how is it universal?

The 'Pride' expression involves raising the arms in a V-shape with the chin slightly lifted, which is a non-verbal cue of power and victory. It is universal as it is exhibited by both sighted and congenitally blind individuals when they win.

What is the relationship between power dynamics and body language in the animal kingdom?

In the animal kingdom, power dynamics are expressed through body language that involves expanding or making oneself bigger, taking up space, and opening up, which is a common behavior across different species.

How does the speaker's research relate to the power dynamics observed in an MBA classroom?

The speaker observes that MBA students exhibit a range of power non-verbals, from expansive and dominant behaviors to more closed and submissive postures, which also correlate with their level of participation and performance in the classroom.

What is the 'fake it till you make it' concept that the speaker explores with her collaborator Dana Carney?

The 'fake it till you make it' concept explores whether adopting powerful body language temporarily can lead to actual feelings of power and changes in behavior, potentially affecting outcomes such as participation and performance.

What are the physiological changes associated with power and submission as discussed by the speaker?

The speaker discusses that powerful individuals tend to have higher levels of testosterone (the dominance hormone) and lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), while the opposite is true for those who feel submissive or powerless.

How does the speaker's personal experience with feeling like an 'impostor' relate to the concept of 'faking it till you become it'?

The speaker's personal experience of feeling like an 'impostor' at Princeton and her subsequent journey of overcoming this feeling by 'faking it' illustrates the concept that adopting confident behaviors can eventually lead to genuine confidence and competence.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the application of 'faking it till you become it' in stressful situations?

The speaker advises taking two minutes before entering a stressful evaluative situation to adopt powerful body language, such as in an elevator, bathroom stall, or behind a closed door, to potentially influence one's mindset and performance.