Tag: body language

How to Use Body Language Like a Presentation Expert

Albert Mehrabian method

body language

public speaking

Rick Enrico

SlideGenius

speaking tips

speech communication

Jun 02, 2015

People communicate not only with words but with small actions like smiling, raising eyebrows, hand gestures, and other non-verbal cues.

Words aren’t enough to effectively convey your intended message. Use body language like a presentation expert to deliver a successful presentation.

Defining Body Language

Non-verbal gestures are quiet, but they add impact to sales presentations. Posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact contribute greatly to expressing and complementing your main idea.

In your next corporate meeting, use these non-verbal cues to reinforce your presentation skills.

Why It’s Important

Body language speaks louder than words. In fact, Albert Mehrabian’s 7%-38%-55% rule states that non-verbal communication covers about 90% of overall messages’ impact. Spoken words influence your audience the least.

Your audience judges your physical behavior because it reveals your character and signifies your intent. Align your body language with your message to display authority and influence.

How It Helps You

Here’s how each of the typical signals affects your viewers:

Eye Contact

Never discount the value of looking into your listeners’ eyes to connect with them. This makes your audience feel that they’re involved and also shows that you trust them and have nothing to hide. This is useful when giving and receiving feedback or prompting others to speak.

Posture

Good posture indicates competence and confidence. Stand up straight yet relaxed, and avoid slouching or hunching over. This shows that you’re in control while also expressing friendliness, positivity, and even detachment when needed.

Hand Gestures

Your palm has the power to persuade your audience. Use an open palm together with fingers toward the audience to express sincerity. Face your palm backwards with fingers upward for persuading. Use a precision grip with your index finger and thumb together for emphasizing key points, or a power fist for grasping an issue.

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Go above and beyond the spoken or written language with nonverbal communication. Even the simplest body movements, such as glancing at your audience, gesturing with your hand, or standing up straight, give your presentation implicit meanings.

Be cautious about your body language and use only those actions that’ll support your content and delivery. With enough practice, you’ll be able to land those sales with one word and one gesture.

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References

“Body Language: Signify Intent with Movement.” SlideGenius, Inc. October 20, 2014. Accessed June 2, 2015.
“Mehrabian’s Communication Research.” Business Balls. Accessed June 2, 2015.

Using Neutral Facial Expressions in Professional Presentations

appropriate situations

body language

handling presentations

Kathy Reiffenstein

neutral face

Rick Enrico Blog

May 14, 2015

Neutral facial expressions are an essential tool in professional presentations, as they help convey calmness, authority, and approachability without overwhelming your audience with emotion. Here’s why and how neutral expressions can benefit your delivery:

  1. Maintain Professionalism:
    • Why it works: A neutral facial expression signals that you are in control and focused on delivering your message. It helps balance the emotional tone of the presentation and ensures you come across as professional.
    • How to apply: Use neutral expressions during formal or serious parts of the presentation, particularly when discussing data, findings, or sensitive topics. This reduces distractions and keeps the audience focused on your message, not your emotions.
  2. Avoid Misinterpretation:
    • Why it works: Overly expressive facial movements may sometimes be misinterpreted, especially in cross-cultural settings. Neutral expressions provide a blank slate that minimizes confusion or unintended emotional signals.
    • How to apply: When presenting to diverse audiences or in situations where interpretation is key, maintaining a neutral expression allows the audience to focus on the content without being influenced by emotional cues.
  3. Balance with Natural Variations:
    • Why it works: Although neutral expressions are useful, it’s also important to blend them with moments of positive expression, like a smile or nod, to show engagement and warmth.
    • How to apply: Use a neutral expression during transitions, when discussing technical points, or during audience questions. Pair this with brief, appropriate smiles when welcoming the audience or emphasizing a key takeaway.

More Than Words: How to Improve Your Nonverbal Cues

body language

nonverbal cues

presentation tips

Jan 05, 2015

In presentations, the audience perceive more than the words you share with them. They also derive meaning from nonverbal cues. Your mannerisms, facial expressions, and body language can say a lot about you and the topic you’re discussing.

A successful outcome doesn’t just rely on perfecting your slides and talking points. It also rests on how well you can hold yourself in front of a crowd. It doesn’t matter if you’re pitching to a small group or addressing a huge auditorium, improving your nonverbal cues can help in achieving your goals.

Your mannerisms, facial expressions, and body language can say a lot about you and the topic you’re discussing. A successful outcome doesn’t just rely on perfecting your slides and talking points. It also rests on how well you can hold yourself in front of a crowd.

