Body language tips to improve your public speaking
Most everyone gets worried and anxious about public speaking, but some people have it worse than others. That’s why we at YCB have joined forces with London Speaker Bureau to take you through some simple steps that will help you improve your public speaking.
Body language is incredibly important not only to engage the audience but to how your overall message is received. No matter how good the speech, if the speaker is motionless, expressionless and dull, the audience will lose interest within minutes. Below are some simple tips that will help you improve your presentation through the subtle art of body language.
Posture:
Public speaking is regularly feared but it’s also a part of life, so it’s important to refine your skills. We encourage you to keep a good posture, stand straight with shoulders back, relaxed and feet shoulder width apart. Do not cross your arms, instead put your hands in your pocket or slouch. Make sure you face the audience as much as possible and keep your body open.
Breathing:
Relaxed and deep breaths ensure that your voice holds power and can project. The team at London Speaker Bureau advice to use slow and measured breathing to pace your speech, and pause to emphasise key points.
Gestures:
When inspiring large crowds with your thoughts, use hand gestures to emphasise your words. Keep the audience’s attention by varying your gestures, incorporating your head, arms and hands. Use positive gestures to sway eager listeners.
When using visual aids, point and look at the relevant data. The audience will automatically follow your hands and eyes.
Eye Contact:
Moving from face to face, making eye contact while speaking ensures that the audience is engaged. When answering an audience member’s question maintain eye contact, this conveys sincerity and credibility.
Movement:
There’s no doubt that the ability to successfully deliver ideas and thoughts to a room of listeners is rare and highly desirable. However, if you move around the presentation space, your speech will be more dynamic. Use movement to illustrate transitions from one subject or key point to another.
Stepping towards the audience creates a positive feeling, use this technique when you want to encourage or persuade your audience.
Facial Expression:
A simple smile will make your audience feel more comfortable and at ease.
A special thanks to London Speaker Bureau for partnering with us on this post!
