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Quote of Today
“Believe you can and you're halfway there.”
Howdy, hope you're having a wonderful Sunday ☀. Ever needed a confidence boost? Turns out we might be able to make them ourselves, keep with us. In today's lineup, we have...
Your body language may shape who you are - and our interesting confidence hack
Never Split the Difference - how to never lose a negotiation again.
⭐️ Fantastic Finds
Persuasion. Manipulation. Habits. Beliefs. Values. Why do you act the way you do? Every week, Osmosis shares insights from books on human behavior.
⚡️TedTalk of the Week
🚀 Life hack - changing your posture for two minutes can change how you feel and how other people perceive you.
🎤Yup, it's true - body language is a powerful form of communication, and even an awkward wink or handshake can convey a lot to someone else (although we don't recommend going around winking at strangers).
But here is the good news: you can use body language to your advantage.
💫 Golden Nuggets:
Faking confidence leads to actually having more confidence. Amy's team found that standing for 2 mins in “power positions” can increase testosterone by up to 20%, reduce cortisol by 20%, and increase our perceived confidence. Body language governs how others think of us and how we think of ourselves. Try the power pose below it in the mirror for two minutes next time you need a confidence boost.
Fake it till you make it, fake it till you become it. Amy Cuddy suffered a brain-damaging head injury reducing her measured IQ by two standard deviations. Amy lost her self-confidence. She was later hired at Princeton as a lecturer and felt like an imposter. Every lecture terrified her, but she practiced, practiced, and practiced until she started to excel in the role.
Power Pose Example
So go ahead, strike a pose - and see if it changes your mindset before the next stressful situation. Because who knows, maybe a little bit of body language magic will boost your confidence.
📖 Book of the Week
“He who has learned to disagree without being disagreeable has discovered the most valuable secret of negotiation.” - Chris Voss
Looking to negotiate your way to a better life? Look no further than "Never Split the Difference" - the only negotiation guide that will teach you how to haggle like a pro. Whether you're trying to get a raise, convince your significant other to watch a movie you like, or just trying to get the last slice of pizza, this book has got you covered.
Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator but negotiating isn't just for FBI agents and hostage situations - it's an essential life skill that can help you get what you want in any situation.
Some key takeaways...
Emotions are key in negotiation - you need to understand not only your own emotions, but also your counterpart's emotions, and use them to your advantage.
Mirroring is a powerful technique - repeat back what the other person is saying, using their own words and tone, to build rapport and make them feel heard (just don't go overboard and start imitating their every move, in our experience this is just irritating)
Use tactical empathy - tactical empathy involves using active listening and understanding to gain insight into the other person's emotions and needs. By recognizing and addressing these underlying concerns, you can guide the negotiation towards a more positive outcome.
Go for win-win situations - traditional negotiating tactics often involve a compromise, where each party gives up something in order to reach an agreement. The key to finding a win-win solution is to focus on the underlying interests and needs of each party, rather than just their positions. By understanding what each party truly needs, it's possible to find creative solutions that satisfy both parties.
Happy negotiating.
With love,
— Amir and Erik
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