Posture and gestures

The way you stand can have an effect on how the audience perceives you. In our previous discussion on body language, we went into Amy Cuddy’s ‘power pose‘. According to the social psychologist, the simple act of standing straight can give you more confidence when facing a crowd. This shows that you’re sure of yourself and the information you’re presenting.

To maintain proper posture, keep your shoulders square and feet planted firmly on the ground. Avoid shifting your weight from one leg to another or swaying side to side. It’s also important that you don’t look too stiff. Aside from confidence, you want to show the audience that you feel comfortable in a position of authority. Walking around your space will allow you to feel more natural and at ease.

Just be sure to keep your movements purposeful and minimal. If you want to walk around the stage, stay in one spot for a few moments. The best way to do this is by following the natural flow of your presentation. Finish discussing one point in a certain part of the stage before moving to another spot.

Make use of strong and defined gestures to add emphasis to the points you’re making. Most presenters like to extend their arms in an open gesture to convey their sincerity. Just keep in mind that these should be well-coordinated with what you’re trying to convey.

Facial expressions

Aside from posture and gestures, your face also plays an important role in delivering nonverbal cues. A single word can be defined in various ways, depending on how you look when you say it.

With a smile, the word “go” can be a form of encouragement and support. With a more aggressive expression, it can be a sign of impatience. In presentations, don’t forget that changes like these can alter how the audience perceives what you share.

As a general rule, you should always try to smile throughout your presentation. You want to be able to project a positive and lively atmosphere. A blank face can make you look bored and uninterested, which your audience can easily discern. How will they take interest in your discussion that way? If you want them to connect with your message, your face should always match what you’re trying to say.

Eye contact

Your face will look lifeless if you don’t know what to do with your eyes. As the old saying goes, the eyes are the window to the soul. Communication is all about making a connection. Keynote speaker, Carol Kinsey Goman expounds on how eye contact is an important factor in achieving that.

Eye contact is easy if you’re addressing a small crowd, but how are you supposed to do it with a large audience? Pick a handful of people that are seated in different parts of the room. Find a few seated on the left, some seated in the middle, and others seated in the right. Look to the group on the left for a few seconds before you move on to the other group.

This will give the impression that you’re paying close attention to everyone in the room. Avoid darting your eyes all over the room. Keep your attention toward one direction at a time.

Conclusion

With all that said, utilizing nonverbal cues to improve your presentation can be a bit of a challenge.

Our bodies will often betray how we feel in certain circumstances. When you’re feeling nervous or anxious, your hands might shake or your voice might falter.

You might tend to slouch or take on a defensive posture like crossing your arms. This is why it’s important to take the time to rehearse how you’ll deliver your presentation.

Make active decisions about your nonverbal cues to avoid confusing your audience. The goal is to deliver a message that is clear and concise. You can’t do that if your nonverbal cues are in conflict with your words.

References

Goman, Carol-Kinsey. “Fascinating Facts About Eye Contact.” Forbes. August 21, 2014. Accessed January 6, 2015.
“Hand Gestures: What to do with your hands when presenting.” Speak Like a Pro. Accessed January 6, 2015.
“How to Use Body Language Like a Presentation Expert.” SlideGenius PowerPoint Design & Presentation Experts. June 2, 2015. Accessed January 6, 2015.
“Power Your Presentations with These Body Language Tips.” SlideGenius PowerPoint Design & Presentation Experts. July 16, 2014. Accessed January 6, 2015.
“Public Speaking Tips.” Art of Communicating. Accessed January 6, 2015.
Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are. Amy Cuddy. Accessed January 6, 2015.

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Body Language: Signify Intent with Movement

body language

presentation delivery

presentation tips

Presentations

Oct 21, 2014

Nonverbal cues are just as important as the slides you’re presenting. The way you stand and move across the stage can have significant impact on the message you’re delivering. Improve your presentations and increase your influence by learning more about the art of body language.

Body language is a powerful weapon

In a previous blog post, we discussed how body language plays an important role in forming positive impressions. Your first few seconds on stage is particularly crucial. In that short span of time, the audience can gather enough information to form their own opinions about you. As Mark Bowden, author of Winning Body Language, points out,

“In the first few seconds of meeting someone, they will determine whether you are friend or predator, and the rest of the time their brains will be gathering information to support that.”

