Orals - Hey Coach! Help Me With My Body Language

Many times we forget that over 50% of the communications package that we deliver to our customers, friends, and families is body language. We rarely take the opportunity to explore what the body can do for us in delivering powerful oral presentations and answers to the Government's questions. Here are some ideas to help you. Try them out in everyday conversation as well as in your next presentation.

THE SCENARIO: You've just been introduced to deliver an element of your team's oral presentation. You feel the anxiety and fear that we all face (Yes, even me!) knowing that this is the big moment. You receive the resulting adrenaline rush, and the happiness knowing this is the last time you'll have to deliver this oral presentation. After grabbing a quick time check from your team, you begin to make your way to the front of the room. Now what do you do?

FIRST, GET IN-PLACE AND STAND CORRECTLY: Don't be so hurried that you start presenting before you are in-place. I see many presenters try to begin presenting long before they are actually at the front of the room. That detracts from your power and credibility. Before you begin to present, make sure you are in-place, squared-up to your audience, and are standing tall and confident, take a deep breath, and look around the room at your customers. If this is your first time up to present, take time to introduce yourself with a big smile. You should be well in front of your audience, but a little closer to your customer, embracing them a little more intimately. Once your introduction is complete, move gracefully back to your presentation place and continue with your topics. Move away from the screen when you want to add emphasis to a point, like a key feature and benefit or a discriminator. That way, your point will rise above the "noise" of your presentation.

SECOND, ALWAYS THINK ABOUT YOUR BODY: Those of you that have worked with me in the past know that I place a big premium on body position during presentations. I recommend you use a mental checklist that you go over every minute or so to monitor what your body is doing during the presentation. Here are but some items on the list:

Am I moving too much? THIRD, BE MINDFUL OF YOUR HANDS: This goes for presenting, relaxing, and answering questions. How open is your body when you present? Do you do the "Fig Leaf" that robs you of confidence? Do you clutch your hands behind your back as if hiding something? Do you fold your arms when standing and arms and legs when sitting, shutting down your body (and by extension your mind?) to a defensive position? Do you point at your customer in an accusatory manner or extend an inviting hand?

By far, your biggest challenge is managing your hands, and all it takes is practice to get them to do what you want them to do and when.

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Written by Gregory W. Pease. Published by Organizational Communications, Inc. Republished with permission.

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