GESTURESGESTURESYour Body SpeaksYour Body Speaks

SPEECHSPEECHPRESENTATIONPRESENTATION

Sending Two MessagesSending Two Messages• Voice transmits verbal• Body transmits nonverbal

Visually conveyedAppearanceMannerPhysical Behavior

Sending Two MessagesSending Two Messages• Voice transmits verbal• Body transmits nonverbal

Visually conveyedAppearanceMannerPhysical Behavior

StatisticsStatisticsMore than half of human communication takes place nonverbally

StatisticsStatisticsMore than half of human communication takes place nonverbally

Speaking Before A Speaking Before A GroupGroup

Listeners base their judgment of you

and your message on what they see

as well as upon what they hear.

Speaking Before A Speaking Before A GroupGroup

Listeners base their judgment of you

and your message on what they see

as well as upon what they hear.

BodyBody Language Language

Effective tool Effective tool Adds emphasis and clarity to your words.Most Powerful toolMost Powerful tool convince audienceof your sincerity, earnestness, and enthusiasm

Effective tool Effective tool Adds emphasis and clarity to your words.Most Powerful toolMost Powerful tool convince audienceof your sincerity, earnestness, and enthusiasm

Effective SpeakerEffective SpeakerUnderstand how your body speaks Learn to control the nonverbal messages

Effective SpeakerEffective SpeakerUnderstand how your body speaks Learn to control the nonverbal messages

Note: Note: physical actions that are distractingor suggest meanings that don’t agree with your verbal message, your body can defeat your words.

Continued…. Body Language

Points Points

to to

LearnLearn

1.1.Nonverbal messages affect the audienceNonverbal messages affect the audience2.2. What kinds of information they transmitWhat kinds of information they transmit3.3. Nervousness can be alleviated byNervousness can be alleviated by purposeful physical actionspurposeful physical actions4.4. How to make your body speak asHow to make your body speak as eloquently as your wordseloquently as your words

How ToHow To• Proper speaking postureProper speaking posture• Gestures• Body MovementBody Movement• Facial Expression• Eye ContactEye Contact• Positive 1st impression on audience

Continued…. Body Language

Speak Louder than WordsSpeak Louder than Words

Goal Public Speaking - CommunicateGoal Public Speaking - CommunicateTo Be An Effective Speaker – Actions affirm what you say

Project EarnestnessEnthusiasmSincerity

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “What you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say”

Goal Public Speaking - CommunicateGoal Public Speaking - CommunicateTo Be An Effective Speaker – Actions affirm what you say

Project EarnestnessEnthusiasmSincerity

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “What you are speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say”

Audience use visual sense to determine if youAudience use visual sense to determine if you• Are sincere• Welcome the opportunity to address them• Truly believe what you’re saying• Are interested in them and care about them• Are confident and in control of the situation

Audience use visual sense to determine if youAudience use visual sense to determine if you• Are sincere• Welcome the opportunity to address them• Truly believe what you’re saying• Are interested in them and care about them• Are confident and in control of the situation

Principle of EmpathyPrinciple of Empathy

ConceptConceptOf empathyOf empathy

Ability to share in another persons emotions or feelings.

Audience mirrors the speakersattitudes

SINCERESINCERECONFIDENTCONFIDENT

SMILESMILE

RELAXRELAX

Message speaker sendsMessage speaker sends• Speaker uneasy: audience uneasy• Frown: audience frowns• No Eye Contact: audience feels excluded • Fidget: perceive lack of confidence and lose confidence in you and what you say

Message speaker sendsMessage speaker sends• Speaker uneasy: audience uneasy• Frown: audience frowns• No Eye Contact: audience feels excluded • Fidget: perceive lack of confidence and lose confidence in you and what you say

Why Physical Action HelpsWhy Physical Action HelpsMessages areMessages areMore memorableMore memorable

Audience becomes bored w/static presentationsAudience becomes bored w/static presentationsWe remember more of what we see than what we hearWe remember more of what we see than what we hearRemember best when visual and auditory Remember best when visual and auditory senses are involvedsenses are involved