A recent study conducted by Dr. Alex Pentland takes this one step further. As quoted by Susanne Garguilo of CNN, research concludes that “body language can predict the outcome of interactions such as job interviews, dating, negotiations, etc., with an average accuracy of 80%.”

As such, we can’t possibly ignore the power body language has to significantly improve presentation delivery. If you want to connect with the audience, you need to show them that you’re trustworthy and reliable. You need to form a presence that commands their attention.

How body language adds to your presentation

Contrary to popular belief, body language isn’t similar to the way we express ourselves through speech. A certain movement doesn’t necessarily correspond to a specific word or feeling. There’s no such thing as a body language handbook or dictionary that will help you crack the hidden meaning behind particular gestures. As Forbes contributor Nick Morgan writes,

“Gestures are ambiguous. They can mean many things. If I cross my arms, I may be signaling my defensiveness, but I may also be cold, or simply tired and propping myself up with my arms – or just getting comfortable. And I could be signaling all those things at once. It’s possible to be simultaneously cold, tired, defensive, and desirous of comfort.”

When we’re unconscious of our movements, body language is pretty good at signifying our emotional intent.

“…research shows that whatever we’re feeling first shows up in our body, and only later (nanoseconds later) in our conscious minds. So, if we’re hungry, or impatient, or angry, or happy, our bodies know first, and they will pretty reliably signal those feelings. Learning to read body language, then, is a matter of learning to understand other people’s intents, not their specific conscious thoughts.”

If this is the case, how does body language add to presentation delivery? It works by highlighting the points and arguments you’re making. In other words, conscious adjustment of your posture, gestures, and expression will emphasize and underscore whatever your saying.

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In this way, body language allows you to add an emotional dimension to your presentations. Even if your good posture doesn’t necessarily correspond to a specific meaning, it nonetheless shows the audience something positive and welcoming.

Allow body language to add intent and dimension to your presentation by reading more tips:

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Featured Image: -5m via Flickr

Power Your Presentations with These Body Language Tips

body language

non-verbal cues

presentation tips

Jul 17, 2014

Delivering a compelling presentation isn’t just about the words you say—your body language can speak just as loudly, if not louder. Studies have shown that non-verbal cues like gestures, posture, and facial expressions have a significant impact on how your message is received. Whether you’re pitching to a client, giving a conference keynote, or presenting to your team, mastering body language can enhance your credibility, keep your audience engaged, and amplify the power of your words.

Here are some essential body language tips to help you power your presentations and make a lasting impression.

1. Maintain Eye Contact

Why It Matters:

Eye contact builds trust and connection with your audience. It signals confidence, openness, and attentiveness. When you make eye contact, you engage your audience, making them feel as though you’re speaking directly to them.

How to Do It:

  • Scan the Room: Don’t just focus on one person or one area of the room. Gradually shift your gaze to different sections of the audience to engage everyone.
  • Connect Individually: Try to make eye contact with individual members of the audience for a few seconds before moving on. This creates a personal connection, even in larger groups.
  • Avoid Staring at Slides: Your PowerPoint slides should support your presentation, not take the spotlight. Keep your focus on the audience instead of continuously looking at your slides.

Pro Tip:

For larger audiences where direct eye contact might not be possible with everyone, look at sections of the room as if you’re addressing someone in that area. This gives the appearance of broader engagement.

2. Stand Tall with Good Posture

Why It Matters:

Your posture conveys authority and confidence. Standing tall signals that you are poised, confident, and ready to engage. Slouching or leaning, on the other hand, can suggest uncertainty or lack of preparation.

How to Do It:

  • Stand with Feet Shoulder-Width Apart: This provides a stable base and helps you appear grounded. It also prevents unnecessary swaying or fidgeting.
  • Keep Shoulders Back: Maintain an upright posture with your shoulders back and chest open. This not only looks confident but also helps with breathing, making it easier to project your voice.
  • Avoid Crossing Your Arms: Crossing your arms can make you appear defensive or closed off. Keep your arms at your sides when you’re not using them for gestures.

Pro Tip:

Imagine a string pulling you up from the top of your head to help you maintain a tall and confident posture throughout your presentation.

3. Use Gestures Purposefully

Why It Matters:

Gestures can emphasize important points and help clarify your message. Purposeful hand movements can direct attention, convey enthusiasm, and make your presentation more dynamic. On the flip side, fidgeting or random gestures can be distracting.

