When you present, you say a lot. You utter thousands of words when you have to speak for 15, 30 or even a full 60 minutes. Just the word count alone is mesmerizing to think about, but what about all the things you’re not saying? The audience is forced to listen to you, for better or for worse, for however long you’re up on stage or standing in front of them. But they’re also forced to look at you for the entire time, too. Are they getting the right message? Is what you’re saying lining up with what they’re seeing? It’s not enough to write a great speech—you have to deliver it well, too.
Non-verbal communication opens up tremendous doors for the savvy presenter. To an extent, you can use deftly calculated non-verbal cues to control the ebb and flow of the presentation, initiate and shut down Q&A time, etc. You can enhance or detract from your message by showing physical alignment with it or failing to.
Here are a few simple tips to use non-verbal communication to your advantage in your next presentation:
1. Be the Emotion You Want Them to Feel: Use your tempo, inflection and gestures to add oomph to the parts of your presentation that deserve it. When you’re talking about solutions, services, or results, don’t mask your excitement. Speak quickly, throw a smile in, take your hands out of your pocket, etc. And on the flip side, when you’re talking about problems, slow it down, add empathy to your tone, and be sure to “wear” that displeasure. The audience is looking for you to tell them how to feel, so go ahead and show it.
2. Mind Your Wardrobe: It goes without saying that the way you dress is non-verbal communication. Of course you want to dress the part, whatever that part may be. (And no, it’s not always true that a suit and tie are best for any situation.) But did you know that you can control the atmosphere in the room with your clothing? If you need to transition from a formal presentation to a collaborative Q&A or workshop feel, take your coat off and roll your sleeves up. When you need to wrap things up, reverse it. People are so sensitive to cues like this, and you’ll find yourself making much more efficient transitions and engaging their minds the way you want to when you guide them this way.
3. Use Your Space: Your position in the room is a powerful non-verbal communication tool. If you’re mainly stationary, you tend to ostracize the people in the room that are distant from you. It’s far better to strategically pace the room. Don’t slip into constant movement—that betrays nervousness. But random, dynamic movement, as if you’re going to one side of the room or stage intentionally, communicates force and authority and power. It shows you own the floor—all of it. And for those of you who never know what to do with your hands, it helps to move around a bit.
Of course, there are a million other ways to communicate non-verbally. One of the best things a presenter can do is take these and other basic concepts and incorporate them into their own presentation style. If you focus on all of the ways you can communicate non-verbally, you’ll struggle to implement anything. So pick 3 or 4 tricks to focus on and you’ll be able to make them your own.
Question: How do you use non-verbal gestures or movements to enhance your presentations?
FYI: Check out our infographic with body language tips for presenters!
