Show me the money! Was it just a great movie line? After exploring the science of body language you may be shouting, “show me the money,” before your next big performance.
“Show me the money,” was from the movie Jerry Maguire. Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, is a hot-shot sports agent. Feeling he is at the peak of his game, he writes a mission statement about the dishonesty in the sports management business which prompts his firm to fire him. Maguire, confident in his ability and relationships reaches out to all of his clients.
Maguire, after being rejected by all of his high-profile clients calls Rod Tidwell, played by Cuba Gooding, Jr., who is the last client on his list. Maguire’s confidence having been crushed tries to convince Tidwell to stick with him.
Jerry, slumped over his desk, with his head down and sweating under the mounting pressure begins his appeal. Rod, is not convinced Jerry Maguire really loves him. Tidwell forces Jerry to rise from his slumped posture by requiring him to shout, “Show me the money,” repeatedly, at the top of his lungs, until he is convinced Jerry Maguire believes he can properly represent him in contract negotiations.
“Doesn’t it make you feel good just to say that!?”
— Rod Tidwell, Jerry Maguire
At first glance, Jerry McGuire was faking it until he makes it. Amy Cuddy, a professor and researcher at Harvard Business School says,
“Don’t fake it till you make it. Fake it till you become it.”
The scene in Jerry Maguire is funny. Rod Tidwell gets Jerry Maguire to shout, “Show me the money,” repeatedly and in the process, Jerry is physically and mentally transformed. Was this just great acting or is there something to be learned? Amy Cuddy has proven it was not just an act in a movie but there is real science involved.
Cuddy, a social psychologist and expert in body language and non-verbal communication, has conclusively proven that changing the position of our body can have significant and lasting impact.
“Our bodies change our minds, and our minds can change our behavior, and our behavior can change our outcomes.”
The non-verbals of our body language can;
- Govern how people think and feel about us.
- Change the way we think about ourselves.
- Positively change our performance.
- Increase our feelings of control.
- Lead us to be more optimistic about the future
- Enhance our goal-orientation and focus.
- Make us more likely to take positive action.
How we stand, sit, and carry ourselves demonstrate our level of passion, enthusiasm, confidence, comfort, charisma, and presence.
The science surrounding body language is significant! Cuddy found that by holding our body in an expansive, confident, “high-power” pose, even when we don’t feel confident, for as little as two minutes, we set off changes in our body chemistry that can affect our chances for success. Cuddy’s TED Talk is worth watching and sharing.
“Fake it until you become it” is a choice to act confidently until you actually are confident. Play the role, dress the part, and act the part. The science of body language is powerful and can change the course and trajectory of your life.
Would you invest two minutes before an important presentation, test, performance, date, or meeting to increase your chances for success and enhance your personal impact?
Have you ever faked it until you became it?
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