How to Do It:

  • Match Gestures to Words: Use gestures that align with what you’re saying. For example, when talking about growth, you might raise your hand upward to signal progress.
  • Keep It Natural: Avoid overly exaggerated movements. Your gestures should feel natural and not forced.
  • Use Open Gestures: Open palms facing upward or outward suggest honesty and inclusivity. Avoid pointing, as it can come across as aggressive.

Pro Tip:

Practice using gestures during rehearsal so they feel natural. Pay attention to how your hands move when you speak normally, then refine and adjust those movements for your presentation.

4. Move with Purpose

Why It Matters:

Movement can enhance your energy and keep your audience’s attention, but it should be intentional. Uncontrolled pacing or wandering around the stage can be distracting. Purposeful movement can help emphasize transitions or key points.

How to Do It:

  • Move Between Sections: Walk a few steps when transitioning between major points or sections of your presentation. This signals a shift in focus and keeps the audience visually engaged.
  • Return to a Neutral Position: After moving, return to the center of the stage or your speaking area. This gives you a neutral stance to continue delivering your message.
  • Avoid Unintentional Pacing: Pacing back and forth can make you seem nervous or distracted. Be mindful of your movements and stay grounded.

Pro Tip:

If you’re nervous and have the urge to move around, channel that energy into controlled steps between key points in your presentation. This keeps your movement purposeful rather than random.

5. Mirror Your Audience’s Energy

Why It Matters:

Matching the energy level of your audience helps you build rapport and create a connection. When you mirror your audience’s energy or gradually raise their energy level, you engage them on an emotional level and draw them into your presentation.

How to Do It:

  • Match Enthusiasm: If your audience is enthusiastic or excited, show similar energy in your delivery. For a more serious or formal setting, tone down your gestures and delivery style.
  • Elevate Energy Gradually: If you’re presenting to a quiet or passive audience, start by matching their energy and slowly increasing your enthusiasm and expressiveness to bring them along with you.
  • Be Aware of Reactions: Pay attention to your audience’s body language—are they nodding in agreement, or are they disengaged? Adjust your energy accordingly to maintain engagement.

Pro Tip:

Use moments of humor or storytelling to elevate energy. These techniques create opportunities to connect emotionally with the audience, energizing them while drawing them into your message.

6. Control Your Facial Expressions

Why It Matters:

Your facial expressions reveal your emotions and can help convey the tone of your message. Consistent facial expressions that match your words reinforce the authenticity of your message, while mismatched expressions can confuse your audience.

How to Do It:

  • Smile When Appropriate: A genuine smile can build rapport with your audience, making you seem approachable and confident.
  • Show Emotion: If you’re discussing something exciting, let your face show enthusiasm. If you’re sharing serious data or results, maintain a focused or thoughtful expression.
  • Avoid Deadpan Expressions: Keep your facial expressions aligned with the content of your presentation. A flat expression can come across as disinterested.

Pro Tip:

If you’re nervous, relax your face by breathing deeply and consciously smiling before you begin. This can help loosen your facial muscles and allow for more natural expressions during the presentation.

7. Control Nervous Habits

Why It Matters:

Nervous habits like fidgeting, tapping, or adjusting your clothing can be distracting to your audience and make you seem less confident. Controlling these habits helps you maintain a composed and professional appearance.

How to Do It:

  • Be Mindful of Your Hands: If you have a habit of fidgeting, try holding a small object like a clicker or pointer to keep your hands occupied and focused.
  • Practice Deep Breathing: If you notice yourself becoming anxious, use deep breathing techniques to calm your nerves and prevent jittery movements.
  • Rehearse Your Presentation: The more familiar you are with your material, the less likely you’ll be to engage in nervous habits. Practice in front of a mirror or record yourself to become aware of any distracting movements.

Pro Tip:

If you’re prone to nervous habits like pacing or fidgeting, try standing in front of a mirror and practicing your presentation to become more aware of your movements. With practice, you’ll gain control over these habits.

Conclusion

Mastering body language is key to delivering a persuasive, engaging, and powerful presentation. By maintaining eye contact, standing tall, using purposeful gestures, and moving with intention, you can command the room and reinforce the impact of your words. Remember, your audience isn’t just listening to your presentation—they’re also watching you. Using these body language tips will help you communicate with confidence, connect with your audience, and leave a lasting impression.

The next time you step on stage or in front of a boardroom, let your body language speak as powerfully as your message!

Captivating Comeback: Reigniting Your Audience’s Interest

audience

body language

nonverbal communication

presentation

Jun 12, 2014

Presenters wouldn’t want to bore the audience with a winding speech with innumerable slides to match. There are times, however, when you just have to face an indifferent audience.

