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Amy Cuddy TED Talk – Fake it Till You Make it

Sara Moore

1.8M views 10 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What does the phrase “Fake it till you make it” mean in your own words?
In what situations might people try to look more confident than they feel (for example, interviews, presentations, meeting new people)?
Do you think changing your body posture can change how you feel? Why or why not?

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Amy Cuddy TED Talk – Fake it Till You Make it

A quick body-language “life hack” and why nonverbals matter (00:00 – 03:40)

Transcript will load here…

1. What is the “free no Tech life hack” the speaker offers?

Change your posture for two minutes
Use a special breathing method for ten minutes
Use emoticons during job interviews
Learn how to shake hands correctly

2. According to the speaker, what do social scientists call body language?

Micro-speeches
Small talk
Silent grammar
Nonverbals

3. What does the speaker say we often forget about nonverbals?

That they only matter in politics
That they are less important than words
That they influence ourselves too
That they cannot be studied scientifically

Amy Cuddy TED Talk – Fake it Till You Make it

Power poses, power dynamics, and the biology of feeling powerful (03:40 – 11:20)

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1. What is a common nonverbal expression of power described in the talk?

Expanding and taking up space
Looking down to show respect
Keeping your hands hidden to look neutral
Closing up and avoiding space

2. In the MBA classroom example, what counts for half the grade?

Attendance
Group projects
Final exam scores
Participation

3. Which two hormones does the speaker highlight as key differences between powerful and powerless people?

Testosterone and cortisol
Serotonin and dopamine
Insulin and adrenaline
Estrogen and melatonin

Amy Cuddy TED Talk – Fake it Till You Make it

“Fake it till you become it”: a personal story and the main takeaway (11:20 – 15:17)

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1. After the speaker’s accident, what did she learn had happened to her IQ?

It increased by two standard deviations
It could not be measured anymore
It stayed the same but she felt different
It dropped by two standard deviations

2. What advice was the speaker given when she wanted to quit before an early talk?

Wait until she feels confident before presenting
Change schools to reduce pressure
Avoid public speaking and focus on writing
Fake it and do every talk she gets asked to do

3. What is the speaker’s final practical suggestion?

Always mirror other people’s body language
Never show pride because it looks arrogant
Use emoticons in negotiations to seem friendly
Do power poses for two minutes before a stressful evaluative situation

Amy Cuddy TED Talk – Fake it Till You Make it

Transcript will load here…

1. What is the main point of the talk?

Only words matter in communication
First impressions are fixed and cannot be changed
Body posture can influence feelings, behavior, and outcomes
Confidence is entirely genetic

2. Why does the speaker focus on job interviews as an example?

Because they are usually relaxed and informal
Because judges in interviews always give lots of feedback
Because interviews measure intelligence better than tests
Because most people can relate to being evaluated in that situation

3. What does “fake it till you become it” suggest?

Only experts should act confident
Repeated behavior can help you internalize a new identity or feeling
You should avoid difficult situations until you succeed
Pretending is always dishonest and harmful

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Amy Cuddy TED Talk – Fake it Till You Make it

Do you agree that “tiny tweaks can lead to big changes”? Give a real example from your life (or imagine one).
In your culture, what body language shows confidence? What body language can be seen as rude or arrogant?
Is it always helpful to “fake it”? When could it be risky or inappropriate?
If you tried a two-minute posture change before an interview or presentation, what result would you expect—and how would you test it?