Capture AudienceCapture AudienceProvide visual stimuliProvide visual stimuli

GesturesGestures Body MovementsBody Movements Facial ExpressionsFacial ExpressionsPunctuationPunctuation

adds meaningadds meaningWritten language has commas, periods,Written language has commas, periods,exclamation points, etc..exclamation points, etc..Speaking – different set of symbolsSpeaking – different set of symbolsCoordinate body and voice to speak togetherCoordinate body and voice to speak together

NoteNote the more the more communicationcommunication methods you methods you employemploy, the , the more more effectively you will effectively you will communicatecommunicate

Nervous Tension is ChanneledNervous Tension is ChanneledBeing nervous is healthy

Top performers admit nervous before a performance

True fear – inhibits you from being an effective speaker

3 Levels3 Levels Fear & /Nervousness:Fear & /Nervousness:1. Mental

2. Emotional - conquered by self-confidence

by-product of preparation and

experience

3. Physical - conquered through use of gestures

and body movements.

Body response to public speakingBody response to public speaking Activates adrenal glands Heartbeat quickens Breathing becomes shallow and rapid Muscles tense

Why Physical Action HelpsWhy Physical Action Helps

Five Ways to Make Your Five Ways to Make Your Body Speak EffectivelyBody Speak Effectively

Posture

GesturesBody

Movements

EyeContact

FacialExpressions

1.1. Eliminate distracting mannerismsEliminate distracting mannerisms2.2. Be Natural, spontaneous, and conversationalBe Natural, spontaneous, and conversational3.3. Let your body mirror your feelingsLet your body mirror your feelings4.4. Build self-confidence through preparationBuild self-confidence through preparation5.5. Use your networks as a learning laboratoryUse your networks as a learning laboratory

1.1. Eliminate distracting mannerismsEliminate distracting mannerisms2.2. Be Natural, spontaneous, and conversationalBe Natural, spontaneous, and conversational3.3. Let your body mirror your feelingsLet your body mirror your feelings4.4. Build self-confidence through preparationBuild self-confidence through preparation5.5. Use your networks as a learning laboratoryUse your networks as a learning laboratory

Five methods strengthen spoken imageFive methods strengthen spoken image

Eliminate distracting mannerismsEliminate distracting mannerisms Wed your actions to your words Remove rocking/swaying/pacing Gripping or leaning on lectern Tapping the fingers Biting or licking lips Jingling pocket change Frowning Adjusting hair/clothing Turning the head and eyes from side to side like an oscillating fan

Five Ways to Make Your Body Speak Effectively

Be Natural, spontaneous, and Be Natural, spontaneous, and conversationalconversational

Be yourself Today’s best speaking style is amplified

conversation’ which means

communication and sharing of ideas Don’t imitate other speakers Strive to be genuine and natural

Let your body mirror your feelingsLet your body mirror your feelings Father of modern public speaking, Dale

Carnegie once said, “A person under

the influence of his feelings projects

the real self, acting naturally and

spontaneously.”Build self-confidence through Build self-confidence through preparationpreparation

Behavior directed outward instead

of inward towards your own

anxieties Project natural qualities

• Sincerity• Earnestness• Enthusiasm

Practice and rehears material

until it becomes part of you Don’t try to memorize verbatim Know material so that you need

only memorize the flow of ideas

Use your club as a learning laboratoryUse your club as a learning laboratory Key to improving – PracticeKey to improving – Practice Toastmasters club offers a ‘hands-on”Toastmasters club offers a ‘hands-on”

workshopworkshop Welcome feedbackWelcome feedback Closely heed comments made to yourClosely heed comments made to your

physical platform behaviorphysical platform behavior

Steps to eliminate mannerismsSteps to eliminate mannerisms

performed unconsciouslyperformed unconsciouslyPerform an audience evaluationBegin self-monitoring during

future presentationsWork on one at a time if you have

several problem areas

How you position yourself reflects yourHow you position yourself reflects your aattttitituudede, conficonfiddenceence, alertnessalertness, andand

being being in commandin command of your speaking of your speaking

situationsituation

Your Speaking Posture

Good posture helps you breathe properly Good posture helps you breathe properly and project voice!and project voice!

minimizes random,minimizes random, distracting movements.distracting movements.