Teachers and lecturers especially encounter this type of problem most of the time. You may have prepared a 20-minute presentation, but if it feels like your target is indifferent to you from the start, then your preparation is all for naught.

If you’ve been in such situation, it might not be your fault after all. The next time you encounter that type of audience, here are some things you can do:

Be Aware of Warning Signs

When you get caught up in your presentation, you might end up rambling. This can cause you to be oblivious to the fact that your audience is tuning out.

In your next pitch, take note of the signs that people’s eyes are wandering off. They could be fidgeting or shifting in their seats. Some may even be squirming.

Those who are truly bored may be checking their watches and surreptitiously looking for the exit signs. To save your presentation, you need to be aware of such signals so you can react accordingly.

Connect Using the Right Body Language

According to body language expert Carol Kinsey Goman, when audience attention falters, non-verbal communication can play a significant part in keeping them engaged.

A strong eye contact, for example, can help jolt an audience member into paying attention. You may also use your voice to project and maintain control. In your spare time, try to learn how to vary the pitch and loudness of your voice.

Additionally, make sure to maintain the right stance. This will help you convey confidence and authority.

Break your Pattern

If you’ve been droning on for a few minutes, think about pausing for about 10 seconds. Doing so will surely get everyone to pay attention.

They’ll be surprised that you stopped. This will create anticipation on what you are going to say next.

Practice your Opener

Your slides won’t do everything for you. You can’t just show them to your audience while you go on reading from your notes.

You may not notice it but how well you prepare can affect how you hold your audience’s attention. Speech coach Sims Wyeth suggests that one of the most important parts you should master is delivering a great opener.

When you’re successful with your opener, you will be able to create a framework that prepares your audience for what they are about to hear.

Conclusion

Even the best presenters have difficulty commanding audience attention 100% of the time. It’s inevitable that people’s attention spans will stray from you.

However, there are ways to reel them back in. Surprise them by breaking your speech pattern, or starting off on the right foot. Impress them with a good pitch, and guarantee all eyes trained on you for the rest of your speech.

References

Goman, Carol Kinsey. “10 Simple and Powerful Body Language Tips for 2013.” Forbes. Accessed June 12, 2014.
Wyeth, Sims. “10 Ways Great Speakers Capture People’s Attention.” Inc.com. March 05, 2014. Accessed June 12, 2014.

How to Humanize Your Virtual Presentations

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body language

Custom Designed Presentations

Powerpoint

PowerPoint Agency

PowerPoint Design

PowerPoint design experts

PowerPoint specialist

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Presentation Agency

Presentation Company

Presentation Consultation

Presentation Designers

Presentation Firm

Virtual presentations

webinar

Aug 22, 2013

In the age of remote work and virtual meetings, it’s more important than ever to humanize your virtual presentations. Engaging a remote audience requires extra effort to create a connection and keep viewers engaged. Here’s how to add a human touch to your virtual presentations and make them more interactive and personal.

1. Make Eye Contact with the Camera

In a virtual presentation, eye contact helps create a sense of connection with your audience. While you can’t see your viewers directly, looking into the camera can simulate the feeling of eye contact and make your presentation feel more personal.

Why It’s Important:

  • Creates a Connection: Eye contact builds rapport and makes the audience feel like you’re speaking directly to them.
  • Increases Engagement: When the audience feels seen, they’re more likely to stay focused and engaged.

How to Do It:

  • Position your camera at eye level to maintain natural eye contact throughout the presentation.
  • Avoid looking at your screen too often; focus on the camera as if you’re speaking to an individual.

2. Use Storytelling to Build Empathy

Telling stories is a powerful way to create an emotional connection with your audience. Whether you’re sharing a personal experience, a customer success story, or a relatable challenge, storytelling helps humanize your message.

Why It’s Important:

  • Builds Emotional Connections: Stories resonate with the audience on a deeper level, making your message more memorable.
  • Engages the Audience: Storytelling keeps viewers interested and can help illustrate complex points in a relatable way.

How to Do It:

  • Start your presentation with a relevant story that aligns with your message.
  • Use personal anecdotes or real-life examples to make abstract ideas more tangible.

3. Encourage Interaction with Polls and Questions

Virtual presentations can feel one-sided if the audience isn’t involved. Break up your presentation by encouraging interaction through polls, Q&A sessions, or live chat.

Why It’s Important:

  • Fosters Engagement: Asking questions or conducting polls keeps your audience involved and attentive.
  • Creates a Two-Way Dialogue: Interaction humanizes the presentation, making it feel less like a monologue and more like a conversation.

