It is fair to say that Amy Cuddy's 2012 TED Talk knocked it out of the park; in fact she hit it so hard that to date, it has been viewed over 44 million times. This talk on non-verbal communication truly speaks volumes.
For those of you wishing to increase awareness of your own non-verbal communication skills or are interested in working with The Burton Group, I cannot encourage you enough to listen to this TED Talk. There are many wonderful observations, but perhaps the biggest takeaway is that if mood can affect body language, is it possible that our body language can affect our own mind/mood? We are communicating 100% of the time, the majority of which is transmitted without saying a word. So, once we understand that non-verbal communication can change our own behavior, we realize that it is also capable of changing the impression we make on those around us, and in turn the outcome of whatever situation we are in.
Learning about body language, and indeed identifying your own ticks and tells, is so much more than being told to make eye contact, or unfold your arms. Your body affects your voice, and your voice affects your breath. Without understanding this, and the ways to put it into practice, the ability to become a confident public speaker who communicates with authenticity will remain out of reach. Body, voice, breath = delivery, content and relevance. This is not magic, it is method, and while you're honing these skills, I encourage you to "fake it until you become it."
"Don't just fake it 'til you make it; fake it 'til you become it."
Amy Cuddy
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