Jan27

Body Movement and walking pattern

by grelohi on January 27th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Posted In: public speaking websites

Changing your position or location while speaking is the broadest, most visible physical action you can perform. Therefore it can either help drive your message home or spell failure for even the well-planned speech. Moving your body in a controlled, purposeful manner creates three benefits:

1. Supports and reinforces what you say
2. Attracts an audience’s attention
3. Burns up nervous energy and relieves physical tension

However, body movement can work against you.  Remember this one rule:

NEVER MOVE WITHOUT A REASON
The eye is inevitably attracted to a moving object, so any body movement you make during a speech invites attention.  Too much movement, even the right kind, can become distracting to an Audience.  Bear in mind the following types of body movement:

- Stepping forward during a speech suggest you are arriving at an important point.
- Stepping backward indicates you’ve concluded an idea and want the audience to relax for a moment.
- Lateral movement implies a transitional it indicates that you are leaving one thought and taking up another.  For example, if you are ready to move on to your next point, move slowly    sideways until you are standing next to the lectern.

The final reason for body movement is the easiest; to get from one place to another.  In almost every speaking situation, you must walk from the location you are addressing your audience to your props, especially if you are using visual aids.  Always change positions by leading with the foot nearest your destination.

You may ask, Why move in the first place?  Moving forces people to focus and follow you.  The way you walk from your seat to the speaker’s location is very important. When you are introduced, you should appear eager to speak.  Many speakers look as though they are heading toward execution.

- Walk confidently from your seat to the lectern.  Pause there a few seconds and then move out from behind the lectern. It is wise to use the lectern as a point of departure, not a barrier to hide behind.  I personally do not use lecterns.

  – Smile before you say your first words.

  – Don’t stand too close or move beyond the first row of people.

  – Walking stresses an important idea.  It is essential that you walk with purpose and intention, not just a random shift of position.  For example, taking about three steps, moving    at a slight angle, usually works best.

  – Use three positions with visual aids, Your “home” position is front and center.  The other two positions should be relatively near the “home” position.  You can move to the right of the lectern and then to the left.  Using and varying these three positions prevents you from favoring one side of the audience.  If you’re speaking on stage, these three positions are called front center, stage left, and stage right.   Never stand in front of any visual aid.

  – Practice your walking patterns to and from your three positions.
These positions should be planned just as your hand gestures are, to some degree.  For example, you want your body to move and gesture naturally.  However, since most people are nervous about speaking in public, they tend to stiffen their muscles and hold back their natural tendency to gesture.  Let your body tell you when it wants to move.

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Jan25

Tips You Must Know About Facial Expressions

by grelohi on January 25th, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Posted In: public speaking tools

A good speaker realizes that appropriate facial expressions are an important part of effective communication.  In fact, facial expressions are often the key determinant of the meaning behind the message.  People watch a speaker’s face during a presentation.  When you speak, your face – more clearly than any other part of your body – communicates to your audience your attitudes, feelings, and emotions.

Dr. Paul Ekman of the University of California at San Francisco has made a career of studying facial expressions and facial animation.  He mapped out a technique for coding facial expressions called the facial action coding system, FACS, based on the role facial muscles play in expressing different emotions.  Ekman’s research indicates that there are seven emotional expressions shared by everyone: sadness, happiness, anger, interest, fear, contempt, and surprise.

Here is a list of tips you need to know:

1. Be yourself. – Don’t try to copy the facial expression style of someone else.  For example, just because your favorite professional speaker starts his or her presentations by     telling a story using exaggerated facial expressions doesn’t mean it will work for you.

2. Don’t overdo it. – Some people intentionally try to control their facial expressions by forcing themselves to smile or use another expression that isn’t natural to them.  Watch     out for “fake” facial expressions that have a negative impact on your speech or compromise your sincerity.

3. Practice in front of a mirror. – Notice what expressions you use while speaking.  Study how to control your facial expressions.  Ask yourself, do they match my words?

4. Create different moods. – While practicing in front of the mirror, see if your facial expressions convey the mood you want to create.  If your face isn’t showing any emotion,     stop, refocus, and try again.

5. Think about what you are saying. – Focus on your message and communicating with your audience, and your facial expressions will follow.

6. Smile before you begin. – As I’ve said before, the one true international non-verbal expression understood by all is the smile.  A warm smile before you begin to speak warms up an audience quickly, and ending with a smile puts your audience at ease with what they’ve just learned.

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