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Everyone wants to show their best side at work. Especially when an important presentation or meeting looms on the horizon. However, no matter how much we imagine what a wonderful impression we will make, how confidently we will behave in public and what miracles of eloquence we will show, usually everything remains a fantasy. In the conference room, we begin to fidget, get distracted, stammer, and get confused in our thoughts. We may not understand why this happens, but we know for sure that everyone around us notices our excitement.
One of the reasons we never meet our own expectations in important meetings is nerves. Sometimes, to cope with them, you can try to deceive yourself and imagine that you are a completely different person.
What is the Batman effect?
The point is to come up with an alter ego that will allow you to get rid of anxiety during important events once and for all. Psychologists provedthat when we distance ourselves from stressful events that may happen in the future, it helps us adapt in difficult situations.
Creating a strong alter ego is the most powerful form of this self-distancing. This is an effective way to distract yourself from momentary worries and anxieties, look at everything that is happening more impartially and maintain composure.
Why does the Batman effect work?
The tactic of using an alter ego may seem rather strange, but it has helped many to open up and show the world their unusual or strengths. For example, Sasha Fierce is an alter ego Beyoncé — louder, sexier and fearless. And Ziggy Stardust, whom he invented David Bowieallowed the introverted singer to fully express himself on stage.
University of Michigan psychology professor Ethan Cross, who first began study of the Batman effect showed that even a small change in perspective helps us control emotions more effectively.
In one study, Cross and colleagues asked participants to think about an exciting future event, such as an important exam, either as if they were inside the situation or as if they were seeing it from the outside. Those who looked at the event from the perspective of an outside observer were much less anxious and felt empowered to cope with difficulties and achieve their goals.
How to use the Batman effect
Define Your Gaps
Think about what you need to work on and what you would like to improve. The goal is to identify aspects of your personality that tend to fall by the wayside when you become anxious.
Find inspiration
Choose a person or character who motivates you to become a better person. This could be either a literal superhero like Batman or Wonder Woman, or someone you consider a superhero – your idol in the profession, your favorite actor, your best friend.
The point is not to become a real superhero, but to use the qualities that you already have and which you just have to turn into a superpower.
Get creative
Enjoy the search for your alter ego. Give him a name and imagine what he looks like. If you really want to transform into your character, it should be as real as possible. Think about his gait, voice, behavior, and then try to portray it all.
Imagine how you will use your character’s characteristics in an everyday setting. How will he behave at the interview? How to answer tricky questions during the presentation of a working project?
But the most important thing to do is to give your alter ego your best qualities. The Batman Effect is not a way to hide or change your personality, but a way to unlock your potential.
Learn more about the different effects 🧐