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Week 8 [21.05-27.05.2018] Your body language may shape who you are

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Amy Cuddy reveals that we can change other people’s perceptions - and perhaps even our own body chemistry - simply by shifting body positions.



1. Given what Amy has said in the presentation, do u believe that you can pretend to be confident using appropriate body language? 
2.Do you pay attention to your body language in everyday or special situations like group presentations?
3. After seeing this presentation, will you try high-power posing?

Comments

Lukasz Mroczek said…
It's almost obvious that we can use our body language to pretend to be confident as also for other purposes. If it's properly used, body language may be a very useful tool for many negotiations, discussions etc. I often try to control my body language and pay attention to it particularly in special situations and occasions. I think I'm not going to try high-power posing. I'm ok with actual outcome of my body language and I will try to keep it as it is or maybe improve a little bit.
Unknown said…
Based on what was said in the video, we can make a statement that our body language influences in some way how we are perceived by others. So, in my opinion, we can simulate confidence using this technique but I think that our facial expression plays a big role in this situation too. We can pretend to be confident with hand gestures but our real emotions expressed on the face can tell a different story.
I do not pay that much attention when it comes to my body language in group presentations or in simple day-to-day interaction with people. I think that this is the least noticeable thing in communication by people.
I think that we could all agree that high-power posing sometimes can look very unnatural and fake and when you doing this all the time it becomes very awkward.
Unknown said…
I’m skeptical to the extent how it should help with confidence since if we pay attention to our body we take away focus from for example our speech. This might be a little trick that will somewhat work but, in the end, it comes down to practice. Only when we know we are good at something we can be confident that we can do it. Most of the time I don’t pay attention to my body language. Only in special situations I become stressed and self-conscious. And I don’t particularly enjoy it. However, I’ll try high-power posing a try and see if it has any actual effect in those tough situations.
Unknown said…
From what I could understand it's not about pretending but rather about becoming confident. I don't think I can pretend to be confident. I think body language is important but I'm not willing to improve mine at the moment.
During public presentations I prefer to focus on the content I deliver. I try to master the speech and be honest and clear about the message I'm sending. When it comes to my body language I just try to avoid ruining the presentation.
I'm not going to do this. I think I can manage myself well enough when under pressure.
Jakub Nietupski said…
Your body language can definitely affect the way you feel. Especially since you've been told that certain postures are "low-power", when you find yourself in one of those then you will feel less confident probably.
I don't pay enough attention to my body language, I focus too much on what I'm talking but I should definitely try to be more aware on my posture and gestures so I can communicate my ideas in a more efficient and clear way.
Iman Masjedi said…
In my opinion, the use of body language to speak creates more attention from the listener.In many cases, your feelings can be transmitted through the body language to the others.
yes,because it will make it easier for the listener to feel confident in the listener and transfer the content and understand the concepts of my speech.
Learn new tips and how to make a better speech.
Foodocado said…
I am quite sure that the body language can increase our self-confidence and make us feel better about ourselves. It can be used while negotiating, job interviews or presentation.

I don't pay attention to my body language at all. I try to do as minimum gestures as it's possible regardless of the situation.

I don't think I need it. I want to keep my body language on the same level as it is right now.
There is such saying "fake it till you make it" even pretending to be someone you want to be is actually an effort in itself, and if you make enough effort you will get what you want. I do not pay too much attention to my body language. I don't feel the need of powerposing, and as a pretty honest person i don't feel that it is a right thing and usually it ends with people being overly aggresive and it sucks.
Anna Koca said…
I think that whatever you may try to pretend, it is always hard to try to hide your inner self behind tricks and deceit. I think that sooner or later the tricks may prove ineffective because it is what you believe that shapes your appearances and not what you make yourself believe.

In everyday situations I try to look confident, but most of all I try to live my life the way that makes me feel confident. So probably if I felt that certain situation would make me feel uncomfortable, I would rather try to avoid it and find a detour that would put me in a more favourable position.

I think high-power posing is an interesting concept, however it is not for everybody. As mentioned before, some of the tricks may seem a little artificial and far-fetched to someone who is not good at impressions (which is myself).
Jakub Lisicki said…
I believe that people can pretend to be powerful and they may even succeed to some degree. The problems start to arise when something throughly unexpected makes us vulnerable all over again. These are just some tricks which would not always work. We have to work on ourselves in order to truly become confident. It is achievable, but it's not as easy at it seems. Not for all of the people, at least.
It's pretty natural to notice how other people behave. Even when we don't put much effort into that, our subconsciousness takes over and judges other people by their actions. This is why it's so important to take over the control over our own bodies and show that we aren't afraid of speaking out.
This question is pretty much out of context - I don't plan of acting unnaturally anytime soon, just to try out the tips from the video. I try to be confident anytime I have a chance though. It doesn't always work out as easy as we plan it to.
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
I think so. Appropriate use of body language can say a lot about us.

It depends on the situation. I often pay attention to it. You can get a lot of information about a person from your body language. This is a nice thing. It's also difficult to deduce something from it, but I think that there are people who specialize in it and know how to read body language.

Hard to say. I think I will try to use it sometimes. But rather he doubts that I would remember about it in a few days.
Unknown said…
1. I don't like this point of view but when i start thinking about it... it seems true. Now I see that i try to incourage myself in that way. I try to stand straight and look like i will know everything and it works.



2. According to the previous point, I realised that i do those things subconscious. Few years ago i was at special course about how to create our image. When i start use it i feel more confident.


