Body Language Tips for a successful presentation Andrew Blyth 2016

Winjeel.Com

10

1. Stand tall & open

What: Stand your full height, with your shoulders pushed back and chest out.

Why: You’ll look and feel confident and energetic. The audience will trust you more than a hunched over presenter.

Tip: Use a video camera in your presentation rehearsal and check for this.

2. Use gestures

What: Use open hand and open arm gestures.

Why: These look more warm, welcoming, and friendly. The audience will enjoy your presentation more.

Tip 1: In the introduction, use your fingers to show the number of parts in your presentation, and which part you are up to.

Tip 2: To indicate that the audience can talk for a minute, point to your watch, and then to them.

3. Use space What: Move around, don’t be like a statue.

Why: Appear relaxed and confident.

Tip 1: If there are five parts to your presentation, show this with five steps across the stage.

Tip 2: When talking about two groups of things, step to one side when you talk about one group, and a step to the other side when talking about the other group.

4. Use your face What: If you’re telling a happy story, smile. If you’re telling a sad story, look sad.

Why: Neutral / poker-face looks unemotional, and the audience cannot connect with you. So, show the audience, with your face, how they should be feeling.

Tip: Never look at your notes or have paper in your hands. You’ll want to read it. If you read, you’ll have your eyes down, and you’ll look incompetent and disconnected from the audience.

5. Stand out What: If in a group presentation, have only the speaking members on stage. The non-speaking members should be off the stage, watching, smiling, and nodding. Never crowd the stage with people who are doing nothing.

Why: It’s distracting and looks unprofessional.

Tip: When you’re finished introduce the next speaker like, “And now Andrew will talk to you about the sixth thing, ‘Pointing and walking’”, and then exchange places on the stage.

6. Point to & walk away What: When you want the audience to look at something on the screen walk to the screen and point to it. Then walk to the opposite side of the stage when you want the audience to only look at you.

Why: Use distance to keep the audience focused on the important things, and not get distracted.

Tip: Don’t use pointers or laser pointers. These are toys for your pets, not for people. If the screen is too big, use the mouse on the computer.

7. Use eye contact, and gesture-point What: Always look out to your audience, and talk to them. Never talk to your notes and papers. When talking to an audience member, use an open hand to ‘point’ to the person you want to ask a question to.

Why: You will look more confident, friendly, and trust worthy.

Tip: It is best to memorise your presentation, and rehearse it. If you must have notes, have them on small cards hidden in your hand, and only briefly look at them.

8. Use proximity What: Move closer and further away from the audience.

Why: Statues are boring; movement makes you seem more interesting.

Tip: If you want to ‘share a secret’ or make a point seem very important, move closer to the audience and talk in a lower voice. Then general information move away and use a regular volume.

9. Dress well What: Always be the best-dressed person the best in the room. Consider your audiences’ clothing style and be one level up.

Why: How you dress shows your respect for the audience, and your social intelligence.

How: Smart-casual style is often the best. This means a shirt with a collar, a blouse, trousers or slacks, or professional skirt. Otherwise, a business suit (with or without tie, depending on your audience). Tip: Never mix styles, like a professional skirt and casual t-shirt; or trousers / slacks with a t-shirt; or patterns with stipes; etc.

10. Use your voice What: Speak loud and clear.

Why: It is frustrating if we can’t hear you. People will get bored with quiet speakers.

Tip 1: Vary your intonation and vary your mood. Use your voice to make your audience feel the emotions you want them to feel.

Tip 2: Have a friend sitting at the back. Your friend can signal to you if you’re too quiet.

11. Practice, rehearse, and revise. What: Practice, rehearse, revise your presentation. Practice more, tweak more, and rehearse more.

Why: Unrehearsed presentations look terrible.

Tip: Use a video camera or friends to review how you deliver your presentation. Use this feedback to make you look more human, and less robot. Doing practice and rehearsals gives you more confidence, and you can deliver a smoother presentation.

Review

There were eleven suggestions. How many can you remember? What were they?

Any questions? For more information go to http://winjeel.com > English Classes > Presentations.

© Andrew Blyth, 2016.

Illustrations by: By Vencho, 2016. https://www.fiverr.com/vencho

Bibliography:

Gar Reynolds (2007) Presentation Zen: Simple ideas for presentation design and delivery. New Riders Press.

Andrew is an English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher and researcher currently based in a central Japanese university. He specialises in listening and pronunciation. He also enjoys a good presentation.

Soappresentations.Com (2013) 10 Powerful Body Language Tips for your Next presentation. At http://www.slideshare.net/soappresentations/10-powerful-body-language-tips-for-your-next-presentation