Posture
- Important element of your body language
- Communicates your message with confidence
- Tips:
- before presentation, sit or stand straight
- walk confidently to the podium
- assume "basic speaker stance"
- feet 12-18 inches apart & turned out slightly --> weight evenly distributed over the balls of feet --> body leaning slightly toward audience --> hands at sides --> elbows loose
Hand Gestures
- Important to emphasize words and emotions, illustrate verbal messages, or even replace verbal messages altogether
Tips:
- keep hands by side or neutrally in front of you, unless you can use them to make a point
- keep most gestures at chest level
Avoid:
- putting them behind your back
- putting them in pockets
- using them to fidget
*Think about what you're saying and react with hand gestures to match or enhance your message*
How People View Your Speech Delivery
- Studies have shown that an audience bases their judgement of the quality of a speaker as follows:
- Body Language: 55%
- Vocal Qualities: 38%
- Words: 7%
*Over 93% of your perception as a speaker is from factors other than what you say!*
Presentation Pointers
Facial Expressions
- Communicates cognitive messages and emotions
- Enhances verbal communication by producing "feeling tone," the impression that you care about what you're seeing
- Tips:
- smile before you begin speaking
- don't be either mechanical or melodramatic; act naturally
*Think about what you're saying and react with facial expressions to match or enhance the thought*
by Randall P. Whatley
Eye Contact
- The eyes communicate powerful cognitive messages.
- Presenters should not underestimate their ability to persuade an audience with their eyes.
- Tips:
- mentally divide the room in 3-5 sections, & make eye contact with each
- when using notes:
- look at your notes --> absorb one idea --> make eye contact w/ audience --> speak your full idea --> repeat pattern