Hints for
Hints on Moving
Your Body |
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1.) Unless you are making a grand entrance, most likely people are watching your whole body as you wait to speak. Be there for them with a non-anxious presence. Take slow deep breaths while you pay attention to them and what is being said.
2.) Move slowly and deliberately to the location you have predetermined as your starting point. Don’t pace or move without intent. Stay within the Ted Talk Red Circle, or create in your mind several such circles. Keep your hands visible to your audience, don’t hid them in your pockets. While one hand in your pocket as you gesture or leaning into the audience can convey the feeling of being relaxed and interested, it is often read as “I don’t really care too much about relating to you.”
3.) When gesturing with your hands remember what many experts consider the “power sphere.” The area from belly button to your eye and out to the tips of your outstretched arms. This is not to say you can’t effectively go beyond that point from time to time. Rather, unless done with care such movements may convey a feeling of being off balance.
4.) Become aware how stillness and motion work together. Constant motion can be distracting. From time to time gently lean toward your audience and they may return the favor to you. This is a natural gesture that conveys interest. The opposite back lean shows disinterest or defensiveness.
5.) “Palms up” say renowned body language experts Allan and Barbara Pease. Whether casually standing or motioning in a sweeping gesture this is an open and welcoming position for your hands. Contrast it in your mind to the palm down pointed figure of the Nazi salute.
6.) Avoid nervous motions both as you wait to speak and when speaking. Tapping your hands or feet, crossing and uncrossing your legs or hands, touching your face or fidgeting with your papers all send signals that you are not mindful and centered in the moment, that you are more concerned with yourself than your audience.
7.) If you walk off stage and into the audience (whether tables or aisles) be careful not to stand, hover, or touch individuals. If you engage in conversations back up to about 5 feet from the individual you are engaging in conversation.
8.) Video record the opening, or the entire speech you are going to givethree times. The first time don’t give any thought to how you want to use your body. Watch this recording and describe your movements. Note how your motion supported what you said or detracted from it. Prepare for your second “take” by deciding to stand in one place for the first minute and then move to another predetermined location to make your next point or tell your first story. Review and describe what you see. Again, note what you consider the positive and negative use of your body. For the final “take” identify your final location and rehearse your closing remakes and gestures.
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Hints for Using Your Eyes
1 ) Careful and constant eye contact sets up an alternating current of energy between you and your audience. They know you are interested in them and you know if they are engaged with you.
2 ) Focused contact with others increases your confidence and engagement. In their eyes, your authority, likeability and trustworthiness grow with continuing eye contact.
3 ) Establish contact for 3 to 5 seconds with everyone at least once. This can be done for audiences up to 300 to 500 people. Much longer than this will make many people feel the discomfort of being stared at. Less than this gives them the idea that you are not really interested in them and only panning the crowd.
4 ) Make your contact intentional and personal, but not predictable. They will know if you are always moving from right to left and left to right or from front to back and back to front. Mix it up. Be spontaneous.
5 ) With your eyes acknowledge someone’s positive response to what you are saying. Odds are no one else in the room will see this exchange but be assured the person receiving it will. Don’t get short-circuited by the sour, indifferent, or hostile face by making prolonged contact with them. In fact, if you feel their negative energy flowing to you disconnect immediately.
6 ) Don’t make anyone uncomfortable. If you sense someone is shy or in need of private space respect that and don’t make deliberate eye contact.
2 ) Focused contact with others increases your confidence and engagement. In their eyes, your authority, likeability and trustworthiness grow with continuing eye contact.
3 ) Establish contact for 3 to 5 seconds with everyone at least once. This can be done for audiences up to 300 to 500 people. Much longer than this will make many people feel the discomfort of being stared at. Less than this gives them the idea that you are not really interested in them and only panning the crowd.
4 ) Make your contact intentional and personal, but not predictable. They will know if you are always moving from right to left and left to right or from front to back and back to front. Mix it up. Be spontaneous.
5 ) With your eyes acknowledge someone’s positive response to what you are saying. Odds are no one else in the room will see this exchange but be assured the person receiving it will. Don’t get short-circuited by the sour, indifferent, or hostile face by making prolonged contact with them. In fact, if you feel their negative energy flowing to you disconnect immediately.
6 ) Don’t make anyone uncomfortable. If you sense someone is shy or in need of private space respect that and don’t make deliberate eye contact.
Hints for Using Your Voice
1.) During rehearsal record and listen to your voice. Most of us are surprised by how we actually sound. Listen for clarity and pronunciation. Listen for modulation. Record and listen to your talk again and see what differences your mindfulness of pronunciation and modulation make.
2.) Warm up your voice on your way to your venue . Sing, recite a poem or the outline of your talk. Make funny noises. Open your mouth widely and say the vowles –a, e, i, o, u. Exaggerate them. An out of tune instrument never sounds its best.
3.) Be mindful of the pace. Most people have a tendency to speak too fast, especially when nervous. Slow down, remember there is a delay between the sounds you make and when your audience hears those sounds as words.
4. Consciously build in pauses. Each pause draws your audience closer to you and builds anticipation. Be mindful of your natural pauses between words and thoughts and use them deliberately.
5.) Your awareness of the changing tone of your voice is crucial. Record yourself expressing different emotions. Listen to your normal voice, what emotion does it expressed. Are you giving voice to your anger, frustration, your delight and enthusiasm?
6.) If, after trying these disciplines, you still feel there is something making your voice unpleasant engage a speech therapist or coach.
Hints for Using Your Smile
- 1. In front of a mirror observe how your face changes as you slowly lift the corners of your mouth. Watch your eyes and eye brows. Feel the faint sensation as your eyes squint a little.
- During the week before your next talk, practice Nhat Hanh’s half-smile in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Note what you feel. Are you more alert to what is happening around you? Do you feel more connected to those you are with?
- Practice Nhat Hanh’s half-smile in the waiting moments before you speak. You will feel it slightly lift the corners of your mouth and stimulate the muscles around your eyes to contract. It will help you feel positive about what comes next.
- As you begin talking, engage the energy of those smiling or half-smiling faces you see in the audience. Make a quick mental note of where they are seated and return your glance to them from time to time. They will energize you. Be aware of the gift their smile is giving you.
- Your smile has the power to relax you. Use it.
- Be genuine, honest and positive and your smile will reflect those qualities. Don’t ever fake a smile for it will flash a neon warning sign to your audience- “don’t trust this person.”
- Because we have a large repertoire of smiles that come to us naturally when our emotions are engaged, let them trigger your Duchene (honest) smile appropriately for the story, circumstance or information you are sharing.
- Use your audiences’ full and half smiles to give you joy in the moments you are speaking.
- Depending on the arch of your presentation, consider momentarily returning to your opening posture and a half-smile at the end.
Hints for Using Sleep to Aid Memory
1. If you meditate or pray use these spiritual disciplines to quiet your mind. Remind yourself you are entering one of great mysteries of life, sleep.
2. Relax and begin reviewing your outline, mind-map, poetry or scriptures you plan on using in your presentation.
3. Focus on one item at a time by reviewing and repeating it to yourself.
4. Surrender to sleep with a half-smile, accept what will now happen as a gift from beyond your conscious mind.
1. If you meditate or pray use these spiritual disciplines to quiet your mind. Remind yourself you are entering one of great mysteries of life, sleep.
2. Relax and begin reviewing your outline, mind-map, poetry or scriptures you plan on using in your presentation.
3. Focus on one item at a time by reviewing and repeating it to yourself.
4. Surrender to sleep with a half-smile, accept what will now happen as a gift from beyond your conscious mind.