Making you feelMaking you feel comfortable and alertcomfortable and alert

it decreases it decreases nervous tension nervous tension

GesturesGestures

Why GesturesWhy Gestures Most evocative form of nonverbal communication a speaker can Most evocative form of nonverbal communication a speaker can

employemploy Dramatize your ideas – paint a picture Convey feelings and attitude Outlet for nervous energy Function as visual aids – enhance attentiveness and retention Stimulate audience participation

Highly visibleHighly visible Provide visual support when you address large audience

Specific bodily movement that reinforces Specific bodily movement that reinforces a verbal message or conveys a particulara verbal message or conveys a particular

thought or emotionthought or emotionPrimary body movements – hands/arms

Secondary body movements – head/shoulders/legs

Cultural meaningsCultural meanings Be aware of the differences Must be purposeful

Visible to audience Mean same to you and the audience Reflect what is being said Personality behind the message

Grouped into categoriesGrouped into categoriesDescriptive – clarify or enhance a verbal messageDescriptive – clarify or enhance a verbal messageEmphatic – Convey earnestness and conviction. Emphatic – Convey earnestness and conviction.

ex: clenched fist suggests strong feeling, such as anger orex: clenched fist suggests strong feeling, such as anger or

determinationdetermination

ex: If you want audience to raise their hands, you will raiseex: If you want audience to raise their hands, you will raise

yoursyours

Types of GesturesTypes of Gestures

Meaning of GesturesMeaning of Gestures Above the shoulder level suggest physical height, inspiration, or Above the shoulder level suggest physical height, inspiration, or emotional exultationemotional exultation Below shoulder level indicates rejection, apathy, or condemnation.Below shoulder level indicates rejection, apathy, or condemnation. Shoulder level suggest calmness or serenityShoulder level suggest calmness or serenity Open palm held out toward audience – depends on positionOpen palm held out toward audience – depends on position

Perpendicular to speaker’sPerpendicular to speaker’s bodybody – – imply measurement, imply measurement, limits in space or time,limits in space or time,comparisons, or contrastscomparisons, or contrasts

Palm upward – implies giving or receivingPalm upward – implies giving or receiving

Palm downward – suppression, secrecy, Palm downward – suppression, secrecy, completion, or stabilitycompletion, or stability

Palm outward – halting, repulsion, negation, Palm outward – halting, repulsion, negation, or abhorrenceor abhorrence

How toHow to Gesture Effectively Gesture Effectively

NoteNotegesture performed in a half hearted manner suggests that the speaker lacks conviction and earnestness

What’s right for one speaker What’s right for one speaker

Four RulesFour Rules

1. Respond naturally to what you think, feel, and say ‘Natural Impulse’

2. Don’t impose artificial gestures onto your natural style3. Use the same gestures informally formally4. Don’t change your personality just to suit public speaking

situations

probably won’t work for youprobably won’t work for you

Create the conditions for gesturing Create the conditions for gesturing – not the gesture– not the gesture

• Own Natural outgrowth • Unique style• Arise naturally• Gestures motivated by content

• Don’t think about it• Immerse yourself in the subject matter and gestures will come naturally

Create the conditions for gesturing Create the conditions for gesturing – not the gesture– not the gesture

• Own Natural outgrowth • Unique style• Arise naturally• Gestures motivated by content

• Don’t think about it• Immerse yourself in the subject matter and gestures will come naturally

Suit the action to the word and theSuit the action to the word and theoccasionoccasion

Your visual and verbal messages must act as partners in communicating the same thought or feeling

ex: failure to match – outcome can be wooden, artificial, and sometimes comical Every gesture made should be purposeful and reflective of your words

Suit the action to the word and theSuit the action to the word and theoccasionoccasion

Your visual and verbal messages must act as partners in communicating the same thought or feeling

ex: failure to match – outcome can be wooden, artificial, and sometimes comical Every gesture made should be purposeful and reflective of your words

