Are You Aware of Your Cues?
In this segment of her YouTube talk, Vanessa Van Edwards outlines a framework of four social cues that convey warmth and competence to others. She categorises cues into (1) Words – the specific phrasing, emojis, and tone of written messages, illustrating warm versus competent text examples; (2) Body Language – facial expressions, gestures, posture, eye contact, handshakes, and overall movement; (3) Voice – how words are spoken, including tone, volume, pitch, pace, and cadence, emphasizing that tone often outweighs the literal words; and (4) Ornaments – visual elements such as clothing colors, background settings, desk props, and profile pictures. Together, these cues shape how people perceive trustworthiness and ability, guiding the audience to become more aware of the signals they send.
