YOUR BODY SPEAKS FOR YOU TOO!

It has been stated in studies that the greatest part of your whole message to an audience is comprised of nonverbal messages. The breakdown has been listed as follows:

 

7%	content
38%	voice
55%	non-verbal

ENTRANCE

You are communicating from the moment that you enter the speaking area. Your speech begins when the audience focuses on you as the next speaker. You can communicate indecisiveness and weakness even before you open your mouth. If your intent is to be confident about your topic, you must look and act confident even before you begin. Do not begin until you and your audience are ready. Don't be afraid to wait quietly until your audience is ready to receive your message.

PRESENTATION

While speaking, do not be afraid to use gestures to communicate as they add visual interest and convey enthusiasm. A controlled and planned use of gestures can channel some of the nervous energy that you feel while making your speech. Avoid holding any objects in your hand except to make a point (with a pencil) or use as a prop. Your audience will follow the moving object as you gesture rather than follow the content of your speech. Avoid the nervous tics of playing with objects, stroking hair or clothing, and adjusting items in the speaking area.

EXIT

Your exit is as important as your entrance. Too many inexperienced speakers bolt from the podium immediately after saying their final sentence. This will put a whole new meaning on a presentation that appeared confident up until the last two seconds. Walk slowly and confidently away from the spot that you made your speech from.

Eye contact is vitally important at all three of the above stages of your speech. Many speakers tend to have a bias towards one section of the room. Make sure that you make contact with the whole room at different times during your speech.

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