What do you do if your body language is hindering your public speaking success?

1 Assess Habits

The first step in addressing problematic body language is to conduct a thorough self-assessment. Record yourself delivering a speech and observe the playback, focusing on your gestures, posture, and expressions. Are your movements erratic or too subdued? Does your posture convey confidence or uncertainty? Be honest in your evaluation. Recognizing your body language pitfalls is crucial to making positive changes. Once you've identified specific areas for improvement, you can begin to work on them systematically.

2 Seek Feedback

It's often difficult to judge your own body language objectively. Enlist the help of trusted friends or colleagues to watch your speech and provide honest feedback. Ask them to pay close attention to your nonverbal cues and how they complement or detract from your message. This external perspective can highlight issues you may not have noticed and offer valuable insights into how others perceive your public speaking skills.

3 Learn Techniques

After pinpointing the issues with your body language, it's time to learn new techniques to improve it. Study successful public speakers and observe their use of body language. Take note of how they stand, move, and use their hands to emphasize points. Practice these techniques in front of a mirror or with a camera rolling. Focus on making your movements purposeful and aligned with the message you're conveying. Over time, these techniques will become second nature.

4 Practice Regularly

Improvement in body language comes with consistent practice. Incorporate body language exercises into your daily routine. Stand in front of a mirror and practice your speech, paying particular attention to the nonverbal cues you're working to improve. Use visualization techniques to imagine yourself delivering a speech with confident and engaging body language. The more you practice, the more ingrained these habits will become.

5 Stay Mindful

During your speeches, remain mindful of your body language. It's easy to slip back into old habits, especially under stress. Develop a mental checklist of key body language points to monitor as you speak. If you find yourself reverting to negative patterns, gently correct course. With mindfulness, you'll be able to maintain control over your nonverbal communication even in high-pressure situations.

6 Adapt Flexibly

Public speaking is dynamic, and no two audiences are the same. Be prepared to adapt your body language to different contexts and audiences. What works for a boardroom presentation may not suit a community hall meeting. Pay attention to audience feedback—both verbal and nonverbal—and adjust your body language accordingly. Flexibility is key to ensuring that your nonverbal cues remain an asset, not a hindrance, to your public speaking success.