Building Professional PresenceBuilding Professional Presence

A.A. Body Language.Body Language.

B.B. Eye Contact.Eye Contact.

C.C. Appropriate Language.Appropriate Language.

D.D. Personal Destructors.Personal Destructors.

E.E. Effective Use of Voice.Effective Use of Voice.

1.1. Gestures.Gestures.

2.2. Facial Expressions.Facial Expressions.

3.3. Postures.Postures.

4.4. Movement.Movement.

A. Body LanguageA. Body Language

A.1. GesturesA.1. Gestures

Gestures can help bring your presentation to life, Gestures can help bring your presentation to life, impart your conviction (sincerity/assurance), impart your conviction (sincerity/assurance), channel nervousness in a positive direction, and channel nervousness in a positive direction, and convey confidence and enthusiasm.convey confidence and enthusiasm.

Guidelines for gestures (signs, signals):Guidelines for gestures (signs, signals): Use gestures to emphasize a point.Use gestures to emphasize a point. Use gestures to direct attention and provide Use gestures to direct attention and provide

emphasis.emphasis. Always complete a gesture once you’ve started it.Always complete a gesture once you’ve started it.

Show audience you’re pleased with what’s going on or Show audience you’re pleased with what’s going on or what have been said.what have been said.

Descriptive gestures are useful in describing properties Descriptive gestures are useful in describing properties of things:of things:

Size / Shape / Motion / Direction/Size / Shape / Motion / Direction/ Experiment with a variety of gestures.Experiment with a variety of gestures. Practice gestures in front of a mirror or videotape until Practice gestures in front of a mirror or videotape until

you are comfortable with them.you are comfortable with them. Remember that you can “gesture” with your head, Remember that you can “gesture” with your head,

arms, hands, or entire body.arms, hands, or entire body.

A.1. GesturesA.1. Gestures

A.2. Facial ExpressionsA.2. Facial Expressions

It’s more interesting to watch someone who has It’s more interesting to watch someone who has a range of facial expressions than someone who a range of facial expressions than someone who is stuck in one expression.is stuck in one expression.

Guidelines for facial expressionsGuidelines for facial expressions::

Begin the presentation with a relaxed, friendly expression.Begin the presentation with a relaxed, friendly expression. Vary your expressions to reflect the content of your meeting.Vary your expressions to reflect the content of your meeting. Let your face show the delight, amusement, puzzlement, etc., Let your face show the delight, amusement, puzzlement, etc.,

you are feeling.you are feeling. Don’t paste on a smile frequently.Don’t paste on a smile frequently. Don’t be afraid to laugh.Don’t be afraid to laugh.

Use your posture to project confidence. The audiences Use your posture to project confidence. The audiences should be able to tell from the way you physically should be able to tell from the way you physically present yourself that you feel good about what you’re present yourself that you feel good about what you’re saying.saying.

Guidelines for Posture (position, stance)Guidelines for Posture (position, stance)::

* Maintain an erect but relaxed posture.* Maintain an erect but relaxed posture.

* Keep your arms comfortably at your sides when * Keep your arms comfortably at your sides when

not using them to gesture.not using them to gesture.

* Avoid rocking, shifting, and staring at the ceiling. * Avoid rocking, shifting, and staring at the ceiling.

* when someone is speaking, make sure your body is * when someone is speaking, make sure your body is fully directed to the speaker.fully directed to the speaker.

A.3. PostureA.3. Posture

* Alternative between sitting and standing.* Alternative between sitting and standing.

* Lean forward to show interest and attention.* Lean forward to show interest and attention.

* Avoid crossing your arms or putting your hands in your pockets.* Avoid crossing your arms or putting your hands in your pockets.

* Avoid putting your hands on your hips or pointing at people.* Avoid putting your hands on your hips or pointing at people.

* If you tend to freeze up, place supplies where you have to move * If you tend to freeze up, place supplies where you have to move to get them.to get them.

* Before starting your presentation, “warm up” and relax your * Before starting your presentation, “warm up” and relax your body.body.

* When audiences take a break, use the time to do something * When audiences take a break, use the time to do something relaxing or energizing for yourself.relaxing or energizing for yourself.

A.3. Posture (some guidelines for Posture )A.3. Posture (some guidelines for Posture )

As a general rule, always move with a purpose.As a general rule, always move with a purpose.

Change your position in the room periodically. Don’t Change your position in the room periodically. Don’t

plant yourself at the head of the table or room.plant yourself at the head of the table or room.

Vary the speed at which you move around the room.Vary the speed at which you move around the room.

Move toward participants to connect with them.Move toward participants to connect with them.

Avoid pacing.Avoid pacing.