How to Do It:

  • Use platforms that allow for live polling, like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, to gather audience feedback in real-time.
  • Ask open-ended questions throughout the presentation and invite viewers to share their thoughts in the chat.

4. Be Authentic and Relatable

Virtual presentations can sometimes feel detached. To combat this, embrace authenticity and vulnerability to make yourself more relatable to your audience.

Why It’s Important:

  • Increases Trust: Authenticity builds trust and rapport, making your audience more likely to engage with and trust your message.
  • Humanizes the Experience: Showing your human side helps the audience connect with you on a personal level, even through a screen.

How to Do It:

  • Don’t be afraid to show your personality or admit small mistakes; it makes you more relatable.
  • Use a conversational tone rather than overly formal language to create a more approachable presentation.

5. Personalize the Content

Tailoring your presentation to the specific interests and needs of your audience helps you establish a personal connection. The more relevant your content, the more engaged your audience will be.

Why It’s Important:

  • Keeps the Audience Engaged: Personalizing your content makes it more relevant and engaging for your viewers.
  • Shows Empathy: Tailoring your presentation to your audience’s challenges or interests demonstrates that you understand their needs.

How to Do It:

  • Research your audience in advance and customize examples or stories that align with their industry, challenges, or interests.
  • Use the audience’s feedback or questions to guide your presentation in real-time.

Final Thoughts

Humanizing your virtual presentation is essential for building connections, engaging your audience, and delivering an impactful message. By maintaining eye contact with the camera, using storytelling, encouraging interaction, and being authentic, you can create a virtual experience that feels personal and relatable. These strategies will help you leave a lasting impression, even from a distance.

How to Make Your First Impression Count in the Business World

attention span

body language

Custom Designed Presentations

eye contact

first impressions

posture

PowerPoint Agency

PowerPoint Design

PowerPoint design experts

PowerPoint specialist

presentation

Presentation Agency

Presentation Company

Presentation Consultation

Presentation Designers

Presentation Firm

Jul 22, 2013

You don’t get a redo with a flubbed first impression, especially in the modern business world defined by a hyper-fast pace and short attention span.

We meet new faces every day, and you can’t downplay the importance of these first impressions, especially with an important contact or a corporate presentation. Because of the pressure and importance associated with first impressions, it’s easy to become nervous or over think the situation, but paying attention to a few basic concerns about your behavior and physical appearance can help you relax and make a memorable impression.

Whether you’re meeting someone face to face or engaging a group of people, knowing what cues will cause others to form opinions about you in less than 10 seconds can be the difference between success and failure.

Physical appearance

first impression

This may seem shallow, but your physical appearance and your body language will be the two key factors in how you will first be perceived by others, and keep in mind that the bulk of the first impression will be made in seven seconds, and that impression is unlikely to ever change.

Dress with care, it’s a sign of competency and attention to detail to others, but be wary not to overdress for the occasion. That can also show incompetency–even insensitivity. Furthermore, while it’s important to show individuality, creativity, and originality through your appearance, don’t go overboard, especially in a professional setting. Find out the appropriate dress code (i.e. casual, formal) and craft your creativity within that context. Also, making sure you’re well groomed and appropriately dressed can give you the boost of confidence you need if you’re walking into a situation that may make you a little apprehensive.

Remain open, confident, and relaxed

Your body language can say a lot about your personality and attitude as well, so it’s important to give off a positive, open vibe through your gestures, posture, and body language.

Good posture and a firm handshake will show confidence and assertiveness, which are too highly valued qualities in the business world. Conversely, slouching can be a sign of lack of self esteem and low energy.

Confidence is key to being taken seriously, but appearing open and friendly can’t be undervalued. Your body should face the person you’re speaking to. To ensure the person that you’re giving them your full attention, maintain eye contact, and don’t glance at your watch, phone, or what other people in the room might be doing.

Knowing what not to do is just as important. We all have nervous habits that we begin doing unconsciously. While we may not even be aware of these habits, such as biting our fingernails, crossing and uncrossing our legs, or touching our hair and face, others are, and becoming aware of and controlling these habits is imperative in order to present yourself effectively.

While this may seem like a hefty list of things to be conscious of, the most important tip is simply to be confident, because the majority of these techniques of good-impression making are just symptoms of confidence.

