Your Body Speaks
Presented at Maidenhead Speakers Club, September 2009
Project #5 asks you to select a topic for a speech that facilitates use of body language. I had a think about this, and came up with some ideas. I thought about a topic where I could contrast the enormous power of the state with the tiny resources of the individual. Or a topic highlighting the importance or urgency of a contemporary issue, such as global warming.
But in the end, I decided to talk about use of body language in public speaking. The competent communicator manual contains an excellent article on this subject and I will attempt to convey some of its key points.
Body language is as important in public speaking as food is at a BBQ. Imagine a speech without body language – I may as well have a tape recorder on the floor there; press the PLAY button and go and sit back down.
Appropriate body language complements your message and enhances your presentation;
Appropriate body language makes you appear more confident, gives you more credibility and puts your audience at ease. They will find your speech much more enjoyable. It should be natural and convey the same message as your spoken words. Body language is expressed in stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact. I will now briefly cover each of these 5 areas.
Stance
The stance you assume while speaking is important because it indicates your confidence level. You should stand straight; feet slightly apart and your weight evenly distributed on each foot. Look directly at your audience.
Movement
Can provide variety for the audience during a speech as their eyes follow you around. All movement should be purposeful and confident, and this includes your movement from your seat to the lectern before you start your speech. This sets the scene. You should appear eager to speak as you leap up there!
If you are presenting two opposing points of view, you can deliver them from opposite sides of the stage; for example, a government minister advocating nuclear power, and a GreenPeace spokesman maligning its toxic legacy.
Gestures
Consist of movements of the head, shoulders, arms and hands. You can indicate:
Size, shape and direction ‘The earth is getting squeezed in terms of resources by our obsession with consumption’
Importance, urgency or anger – by hitting your fist into your open palm
Comparison and contrast – both hands in unison to show similarities; in opposite directions to show contrast.
Care and Generosity – Opening you palms towards the audience. ‘Please give generously to help the starving millions made homeless by global warming’
Gestures should be vigorous and definite to show conviction and enthusiasm. Make them larger for larger audiences – overdo it!
Look at these pictures below. In each case the caption is taken from the accompanying article . Note how consistent the speaker’s stance is with the message.
Barrack Obama Takes Firm Stance
Gordon Brown. Making a Point.
Tony Blair: Taking a Defiant Stance
Facial Expression
Your face conveys cues about how your audience are supposed to react or feel. Your facial expressions should be congruent with the feelings or emotions you are trying to communicate. Do you remember when Tony Blair made that very famous speech when Princess Diana died? His facial expression was full of sadness and despair as he spoke the words. Blair was a master at this. Contrast him with Gordon Brown, whose facial expressions often give a different message to his spoken words. He never looks comfortable.
A couple of days ago, I watched John Simpson, the BBC’s war-zone correspondent, give a report. He is a master at this. His facial expression projects sincerity when he is talking about a young soldier who has been killed by a roadside bomb, and he smiles when he is talking optimistically about the future of Afghanistan. His head is bobbing about all over the place as he speaks. Yet it looks completely natural. He is exaggerating his head movements because you cannot see the rest of his body on camera.
Eye Contact
If you make eye contact with your audience, they’ll think you are more sincere and honest. You will establish a bond with your listeners. Make eye contact randomly around the room; look at somebody, finish a point and then move on to the next person. If the audience is large, make eye contact with someone in each section of the room; front, back, left and right. If doing a work or sales presentation be sure to include your boss or an important customer. I’m making sure I’m looking at my evaluator!
Summary
So in summary then, we have the 5 elements of body language;
- Stance
- Movement
- Gestures
- Facial expression
- Eye contact.
Body language should look natural and relaxed and should be consistent with the message of your spoken words. It takes practice to get it right but when you do it will add tremendous value to your speech and your audience will certainly appreciate it.
Finally, be wary of using the wrong hand gesture!
And, for another take on Project 5 read this Toastmaster’s account.
