Giving a Presentation with Style
Speakers with presence stand tall, move purposefully, connect with their audience, look and sound good. They ooze confidence. How do you come across and how do you communicate presence?
It is suggested that it takes four minutes to form an impression of someone and that 90% of that impression is formed in the first ninety seconds. You don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Make a bad impression and you have lost an opportunity that may never come again.
The following are some guidelines for developing presence and impacting on your audience.
Posture: Standing Tall and Moving with Impact
What does your posture say about you? Do you cross your legs? Do you lean back on one hip, slump, keep your hands in your pockets or fidget?
Aim to stand upright without being stiff or unnatural. Lengthen your spine, lift your head, drop your shoulders and place your feet shoulder-width apart. Slouching or leaning to one side can make you look over-casual. If you are standing behind a table, avoid leaning on it.
Gestures: Adding Life and Energy
Gestures add life and colour to your presentation. They can help to paint a picture and will add to the force of your words. In everyday conversation we gesture naturally and are probably not aware of them. When you present, aim to gesture as you would in an animated conversation with a friend - nothing more. With a large group your gestures and energy may need to be 'larger than life', just as the statue on top of a building needs to be of a larger than life size to appear of life-like proportions to an onlooker from the ground. Gestures that are too bold will only distract. If you are inclined to over-gesture, it may help to keep your elbows by your side with hands held slightly in front.
Eyes: Connecting with your Audience
Eye contact is like an electric current that keeps audiences tuned in and connected to you. Turn off the current and you disconnect their involvement. If you don't pay attention to your audience, they will find it difficult to pay attention to you.
Steady, direct eye contact communicates honesty, warmth and authority. Eye contact is essential. When there is eye contact, a highly personal exchange takes place. It is with your eyes that you 'connect' with your audience and keep their interest.
Voice: Developing a Conversational Tone
Your voice is the vehicle you use to convey your message.
Some Dos and Don'ts
Do:
- Speak in a conversational way.
- Vary your voice in volume and emphasis.
- Change the pace.
- Pause.
- Speak clearly and in a controlled way.
- Allow time for the sound of your voice to travel in a large room.
Don't:
- Rush.
- Speak in a monotone way.
Summary
- You don't get a second chance to make a first impression.
- Confident people stand tall and move purposefully.
- Gesture as you would in an animated conversation.
- Keep eye contact with your audience and they will keep contact with you.
- Speak in a conversational way.
- Dress to aid your credibility.
- Speak from your heart and you will do a lot of things right.