Body Movement in your Presentation; How to Make it or Break it

audience

body language

Custom Designed Presentations

eye contact

posture

PowerPoint Agency

PowerPoint Design

PowerPoint design experts

PowerPoint specialist

Presentation Agency

Presentation Company

Presentation Consultation

Presentation Designers

Presentation Firm

Presentations

presenting

public speaking

Steve Jobs

Jul 19, 2013

Body movement during a presentation is a powerful non-verbal tool that can either enhance your message or become a major distraction. Effective use of movement can engage your audience, emphasize key points, and project confidence. On the flip side, uncontrolled or awkward movement can detract from your message, making you appear nervous or unprepared. Understanding how to use body movement correctly can make or break your presentation.

In this guide, we’ll explore the do’s and don’ts of body movement, showing you how to use it strategically to support your presentation and captivate your audience.

The Importance of Body Movement in Presentations

Movement during a presentation serves several important purposes:

  • Engagement: Movement helps keep your audience visually engaged, adding energy and life to your presentation.
  • Emphasis: Strategic movement draws attention to key points or transitions, making them more memorable.
  • Connection: Moving around the stage or room helps you connect with different sections of the audience, making them feel included.
  • Confidence: Controlled, purposeful movement projects confidence and helps you appear more authoritative.

However, too much movement—or the wrong kind of movement—can be distracting, confusing, or even alienating. The goal is to strike a balance between purposeful movement and moments of stillness.

How to “Make It” with Body Movement

1. Move with Purpose

One of the most critical aspects of body movement is making sure your movements are purposeful and deliberate. Random or constant movement can make you appear nervous or unorganized.

  • Move During Transitions: Use movement to signal a change in topic or section. For example, when transitioning from one key point to the next, take a few steps to the side or toward the audience. This visually reinforces the shift in focus.
  • Step Forward to Emphasize: When making a critical point, step closer to the audience. This adds emphasis and makes the moment feel more intimate and impactful.
  • Return to Neutral: After making a point or transitioning, return to a neutral, centered position on the stage. This helps you reset and maintain balance in your presentation.

2. Use Movement to Connect with the Audience

Moving around the stage or room allows you to engage with different sections of the audience. This helps establish a connection and ensures that everyone feels included in the conversation.

  • Address All Sections: Avoid staying in one spot or addressing only one part of the room. Shift your position throughout the presentation to engage the entire audience. This could mean walking to different areas of the stage or making subtle shifts in body orientation.
  • Use Proximity Wisely: Moving closer to the audience during key moments can create a stronger connection. For example, during a Q&A session, stepping toward the person asking the question can make the interaction feel more personal and engaging.

3. Anchor Movements to Key Points

Linking specific movements to key points in your presentation can help reinforce your message and make it more memorable.

  • Visualize Movements for Concepts: For example, if you’re explaining a process with multiple steps, consider moving from one side of the stage to the other as you outline each step. This visual association helps the audience follow along.
  • Use Spatial Anchors: Assign different areas of the stage to represent specific topics or ideas. As you move back and forth between these areas, the audience will subconsciously associate the movements with your key points.

4. Control Gestures and Body Language

While body movement involves the whole body, gestures—especially hand movements—are another key component. Use gestures that complement your message rather than distract from it.

  • Emphasize with Gestures: Use open and deliberate hand movements to emphasize important words or concepts. Gestures should be natural and proportional to the size of the room; smaller rooms call for smaller, more controlled movements, while larger spaces may require more expansive gestures.
  • Open vs. Closed Gestures: Open gestures, such as open palms, indicate honesty and inclusivity, while closed gestures, like crossed arms or hands in pockets, can signal discomfort or defensiveness. Aim for open and inviting gestures to enhance audience connection.

5. Maintain Balance Between Movement and Stillness

While movement adds energy to your presentation, moments of stillness are equally important. A balance between movement and stillness allows your audience to process information and focus on your message.

  • Pause for Impact: After making a key point, pause for a moment in stillness. This gives your audience time to absorb the information and underscores the significance of what you’ve just said.
  • Avoid Fidgeting: Constant, small movements, such as shifting from foot to foot or fidgeting with clothing, can be distracting. Be aware of nervous habits and practice staying still when needed.

How to “Break It” with Body Movement (What to Avoid)

1. Pacing Without Purpose

Constant pacing is one of the most common mistakes presenters make. Walking back and forth without clear intention makes you seem nervous, restless, or unorganized.

  • Avoid Random Pacing: Uncontrolled pacing is distracting and can make the audience lose focus. Instead, use intentional, measured steps to emphasize transitions or key points.

