See the speaker in this picture? She looks pretty tense, and she’s definitely not smiling. Bad presenter. Bad! She should follow the advice of the aptly named Great Presentations Mean Business blog, which offers three simple ways to improve presentations by improving your body language. And here they are:
- Walk… Take a hike! Practice relaxing your walk. Head up, shoulders back and relaxed, breathing deeply and walking with confidence and purpose. Try to lead with your sternum or collarbones. Practice by simply going for walks. Occasionally “scan” your body for relaxation, paying attention to how you feel and where you hold tension.
- Smile… Even if you’re not feeling it, put a genuine smile on your face. You will relax and engage your audience better. With a real smile – not a forced one – a lot of other better body language will follow.
- Care… You’re talking to someone, a lot like you would if you were simply sitting together. They matter to you. A lot. Show them you care about the experience they are having. Look at them, talk to them. Using the right gestures and posture can be effective, but avoid “tricks.” If you wouldn’t do it in conversation, you probably shouldn’t while presenting.
It’s worth clicking through to the original post to read some of the comments, which add a few worthwhile suggestions to the list. In the meantime, feel free to post your presentation tips right here.
