75. People Assign Meaning to Your Body Positions and Movement

In addition to the initial first impression discussed previously, people continue to unconsciously interpret and react to your body positions throughout your whole presentation. Assuming that you want to convey confidence, leadership, authority, passion, and openness, there are certain body positions that you should use and some that you should avoid.

Direction and Orientation

Face people directly to convey authority and confidence (Figure 75.1). Standing at an angle (Figure 75.2) says that you and the audience are collaborating.

Figure 75.1. Facing full front conveys authority and confidence.

Figure 75.2. A 45-degree angle says you are collaborating.

Remove Barriers

Don’t have any barriers between you and the audience—don’t use a lectern, and move tables out of the way if possible. People need to see your body in order to trust you (Figure 75.3 and Figure 75.4).

Figure 75.3. If people can’t see your body, you won’t look as confident and they may not trust you.

Figure 75.4. Showing your body conveys trust, confidence, and authority.

Keep Your Head Straight

When you are talking one-on-one with someone, tilting your head conveys that you are interested in them or what they are saying, but it can also be a sign of submission. Since you want to convey authority and confidence during your presentation, you should avoid tilting your head (Figure 75.5 and Figure 75.6).

Figure 75.5. Tilting your head while presenting is a form of submission.

Figure 75.6. Keep your head straight to convey confidence and authority.

Stand with Balanced Weight

Standing firmly with your weight evenly balanced on both legs and your head straight says you are sure and confident. Putting weight on only one foot or leaning against something like a table, chair, or lectern undermines your confidence and authority (Figure 75.7 and Figure 75.8).

Figure 75.7. Leaning against something undermines your confidence and authority.

Figure 75.8. Standing with balanced weight conveys confidence and authority.

Don’t Fidget

Not too long ago I spoke at a conference with a line-up of great presenters. One man I had been looking forward to hearing got up to speak. He is well-known in his field, but I had never seen him speak. His talk was very good, but I couldn’t concentrate on it because throughout the entire talk he did a small movement over and over. He would step forward with one foot and then step back with the other, like a little dance, over and over. It was a form of fidgeting, and it was very distracting.

Fidgeting like this takes many forms. Some people rattle keys in their pockets or tap their feet or fingers. Fidgeting conveys that you are nervous, bored, or impatient.

Deal with Nervousness

Contrary to myth and legend, people do not fear public speaking more than death. But giving a presentation makes everyone nervous. As Mark Twain once said, “There are two types of speakers, those that are nervous and those that are liars.”

Being a little nervous is a good thing. It will keep you alert and make you excited. But being too nervous is a bad thing. Nervousness is contagious. If you are nervous, your audience will be too.

Before you start your presentation, go to a room nearby (or go out in the hallway or backstage) and work on your body position. Breathe deeply, stand straight, and keep your head straight too. If you take on this confident body posture, you will then feel more confident.

Move with Purpose

Although fidgeting movement is not good, moving with purpose is. Move toward people right before you make an important point, but make sure you are still while you are making the important point.

Moving away signifies a break or a change of topic.