2. Standing Still the Entire Time

Just as too much movement can be distracting, standing completely still throughout your presentation can make it feel stiff and unengaging. Being stationary can create a barrier between you and the audience, making your presentation less dynamic.

  • Don’t Lock Yourself Behind a Podium: If you’re using a podium, step away from it at times to engage with the audience. Moving around the stage or room makes the presentation feel more interactive.

3. Overusing or Exaggerating Gestures

While gestures are an important part of body language, overusing or exaggerating them can be just as distracting as poor movement.

  • Avoid Constant Gesturing: If your hands are always in motion, the audience may become distracted. Limit gestures to moments where they support or emphasize your words.
  • Don’t Overdo Large Movements: Exaggerated gestures or wide, sweeping motions can overwhelm the audience. Keep your gestures appropriate for the room size and the context of your message.

4. Fidgeting or Nervous Movements

Small, repetitive movements such as playing with your hair, adjusting your clothing, or tapping your fingers can signal nervousness and detract from your presentation.

  • Control Fidgeting: Practice becoming aware of any nervous habits and work on minimizing them. If you have a habit of fidgeting with objects, try holding a pen or clicker to keep your hands occupied in a controlled way.

5. Turning Your Back to the Audience

Turning your back on the audience, even briefly, can disengage them. This often happens when a presenter is reading from slides or looking at a monitor behind them.

  • Always Face Forward: Stay aware of your body orientation. Even if you’re referencing your slides, try to face the audience as much as possible. If you need to look at your slides, glance quickly and return your focus to the audience.

Final Thoughts

Body movement is a powerful tool that can either elevate or diminish your presentation. When used correctly, purposeful movement adds emphasis, boosts engagement, and makes you appear more confident. However, random or nervous movement can detract from your message and make you seem unprepared.

The key to “making it” with body movement is awareness and intentionality. By moving with purpose, using gestures strategically, and maintaining a balance between movement and stillness, you can command the stage and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Avoid common pitfalls like pacing without purpose, overusing gestures, or standing rigidly still, and instead, use body movement as a dynamic tool to amplify your presentation’s impact.

With practice and mindful execution, your body language will become an asset that powers your presentations and helps you connect with your audience on a deeper level.

The Art of Non-Verbal Comedy: Decoding Stand-Up Comedians’ Body Language

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Dimitri Martin

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Zach Galifianakis

Jul 17, 2013

Despite often appearing to be the least serious people on the planet, stand-up comedians have a lot to teach us about the visual aspect of presenting. Stand-up comedy blends performance art and public speaking, and these comedians must work tirelessly to perfect their presentation skills in order to not make a fool of themselves on stage.

These comedians incorporate drastic body language, visual aids and creative nonverbal communication to get their “message” across. Here are a few impressive examples that can teach anyone giving a professional presentation a lot about how to wow an audience.

 

Here is an excellent display of nonverbal communication by one of the most vibrant comedians around at the very start of his career. His entire joke, which lasts more than three minutes, consists of just a couple sentences wrapped up by a three-word punchline. If you take a look at our previous post discussing how to use body language to improve your presenting skills, you’ll see that the majority of how we communicate is nonverbal. Though it may seem ludicrous, Jim Carrey uses his body language as a powerful communication tool, and relies almost exclusively on it during his performance.

 

Creating a unique persona for yourself is a highly effective way to make a lasting impression on people you encounter. While in the business world, especially when giving a professional presentation, a positive, confident persona will most likely be the best strategy, comedian Zach Galifianakis has mastered the art of creating a whole persona–an easily recognizable character–in so subtle a way that he can seemingly stand there, say practically nothing, and have people rolling on the ground laughing.

Syncing your talking points with your presentation tool (your PowerPoint presentation) is vital in order to get your message across clearly and concisely. Dimitri Martin is a master of visual comedy, and here he is showing something very similar to a slide-by-slide presentation. Pay careful attention to Martin’s timing and momentum, especially the way he builds anticipation for the point he’s about to make.

When giving a professional presentation, we always recommend having a professionally designed PowerPoint in your arsenal. Simply showing up to the presentation with a PowerPoint presentation (no matter how good it is) will be quite enough. Knowing how to blend your talking points, body movements and your visual accompaniment is the key to a seamless presentation.

When crafting your presentation to compliment your PowerPoint–or the other way around–it’s important to practice and coordinate carefully. Think about timing, simplicity, and highlighting your key points so that they’ll make an impact on your audience.