Public Speaking Tricks | Dominate The Podium

The Importance Of Body Language

Posted on 11. Dec, 2008 by Crazy J in Body Language

Public speaking is something of a double edged sword. At best, it is a powerful way of reaching a large audience and to convey a clear message on a particular issue or topic.
At worst, it can be a hellish experience for the speaker, who may find their message is lost in translation due to a last minute bout of stage fright. It is imperative that you have a firm grasp of your chosen subject matter that you have a clear structure as to what you wish to discuss.

You also have to give some consideration to your audience. Are they experts in the subject which you are going to discuss, and so will be able to keep up with your use of jargon and technical terminology? If not, then you may need to modify your speech accordingly so that the message is clear and understood.  It does not matter how well you deliver your speech or material, if your audience cannot understand what you are talking about, then you have already lost!

The subject matter may also dictate your approach and style of delivery, a formal presentation will require a clear logical progression of the material, combined with supporting evidence such as statistics or graphs to emphasize your argument. An informal setting will mean that colloquialisms and slang terms will be more suitable rather than dry, academic terminology.

Make sure to maintain eye contact with your audience, there is nothing more off putting than a public speaker who constantly stares down at their notes.  Failing to maintain eye contact will only serve to alienate your audience, and they may be so distracted by your own personal performance, that the content of your material is also lost.

You may find it easier to keep a rough structure in your mind, and work around that rather than reading off your speech from your notes. Constantly looking down at notes will also break your argument, meaning that you will be more likely to make mistakes and lose your place. It also distracts your audience from your arguments as well.

If you feel that your voice may crack or tremble, that your breathing is becoming labored or any other unpleasant physical symptoms, make sure you stop for a second, breathe and compose yourself. This will give you a chance to recover, as well as giving your audience a much needed opportunity to process all the information they have just heard.