How do you avoid common body language mistakes that can undermine your credibility in a conference?

One area that might help is to focus on not only what you want from your audience, but to consider what they want from you. My primary goal any time I speak or present is to add value to the lives and experiences of my audience. You cannot fake sincerity and your audience will respond immediately to the feeling that we are all in this together. When you move from simply speaking to facilitating a learning process, you are well on your way to reaching your goals and their goals. That is my definition of win/win.

For medical talks, starting with a case is a great way to engage the audience. Referring back to the case throughout the talk helps to enhance your take home points.

When speaking at a podium, holding one or both sides of the podium can help keep you relaxed. Also I pan the entire audience to find folks who look engaged to help me relax.

My high school teacher once threatened to "staple" my right hand to my side because I used it so much when I spoke. To this day, when I see that right hand out of the corner of my eye, I expect her to make good on her threat! One way I avoid over-using gestures is to keep my hands occupied. I will hold a piece of paper or a pen to make sure that I do not distract my audience. As for verbal tics like "um and ah," I work from an outline and focus on speaking in complete paragraphs, not snippets. My thoughts are fully formed when expressed as a result and I do not struggle to find the words. If you want a good example regardless of your political persuasion, watch the late Charles Krauthammer online. He mastered this completely.

I call this working my audience. I always get my audience involved why because everyone likes to validated and I also want to make sure my audience is receiving the message

One method I have enjoyed is to use the entire stage to make everyone feel included in your discussion. There is a difference between being busy and being purposeful. I grew up in the same hometown as Mark Twain and we learn a lot about his life and career. Twain inhabited the stage like no other before or since. Hal Holbrook did a magnificent job of capturing Twain's method. Take a look at his offerings online and enjoy laughing while you are also thinking hard.

There is a difference between guiding an audience and manipulating them. There are way too many who emphasize technique over substance. The key to messaging is finding the topic that most excites you. Once you have mastered the subject matter, the rest is editing for emphasis. I mark up every word I say on paper first and work from there, checking my points of emphasis at every step of the way. Winston Churchill labored over every speech, word by word, and moved a planet with his speeches. You cannot over-prepare in this department.

Having been in front of audiences for decades, from courtrooms to classrooms to the General Assembly, I have been trained to read body language. My favorite weapon is humor, preferably directed at myself. Recently, I did a bad job of explaining a bill. The legislator who asked the question did a better job of explaining it, so I complimented him for doing so. Humility, humor, and honesty in one comment is a grand slam! Aristotle said the three keys to character are good sense, good morals and good will. Good will is simply being likeable. Be open, not guarded. Be comfortable, not on edge. Enjoy being the person who adds value to everyone else in your audience and that will translate into an easier flow and better results.