Body Language Tips/How to Be More Like Tony the Tiger
How to Be More Like Tony the Tiger

How to Be More Like Tony the Tiger

Vanessa Van Edwards5 minMay 6, 2016
6 chapters
  • Introduction and Personal Background(0'001'18)
    The speaker is addicted to cereal and would love it if cereal was a basic food group, enjoying varieties like Honey Bunches of Oats, Mini Wheats, Froot Loops, and Raisin Bran.
    Tony the Tiger from Frosted Flakes stands out not just for the delicious product, but because he has exceptional nonverbal power and body language.
    Vanessa Van Edwards is the lead investigator at the Science of People, a human behavior research lab that studies hidden forces driving human actions.
    The video will explore why Tony the Tiger's body language and nonverbal communication make him an excellent role model to emulate.
  • Power Body Language and the Pride Stance(1'181'57)
    Tony the Tiger displays the ultimate pride body language stance by standing broadly with a hand on one hip, reaching upward toward the sky while pointing upward.
    Researchers from the University of British Columbia found that the broader we stand, the more powerful we feel, and this effect occurs across all cultures.
    • Hand positioned on one hip like Superman or Wonder Woman • Reaching up towards the sky • Pointing upward as if to say 'I'm going up' or 'I'm number one'
    This expansive posture increases one's sense of personal power and confidence.
  • Genuine Smile and Authentic Expression(1'572'36)
    A true happiness smile reaches all the way up to the upper cheek muscles or eyes, not just the mouth.
    Tony the Tiger's smile lines in the cartoon reach almost all the way up to his eyes, making his smile both open and hugely expressive.
    • Looks incredibly happy • Appears incredibly excited • Conveys incredible optimism
    The creators of Tony the Tiger were smart enough to understand the science behind genuine smiles and implemented it in his character design.
  • Fronting and Inclusive Body Orientation(2'363'09)
    Fronting is aiming your head, torso, and toes towards the person who is looking at you, serving as a nonverbal sign of respect.
    • Shoulders are nice and open • Facing forward directly • Toes are pointed outward as if to say 'I'm including everyone who's looking at me'
    When you walk by the cereal box or look at Tony the Tiger, you very briefly feel like he is paying attention to you personally.
    This inclusive body language is exactly what children like and appreciate.
  • Character Eye Contact and Childhood Connection(3'094'02)
    A Cornell University study examined 86 popular cereal boxes and found that 57 of them had characters looking down.
    Characters looking down at children influences their bond with that character, as children walking down grocery aisles look up at the boxes.
    • Honeynut Cheerios • Cinnamon Toast Crunch • Lucky Charms • Raisin Bran • Frosted Flakes
    While sneaky, this technique is also fascinating and effective at creating bonds with consumers, especially children and shorter adults.
  • Practical Challenge and Application(4'025'04)
    Be more like Tony the Tiger in your personal interactions with others.
    • Use strong, expansive body language to increase your powerful presence when with people • Angle your body towards people you interact with • Use a genuine smile to show warmth • Always make eye contact with the people you're with
    These practices will help you make stronger connections with others, whether in person or across cereal boxes.
    The speaker asks viewers to identify their own favorite cartoon character and invites them to share on social media.