A.4. MovementA.4. Movement

B. Eye ContactB. Eye Contact Eye contact is a critical element of effective delivery.Eye contact is a critical element of effective delivery.

By making eye contact, you demonstrate your interest in, By making eye contact, you demonstrate your interest in, and concern for, the audiences.and concern for, the audiences.

Eye contact also enables you to assess the changing Eye contact also enables you to assess the changing

responses of the group.responses of the group.

Nervousness can make it difficult for you to maintain eye Nervousness can make it difficult for you to maintain eye contact.contact.

Guidelines for making eye contact:Guidelines for making eye contact:

When an audiences is speaking to you, maintain eye contact When an audiences is speaking to you, maintain eye contact for at least five seconds.for at least five seconds.

When you are talking, look at the participants.When you are talking, look at the participants.

When you are answering an audience's question, look at the When you are answering an audience's question, look at the questioner, then establish eye contact with the rest of the questioner, then establish eye contact with the rest of the group.group.

B. Eye ContactB. Eye Contact

Coordinate eye contact with movement at times; Coordinate eye contact with movement at times; look and walk toward your audiences rather than look and walk toward your audiences rather than just standing still.just standing still.

Make sure that your eye contact with any individual Make sure that your eye contact with any individual or section of the group is neither too long nor too or section of the group is neither too long nor too short. In general, maintain eye contact for only a short. In general, maintain eye contact for only a few seconds before moving on to the next person or few seconds before moving on to the next person or section of the group.section of the group.

B. Eye ContactB. Eye Contact

It’s important to adapt your use of language to the It’s important to adapt your use of language to the circumstances of the audiences. Tailor words and references circumstances of the audiences. Tailor words and references to their intelligence and academic, technical, and social to their intelligence and academic, technical, and social backgrounds.backgrounds.

Avoid overuse of technical terms and buzzwords.Avoid overuse of technical terms and buzzwords. Effective use of Pause:Effective use of Pause:

– Pause for emphasis or dramatic effect.Pause for emphasis or dramatic effect.

– Pause and take a breath instead of using non words (um, okay, really, Pause and take a breath instead of using non words (um, okay, really,

you know,…etc.)you know,…etc.)

– Maintain eye contact when you do pause.Maintain eye contact when you do pause.

C. Appropriate LanguageC. Appropriate Language

Empty your pockets before the presentation.Empty your pockets before the presentation.

Put pens and markers away from you so you won’t be Put pens and markers away from you so you won’t be

tempted to play with their caps.tempted to play with their caps.

Have nothing around except essential materials.Have nothing around except essential materials.

Videotape yourself. Watch the tape to see mannerisms you Videotape yourself. Watch the tape to see mannerisms you

may be unaware of havingmay be unaware of having..

D. Personal DestructorsD. Personal Destructors

E. Effective Use of VoiceE. Effective Use of Voice

Fear and tension often manifest themselves in Fear and tension often manifest themselves in vocal problems that don’t exist when you’re vocal problems that don’t exist when you’re in stress-free situation.in stress-free situation.

Careful planning.Careful planning. Concentrate to enhance your voice.Concentrate to enhance your voice.

1.1. Speed and pacing.Speed and pacing.

2.2. Volume.Volume.

3.3. Inflection.Inflection.

E.1 Speed and PacingE.1 Speed and Pacing

Vary your speed for dramatic effect.Vary your speed for dramatic effect.

Speed up to convey excitement.Speed up to convey excitement.

Slow down to add emphasis.Slow down to add emphasis.

Use natural pauses when presenting content to Use natural pauses when presenting content to break the material into small, meaningful break the material into small, meaningful segments; it makes it easier to remember.segments; it makes it easier to remember.

E.2 VolumeE.2 Volume

The size of the room and your distance from The size of the room and your distance from

attendee will determine the volume you choose.attendee will determine the volume you choose.

Guidelines for effective use of volume:Guidelines for effective use of volume:

Adjust your volume to the size of the room.Adjust your volume to the size of the room.

Vary your volume for dramatic effect, but never get Vary your volume for dramatic effect, but never get

too loud or too soft.too loud or too soft.

Concentrate on controlling your projection rather Concentrate on controlling your projection rather

than controlling your volume.than controlling your volume.

E.3 Inflection E.3 Inflection

Vary your inflection for emphasis of critical Vary your inflection for emphasis of critical information.information.

Avoid adding inflection for its own sake.Avoid adding inflection for its own sake. Make sure the tone in which you present Make sure the tone in which you present

concepts and respond to incorrect answers is concepts and respond to incorrect answers is not parental.not parental.

Audiotape yourself.Audiotape yourself.