“If you want the social benefits of being authentic, how you feel inside may have very little to do with it.” At work, we like to believe we’re evaluated on substance. In reality, we’re constantly being judged on how we perform— how authentic we seem, how prepared we appear, and how natural we look like in our role. In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks with Alexa Samaniego, Presentation Coach and Doctoral Researcher at Stanford University, about how we judge performances and performers — and why those judgments matter far more than most people realize. Drawing from behavioral research, one-on-one presentation coaching, and her background in theater and the performing arts, Alexa challenges some of the most comforting things we believe (“just be yourself,” “don’t over-rehearse,” “there’s universal best practices for presenting”) and replaces them with a more honest view of how credibility, competence, and connection are actually earned. This is not an episode about becoming fake. But it will get you thinking differently about how you show up at work if you want to better influence outcomes. You’ll leave this episode with a much more realistic understanding of how you’re really judged — and how to work with that reality, rather than against it.
SHOW NOTES
Alexa’s path from theater and the creative arts to doctoral research and presentation coaching
How her background in performance shapes the research questions she studies
What organizational behavior research looks like in practice: an overview of the PhD arc
Why most people under-rehearse presentations — despite clear benefits of repetition
Why fear of “sounding fake” leads people to underperform
Alexa’s two distinct definitions of authenticity: authentic to self vs. authentic to role
Why being perceived as authentic matters more than feeling authentic
Spontaneity and consistency as two key drivers of being seen as authentic
How researchers measure authenticity and test perceptions in lab and field settings
The uncomfortable truth: social benefits depend on how you come across, not how you feel
Why we are always playing roles at work — and why separating intentions from behaviors matters
“It only feels inauthentic because it’s not habitual yet”
Insights from actors on how to step into a role without losing yourself
The “outside-in” effect: how dress, voice, and physical behavior shape perception
Tradeoffs between authenticity, polish, and competence at work
Alexa’s third research stream: the double-edged sword of being (and looking) prepared
When preparation signals competence — and when it backfires as “trying too hard”
Why “everything depends”: how Alexa’s coaching changed after doing her research
How universal presentation advice can fail across gender, culture, and context
Drawing from the outside world: how Alexa’s theater background differentiates her research lens
Horror films, storytelling, and what they reveal about authenticity and self-expression
Alexa’s hard truth: research is powerful, but techniques must be practiced before being used in high-stakes settings
BIO AND LINKS
Alexa Samaniego is a Presentation Coach and a doctoral researcher in Organizational Behavior (Micro) at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her research is inspired by her background in theatre and the performing arts, and examines how speakers and audiences judge others. Her research informs her work as a presentation coach in the Stanford Oral Communication Program and with TEDxStanford. Prior to beginning her PhD, Alexa worked as a research associate at Achievers Workforce Institute and Columbia Business School. She received her BS in Business Psychology from UC San Diego and her MS in Applied Psychology from San Diego State University. Alexa also specializes in portrait photography and creating short horror films.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Michael Wenderoth. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Michael Wenderoth och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