3. I think that no. I don' t have a big problems in this case.
Unknown said…
Given what Amy has said in the presentation, do u believe that you can pretend to be confident using appropriate body language? 
I think it is better to change attitude, then the body adopts the changes. Changing body posture is also good idea to cheat the brain and change the attitude.
Do you pay attention to your body language in everyday or special situations like group presentations?
Sometimes, not all the time.
After seeing this presentation, will you try high-power posing?
Sure I will try this to check it will work.
Oh definitely! In fact its not only the body language that can give you a confidence "aura" all of our communication skills given enough practice can give us a confident feel. Body language is one of them!
To be hones i dont most of the time. or i should say i do but not all of it. When we think of it its hard to control whole body language without practice im used to using my upper body to influence audience during conversations or presentations but unfortunately im uncomfortable standing in front of people i do know so the way i walk and move around the stage is usually awful.
No, not really. While having methods and ways to assert confidence and dominance by body language im more concerned about the merit of my presentation. If a presentation and my preparation is good i should not need any technique to look like a confident person because i will be confident on stage anyway.
Unknown said…
I'm sure that we can pretend to be confident. Even if we are not, we can mislead other using our body language. People base their opinion whether if we are self-confident on our body language and voice, it needs some, but we can work on it and be experts in controlling our body language.

Often I try to use some of my attention on my body behaviour. I tend to overuse my hands while talking. What your body does is really important if you want to share your knowledge with others. It helps to keep your audience focused and interested. I regard that everyone should read about how to control their body language or participate in at least one course.

Great power comes with great responsibility. The problem with body language knowledge is that it can be used in a wrong way. There would be some cases when I would use it, but I will keep in mind that over-usage will end up with adverse effect.
Unknown said…
1.I think that no, it is not possible to just pretend. Once a person believes in himself, his movements will themselves show this confidence.

2. Yes, I give time to the body language. I listen to what my subconscious tells me. For example, I may be unsure of something, or I do not like my interlocutor. If something does not suit me in my movements, I find the reason and change the attitude.

3. Yes, of course, already tried
Yes, definatelly. Standing straight and keeping your head high will improve our confidency about ourselves. Once I heard about super-hero pose, there were some researches about this and it turned out that it could really help you, for example before job interview you should try to stand like a super hero (I know it sounds silly) and that would increase your confidency and you would look better in the eyes of employer. Yes, everytime before my presentation I keep saying to myself that I shouldn't totter and in the end I keep doing it. But yes, in everyday situations I am trying to control my body language. Someday I will definatelly try the power posing , probably before some serious presentation.
Unknown said…

I think yes, you can pretend to be more confident by controlling your body language. There are certain moments of conversation or acting when having a confidence, even a fake one, is most important.
Yes i do and not only during group presentations. You will be more respected or more interesting for someone when you act or pretend to be confident about yourself.
I am not sure about high-power posing but there are some situations that require some actions, like eye contacrt or physical contact, during conflict, flirt, job interviews and ect.
Unknown said…
Does your habit to controlling your body language transform into natural way of expressing yourself?
Unknown said…
Yeah it is true, but don't you think that your hand gesture can also influence your facial expression?
I can't agree with you, your self presentation is very important, it is the first thing that you notice when you meet somebody new. You could think that this is not most important thing but this is great part of whole person impression.
Unknown said…
Nobody like stressful situations, but high-power posing is a great tool to resist and take control of that kind of that. Once I had a bachelor presentation, I get really stressed I can't even say a word. I tried some tricks that Amy mentioned and it really helped.
Unknown said…
But the main key of the presentation is that you can really pretend and become confident with it, fake it till your make it. I think that your body language during presentations is as important as your message. If you won't look and sound confident, nobody will care what are you talking about.
Unknown said…
If you want to practice your posture and gestures, the best way is to record your rehearsal and watch yourself from the audience perspective. For sure it will be awkward at the beginning, but more you practice the more you will learn how to control your body and it will become more natural and familiar.
I think that body language can told more about human and not only body language but also look (face). Last 8 years I have learned to feel what type of person before me just by looking in to face. I have noticed that most of human has separated by type of look and behave yourself in special way. In most cases this possibility help me to exclude unreliable people from my circle and exclude future problems.

I think my method much more quicker and give me more information than behavior. I even have heard that police some times can detect killers just by photo that confirms my theory.
1. It is tricky question. If you try to pretend to be confident for many times you will just get used to it if you do it proplerly or you will crumble even more if you fail.
2. I do in important to me situations when i want to make good impression.
3. Nope, i think it looks like you try to establish some kind of dominance over other person and im always trying to find same language as person that i speak with.
Unknown said…
1. Given what Amy has said in the presentation, do u believe that you can pretend to be confident using appropriate body language?
Yes of course, there are so many "tricks" to pretend confident...
2.Do you pay attention to your body language in everyday or special situations like group presentations?
Always and I find it very helpful and it helps getting people attention.
3. After seeing this presentation, will you try high-power posing?
I'll try.
Unknown said…
Sometimes i try to use and control my body language. Like, i think im good at it. The problem is, i usually try to talk peacefully and quietly to all, so thats what i try to express all the time. And i definitely wouldnt like to use some high-power posing
Cecylia said…
Yes I do believe that we can pretend to be confident using body language because it can be like a game. It seems logic because human nature consist on lying and using an appropriate body language to hide your true being seems legit. I think that I use some of the body language movements but it's kind of natural and cannot give an example about this situation. when there are special situation I definitely keep my eyes focused on the person that i'm speaking to and also to arms . i keep them open. Uhm maybe one day i will try but i don't have a need right now and neither any occasion to use this.

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