Sports
A basketball player with possession of the ball darts their head one way and moves the other as they approach a defender. This is intended to trick the defender into committing to a movement in the wrong direction.Experience
A head fake is an experience that differs from expectations such that you get things out of it that you never imaged despite not achieving your original goals. For example, a relaxing vacation that becomes a struggle for survival that makes you more resilient for the rest of your life.Investing
A head fake is used to describe a sudden and dramatic move in markets that causes a surge of fear or greed only to quickly reverse. This happens all the time and often causes the emotional to sell or buy at a bad time.Striking Fear Into The Hearts Of The Competition
Communications and programs that are designed to represent a threat that cause the competition to change their strategy. These are often a head fake that is not pursued seriously. For example, a technology company that begins developing a short and narrow tunnel that it claims will revolutionize transportation to distract competitors such as a high speed rail project that is actually realistic.Feint Retreat
Pretending to retreat from a strategy in the hopes of reducing competitive pressures. For example, a technology company that announces layoffs in an AI research team in the hopes that competitors will write them off as a threat. These layoffs may relate to a low performing team such that the firm continues to aggressively invest in its overall AI programs.Notes
The use of the term head fake to describe experience is credited to Randy Pausch from his well known lecture titled The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.| Overview: Head Fake | ||
Type | ||
Definition (1) | A maneuver designed to distract or mislead by moving or positioning your head in a direction contrary to the intended movement of your body. | |
Definition (2) | An experience that strongly differs from your expectations. | |
Definition (3) | Signalling a feint attack or retreat in order to disorient your opponent. | |
Related Concepts | ||
