To speak memorably, learn how to command a room—including physically! Here are 5 body language mistakes you need to stop making in your presentations.
How good is your physical expression in your presentations? For your answer to be positive, you have to understand and be using body language effectively.
There's a ton of paint-by-numbers body language advice out there by "experts." You've seen it. "Whoa! She just tucked her hair behind her ear. Here's what that means!" People whose profession depends upon watching body language understand that one isolated gesture means little. Paying attention to the context of what's happening at that moment is all-important. If anything, a single movement may be a reason to pay more attention to what was just said.
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If you want to move with purpose for best results, you have to chuck all that free (and well worth the price!) advice. How many leaders do you know who hold themselves and move in specific ways because someone told them they ought to do so?
Instead, invest yourself in accepting this general rule: Do what you find natural in terms of movement. Make your physical performance spontaneous yet controlled. In other words, learn how to create natural movement and gestures. That's what this post is about.
Performance Habits to Recognize and Avoid
Prescriptions for public speaking that purport to make you appear "natural" simply don't work. More helpful is learning how to avoid the mistakes that will brand you as an newbie. I discuss five of them below. Avoid them at all costs if you want your speech to be engaging, rather than one that elicits sly grins and rolling eyes (now there are some easy-to-read gestures).
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1. Poor Eye Contact with Your Audience
What's happening here? Is the speaker's name written on those 3 x 5 cards? Does he or she need to be reminded of the name of their company?
Of course not. The real culprit is self-consciousness. Notes or a PowerPoint deck are familiar objects in a sea of strangers—in fact, they can seem to be life preservers. But your opening is when you connect with the audience and establish rapport. Look at them 100% of the time.
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2. Adopting a Weak or Unbalanced Stance
It's been a rule ever since orators starting strutting their stuff on stage: "How you stand affects your standing with an audience." In other words, posture is related to how well you command the stage, by showing you know the 12 ways to achieve presence and charisma as a speaker.
The reason is that you're showing audiences much more than whether you can withstand a stiff breeze (which you probably wouldn't be able to do if you're standing with one leg crossed over the other). When you stand before a group, you're showing the world who you are, and let's face it, what you "stand" for. Before you utter a sound, audience members are making judgments about you. Sure, you can correct a bad first impression with a bang-up speech. But why not start the process early and deal yourself the strongest hand?
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3. Closed Gestures: The Sign of an Insecure Public Speaker
Self-consciousness often causes us to "close" our gestures when presenting. After all, what ranks with speaking in public to make us feel exposed and vulnerable? So we have to protect ourselves, right?
Just the opposite is true, of course. We need to open up and reach listeners, emotionally as well as intellectually. But feelings of unease and vulnerability make us begin to close shop. What those crossed arms and hands-held-together gestures are really doing, though, is alerting the audience that you're creating a barrier between you and them, and hiding behind it.
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4. Poor Use of Space (You Need to Command the Room!)
Leaders command the stage that is due them when they speak. They use the space that's rightfully theirs—whether it's a conference room, hotel ballroom, or convention stage.
Shy or reluctant speakers, on the other hand, don't move purposefully. They may even try to diminish their presence, by folding in on themselves to occupy a smaller space. To have a physical impact, fill your space. How? Use most or all of it; approach your audience if you can; move toward your PowerPoint screen; and free yourself from the lectern where that's possible.
5. The Tiger-in-the-Cage Syndrome
Finally, learn a lesson from the world of bad motivational speaking. If you're speaking passionately about something that concerns listeners, what you say will be exciting. You don't need to try desperately to generate excitement where none exists.
You've seen these performances, where the guru strides (or runs) back and forth across the stage, gesticulating wildly, shouting "Give it up!" or "Are you READY!" Personally, I always feel exhausted by these performances, even though I haven't moved an inch.
Excellent speakers stay grounded in reality, including on stage. It's true that you need a physical expression of what you're saying. (Learn more in my Free White Paper, The Body Language Rules: 12 Ways To Be A More Powerful Speaker.) But that starts with a secure stance and appropriate gestures, rather than pacing like a tiger in a cage. If you trust the honesty of your message and your efforts to "reach out" to your audience, your listeners will see it that way too.
Two final points. Remember that facial expressions are vital to being understood. It's a form of body language that often gets forgotten. In the virtual age, however, it's more important than ever, for the obvious reason that your face fills the screen. Speaking of virtual meetings, don't think that gestures don't matter. Provided you're not right on top of the webcam (you should be about 24 inches away), your upper body is still there for all to see. Gestures help you amplify, strengthen, or illustrate what you're saying, just as always. Use them in virtual settings!
This blog was previously published. It is updated here.
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Gary Genard is an actor, author, and expert in public speaking and overcoming speaking fear. His company, The Genard Method offers live 1:1 Zoom executive coaching and corporate group training worldwide. In 2022 for the ninth consecutive year, Gary has been ranked by Global Gurus as One of the World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals. He is the author of the Amazon Best-Seller How to Give a Speech. His second book, Fearless Speaking, was named in 2019 as "One of the 100 Best Confidence Books of All Time." His handbook for presenting in videoconferences, Speaking Virtually offers strategies and tools for developing virtual presence in online meetings. His latest book is Speak for Leadership: An Executive Speech Coach's Secrets for Developing Leadership Presence. Contact Gary here.
Main photo credit: Francisco De Legarreta C. on unsplash.com