Make gestures convincingMake gestures convincingConvey intended impression – lively and distinct

Hand gestureHand gesture total body movement that starts from shoulder

– never from elbow

How toHow to Gesture Effectively Gesture Effectively

Note Note must be smoothly executed in such a way that only the stroke is evident to the audience

TimingTiming stroke must come on the correct word

to improve – Practice Practice with friends, family, and co-workers

MoveMove your entire arm outward from your body freely and easily and keep wrist and fingers supple, rather

than stiff or tense

NoteNote gesturesgestures should nevershould never follow a set patternfollow a set pattern

make your gestures smoothmake your gestures smooth and well-timedand well-timed

Single gesture has 3 Single gesture has 3 parts:parts:

ApproachApproachStrokeStrokeReturnReturn

Return Return Brings body back Brings body back to a balanced speakingto a balanced speaking postureposture

Approach – begins to move in anticipationApproach – begins to move in anticipation

StrokeStroke Gesture itselfGesture itself

NoteNote #1 rule of making #1 rule of making body movement yourbody movement your ally and ally and not not your enemy isyour enemy is

““never move withoutnever move without a reason”a reason”

Changing your positionChanging your position is the is the most highly visible physical action most highly visible physical action you can do you can do as a speakeras a speaker

Controlled movements benefit in 3 waysControlled movements benefit in 3 ways1. Support/reinforce what you saySupport/reinforce what you say2. Attract an audience’s attention2. Attract an audience’s attention3. Burns up nervous energy and 3. Burns up nervous energy and

relieves physical tensionrelieves physical tension

Meaning of Body MovementsMeaning of Body MovementsStepping forward – arriving at an important pointStepping forward – arriving at an important point

Step or 2 backward – concluded an idea and areStep or 2 backward – concluded an idea and arewilling to let the audience relax to digest the ideawilling to let the audience relax to digest the ideaLateral movement – implies a transition leaving one Lateral movement – implies a transition leaving one thought and taking up anotherthought and taking up anotherAlways lead with your foot nearest to the destinationAlways lead with your foot nearest to the destination

Facial ExpressionsFacial ExpressionsFace communicates attitude, feelings, Face communicates attitude, feelings,

emotionsemotionsRemove expressions that don’t belong on Remove expressions that don’t belong on

your faceyour face

EyeEye Contact Contact

1.1. Know your materialKnow your material

2.2. Establish a bondEstablish a bond

3.3. Monitor visual feedbackMonitor visual feedback

# most powerful most powerful tool of communicatingtool of communicating

Audience feels importantAudience feels importantPersonal connection with speakerPersonal connection with speakerFailure to meet eye contact indicates:Failure to meet eye contact indicates:

DisinterestDisinterestLack of confidenceLack of confidenceInsincerityInsincerityShiftinessShiftiness

Feedback deviceFeedback device: know how audience is reacting: know how audience is reacting

How to use your eyes effectivelyHow to use your eyes effectively

Your audience will Your audience will

provide provide visual cuesvisual cues when when

speaking. speaking. Take noteTake note and and

adjust speech accordingly.adjust speech accordingly.

How to make a goodHow to make a good first impression first impression

Your ability to Your ability to visuallyvisually communicate your communicate your ideas through ideas through gestures gestures and other forms of and other forms of

body languagebody language will enhance not just your will enhance not just your

presentation, but your overall presentation, but your overall effectiveness effectiveness as a speaker.as a speaker.

AppearanceAppearance Best dressed person in the audienceBest dressed person in the audience Don’t wear jewelry that glitters/jinglesDon’t wear jewelry that glitters/jingles Empty pockets of bulky objectsEmpty pockets of bulky objects

Before You SpeakBefore You Speak First minuteFirst minuteAudience concludes whether you are confident, Audience concludes whether you are confident, sincere, friendly, eager to address them, sincere, friendly, eager to address them, and worthy of their attention!and worthy of their attention!

Walk confidentlyWalk confidently Position yourselfPosition yourself Make direct eye Make direct eye

contactcontactThumbs UpThumbs Up

on Gestures!on Gestures!