How can you use body language to enhance your public speaking skills?

Audiences these days want to be entertained as much as they want to learn. Social media and advanced technology has spoiled all of us! So when I present, I tend to move around -I use a lapel mic to free up my hands as well as allow movement around the room. Engaging in your audience's space also changes the nature of your message. You can look at people's faces, touch tables, force the audience to move their own bodies to watch you, etc. So your posture here, is actually about moving yourself around the room, which holds a level of engagement and power w your time!

Stand tall, shoulders back, head high—your body speaks before you do. Confidence isn't just felt, it's seen. Use your posture to tell your story of strength and assurance. Let your gestures amplify your words, crafting a visual echo of your message. In the dance of communication, your body language leads, making every word resonate deeper. Remember, powerful posture, powerful impact.

"When your hands are visible, the physical openness of your body language invites trust." This quote is commonly shared and deemed true among behavioral experts. Make sure you wave to the audience, use your hands to show numbers, and keep your palms facing the audience. This will build trust quickly. Make sure you smile and laugh during your presentation. It humanizes you in a good way.

Before you begin your speech, you should conduct a QUICK SCAN of your audience. The purpose is to IDENTIFY one or two persons in the audience with whom you will make eye contact while you deliver your speech. This ACT of MAKING EYE CONTACT helps you to FOCUS your thoughts on that one or two persons AS IF you are talking to them personally. It also helps to REDUCE your NERVOUSNESS during your speech. A good speaker will also SHIFT his/her ATTENTION to a set of people in different parts of the room. If you had looked at the LEFT SIDE of the room now is the time to shift your gaze to the people on the RIGHT SIDE of the room. Some speakers work on FRONT first then to the BACK of the room. The idea is to try to cover as many people as possible.

Eye contact is the bridge that connects you to your audience, turning a speech into a conversation. Lock eyes, and you lock hearts. It's how you say, "I see you, and I'm here for you," without uttering a word. With every glance, you build trust, warmth, and engagement. Let your eyes carry the power of your message, making every listener feel like the only one in the room. Eye contact is your secret weapon—use it to captivate, connect, and command attention.

Move with purpose on stage. Each step, a statement; every gesture, a layer to your story. Your movement breathes life into words, making your message not just heard but felt. Let your body language flow naturally, in harmony with your speech, guiding your audience through your narrative. Be deliberate, be dynamic—let your presence amplify your voice, turning your message into an experience. Movement is your silent language, make it speak volumes.

To connect with your audience, use bold, expansive gestures that involve your whole upper body. Small movements get lost, especially for those further away. What may feel exaggerated to you will appear natural and engaging from the back of the room. Practice with a view from the back to calibrate your gestures for optimal impact.

Remember to practice your body language along with your speech. Just like rehearsing your words, practicing your gestures, facial expressions, and movement on stage can help you feel more comfortable and natural during your presentation. Additionally, pay attention to feedback from rehearsals or previous speeches to identify areas for improvement in your body language. By continually refining and honing your nonverbal communication skills, you can become a more effective and compelling public speaker.

Communication and public speaking is not a one way conversation. Invite the audience to speak without words. Ask questions that invoke nods or reflection. Move yourself to walk around those who have wandering visual connections or lost eye contact. Watch “the fidgets” as it will tell you the absorption of information is slowing. Facial expressions indicate information absorption.