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Better Body Language
What is your body language saying about you?
Professional actors are finely tuned to their emotions, enabling them to speak with the movement of a hand. An effective spokesperson also makes use of body movements to convey appropriate emotion.
The following gestures and expressions are considered positive and convey personal interest and self-confidence:
- Look people in the eye;
- Lean slightly forward, if seated;
- Make hand movements that occur naturally as a supplement to what you are saying;
- Listen intently to anyone who asks a question;
- Listen to what other people have to say.
The following gestures and expressions tend to be negative and convey tension and nervousness:
- Inappropriate smiling, laughter;
- Tightly clasped hands;
- Hands gripping sides of chairs, tables, knees;
- Hands toying with pencils, water glasses, buttons, microphones;
- Drumming on the tabletop;
- Tightening and loosening of jaw;
- A ramrod straight, unnatural posture.
These movements convey impatience and discomfort:
- Swinging legs;
- Shifting in chair;
- Shifting eyes.
These movements convey guilt and disinterest:
- Casting eyes toward ceiling;
- Failure to look at the audience;
- Slouching posture;
- Closing eyes.
Where in the World is Anthony?
Speaking in Jacksonville today and tomorrow. Presentation tip 27: Standing still is boring. Move around to keep it interesting. And stop standing behind stuff! (tables, lecterns, chairs, etc.) It disconnects you from the audience.
Worked all day today north of Janesville with a Wisconsin-based contractor. Communication tip 43: Having an unpleasant conversation? Standing at a 45-degree angle can help defuse hostility.
Worked all day today in Philadelphia with a very large national contractor. Virtual Presenting Tip 14: Stop using your laptop. Get an actual webcam and a tripod and put your camera at eye level. A minimal amount of effort and less than $50 makes a huge difference.
Speaking this week in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Illinois. Presenting tip 6: Remove physical barriers that disconnect you from the audience. For live presentations - lecterns, tables, distance, soft voice, etc. Virtual presentations - bad lighting, weird camera angle, etc.
Spent yesterday near Syracuse, NY speaking at a contractor's executive leadership meeting. News interview tip no. 1: Address question 1st, THEN quickly move to your message. Don't be like the politicians who totally ignore the question!