So how do you use body language when giving
a speech?
Well for starters, you don't do this.
This looks like I have to go to the bathroom.
You don't want to be standing like this.
Another bad thing people do, they put their
hands behind them like this.
That looks like I'm being handcuffed and taken
away to prison.
The thing to do with your body when you're
giving a presentation is what you do all day
long when you're speaking and you're relaxed
and comfortable.
If you're at the water cooler and you're talking
about a football or hockey game last night,
you're typically going to say "Did you see
that last goal?"
You're not going to be "Did you see that last
goal?"
That's not how people talk.
So it's a myth out there that you need to
somehow learn new body language when giving
a speech.
That's not it.
The main thing is you just need to move the
way you normally move when you're talking
to people and not be frozen or stiff.
There are certain things you do with your
body language that make you look uncomfortable.
People like to play with their ring finger
or hold a pen.
Why do you want to hold a pen when you're
giving a speech?
Are you afraid you're going to say something
so brilliant you need to write down your own
quotes?
Put the pens down.
Free up your hands.
Don't hold pens and note pads, papers.
Have your hands free.
Now the ultimate in body language when you're
giving a presentation, a sure fire way to
make people think you're comfortable, confident
relaxed, move a little.
Walk some.
Now you don't have to be running all over
the stage like Zig Ziglar or some famous motivational
speaker but just walking a little creates
variety, it forces your audience to move their
head, move their eyes when following you and
it will make you appear much more confident,
comfortable and relaxed and that way people
can actually focus on your message and not
worrying about whether you're nervous or not.
