Question 1. Why do you think that the speaker refers to the old saying "fake it till you make it"?
Answer. The speaker refers to this saying in connection with two aspects:
- Do nonverbal govern our perception about ourselves?
- Do our bodies change our minds?
Research studies reveal that nonverbal govern others' perception about us. Also, there are facts depicting the impact of our mind on the body. However, the speaker wanted to test it the other way round, i.e. is it possible to feel powerful and happy by pretending it?. The experiments she and her colleagues conducted proved it true. It is the reason she said "fake it"; though by faking she doesn't mean to be just an imposter, rather she wants people to internalize a real feeling of actually being there.
Question 2. In what way does she change the saying what are the reason behind the change?
Answer. During her didactic lecture, Amy Cuddy changed the saying to "fake it till you become it." Change occurred because Amy wanted to focus on internalization by ruling out the feeling of fraud. The previous saying may give the impression that we are just an imposter and do not internalize that feeling in a real sense. However, the word become emphasizes on doing it enough until we imbibe that feeling inside us. Simply put, it is of no use doing power posing for a while without actually feeling powerful. We need to do it until we feel it and become powerful.
Question 3. Why do you think the body language is critical to how others perceive us?
Answer. The language of the body is a non-verbal communication that highlights our confidence, enthusiasm, passion, comfort, friendliness, and other skills that we, usually, call soft skills. As the speaker has said, body language substantially matters in interviews and selectors, more often than not, prefer candidates with high power poses. Succinctly put, the confident and positive body language marks a positive impact on others and vice versa. As people can perceive us by our verbal communication, so they can by our non-verbal communication also.
Reference
Cuddy, A. (2012, June). Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from TED: http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are
