Speaking-
Your Audience Will Love What You Don't Say!
Advice from Expert Speakers.
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Speaking- Your Audience Will Love What You Don't Say! Advice from Expert Speakers.
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It goes without saying that with any speaking engagement, what you say, and how you say it, has a tremendous impact on your presentation. Many people don't seem to realize it, but equally important is what you don't say. Now I'm not talking about words or ideas that you leave out of your presentation. (Although some presentations I've witnessed could have benefited from that!) I'm talking about your non-verbal communication...your body language.... your gestures!
Gestures can make or break a presentation. We've all seen at least one speaker who rarely used his hands. Some speakers, it seems, either staple their hands to their sides or glue them to the lectern. When they do use their hands, they use the same gestures over and over, and then return their hands to the stapled/glued position. This certainly does nothing to improve their presentation, and depending on how extreme the problem is, it can seriously hinder their message.
On the other side of the coin, we've all seen at least one speaker who left us awed and amazed. We left feeling motivated, and their message really stuck with us. In all likelihood, that speaker had good non-verbal communication skills. They gave us their message with words, but they used their hands and arms, and perhaps even their whole bodies, to paint pictures to go along with their message. The old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words" is not just a cliché. |
Good gestures can help you to:
Gestures can bring so much more power and effectiveness to your presentation that they should be given careful attention. This is not to say that you should plan out each gesture that you would use, though if you can do that without it looking unnatural, it's not a bad idea. In the very least, you should practice your presentation using gestures just as though you were standing in front of your audience. While you're practicing, try videotaping yourself while you practice. I always recommend videotaping practice sessions to improve any particular speaking skill, but it is especially important with gestures. It is an invaluable experience to see yourself how others will see you. |
From this different perspective, you can evaluate your performance and tune your presentation. Perhaps your gestures seemed unnatural or forced. Perhaps you didn't use enough (hands stapled to your side?). Perhaps your gestures were too repetitive, and you should try to add more variety. Maybe it's all of the above! In any case, the good news is that you have identified any areas for improvement before it really counts, and you can make the necessary adjustment to ensure your delivery is top-notch.
Remember, people in general are visual. Perhaps that is why movies are more popular than books on tape. People want to see action, so give them what they want! Don't be afraid to use large gestures where appropriate, and put energy and feeling behind them. Grab their attention! They won't always give it willingly.
One final note bears repeating; make sure you practice! Practice not only what you will say, but also what you won't say. Your gestures will go a long way to help your audience remember your message.
Kevin Richter is an IT Manager for Robert Half International, Inc., and the Vice President of Public Relations for the Tracy Toastmasters. He can be reached through e-mail at kevin.richter@rhi.com or by phone at (925) 598-5535. |
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