SHOW WHAT YOU MEAN |
As you learned in the second manual project, the only speeches worth giving are those on subjects about which you feel strongly. Yet imagine a speaker who is sincere about her topic, but stands stiffly before the audience, not moving at all or even looking at her audience as she speaks. Her words say she cares about the subject, but her body communicates otherwise. Unfortunately, the audience usually believes most what they see. The result is that listeners don't think the speaker is sincere and they ignore her message.
A successful speaker uses words and body language together to convey a message and show sincerity. Body language includes movement, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact.
Beginning speakers usually stand in one place as they speak. They are uncertain, uncomfortable, and self-conscious. But watching someone stand in the same place for long periods can be boring. When you move around, you display energy and provide variety for the audience. Their eyes and heads follow you as you move from one place to another.
Movements can vary. Step toward the audience to emphasize a point. Move crosswise to emphasize that you're proceeding to another point. If you want to dramatize a specific point, use movement. For example, if you are describing a physical action such as catching a ball or running a marathon, act out your description by moving your body appropriately.
Avoid pacing back and forth, rocking, or swaying. These movements are actually nervous habits and do little to aid your speech. In fact, they may even distract or irritate your audience. Your movements should always be purposeful and add to your speech.
Gestures are the most expressive part of body language when you are speaking before an audience. Gestures involve the use of your hands and arms to illustrate your words.
Some basic gestures show:
Gestures can mean many things. For instance, clenched fists generally show power. If you want your audience to join you in fighting some injustice, for example, you may want to clench your fist as you urge them to take action. Open palms mean giving. Describing how a kindly neighbor helped someone in need may involve displaying your open palms to indicate generosity and caring.
A forefinger pointing toward the ceiling means people should pay attention to what you are saying. Folding your arms across your chest projects strength and determination. Clasping your hands together in front of your chest conveys unity, a good gesture to use when you are emphasizing team work or trying to resolve a conflict.
People watch a speaker's face during a speech and take many cues about how they are supposed to react or feel from the looks on your face. Your eyes, eye movement, eyebrows, and mouth play vital roles in showing sadness, fear, happiness, anger, frustration, nervousness, excitement, boredom, interest, wonder, exhaustion, aggressiveness, confidence, and uncertainty. When you show these feelings, your audience will emulate them.
You can show sadness by lowering your eyelids, turning down your mouth slightly, and bowing your head. You can show surprise or disbelief by widening your eyes and raising your eyebrows. To demonstrate happiness, smile broadly.
If you are talking about a terrible automobile accident, yet you are smiling and nodding, your audience will be confused, not sad. You facial expression must be consistent with the feelings or information you are trying to convey. Otherwise, your audience will think you are insincere.
Have you ever spoken with someone who did not look at you directly? They may have looked over your shoulder, above your head, at the floor, or even at someone else, but they would not look you in the eye. What did you think?
Most likely you doubted their honesty, interest, and confidence. Or you may have felt excluded from the conversation. Eye contact plays a major role in our impression of someone, and as a speaker you should pay special attention to it.
When you look directly at peple, they believe you care about them. They think you are sincere, credible, friendly, and honest. These feelings have a great impact on your message and their willingness to accept it.
As you speak, look at the people in your audience. Don't just gaze around the room. Look directly at one person until you finish a thought, then move on to another person. Avoid looking repeatedly at the same person, wagging your head from side to side, or moving your head slowly back and forth like an oscillating fan. Don't follow a specific pattern; make random eye contact. If the audience is large, pick out one or two people in each one so they get the impression you are talking to them directly.
Since the main purpose of this speech is to use body language, select your subject with that in mind. Choose a topic that requires the use of body movement, gestures, facial expressions, adn eye contact to effectively make a point. Build your speech to include appropriate movements.
For example, one member who likes to fish descrebed how he caught a large marlin. He used hand adn arm gestures to show how he handled the line and how he pulled it in. He indicated the size of the fish with his arms, and his face showed the struggle and the triumph.
Another member who was a writer described the obstacles she encourtered as she tried to complete a manuscript by a publisher's deadline. She use facial expressions and gestures as she described how she had to cope with two sick children, noisy neighbors, late nights, and barking dogs as she finished the draft just in time.
These are just a few examples of speech ideas.
Body language that looks unnatural or rehearsed can ruin even the most carefully prepared speech. the hardest part of using body language is making it look natural and spontaneous. Using it appropriately will take careful rehearsals. When you have arranged your speech material, try several different ways of using your arms, hands, and facial expressions to convey your message. Do not worry if at first your movements are stiff and awkard. Natural positions and smooth movements will come with practice.
Match your gestures to your words. You should be complelled to gesture and make facial expressions when your thought requires such action. Just be certain that they flow smoothly as you speak. Don't finish a thought, then gesture or make a facial expressioin. Both must be as you speak or they will look stilted and phony to your audience.
If you have access to videotape equipment, you should use it in your rehearsal to help you improve the presentation. Otherwise, practice before a friend and ask for comments on your use of body language. Rehearsing in front of a mirror may also help. Eventually, as you become more comfortable, your body language will spring naturally from your message.
You will find more information about body language in the manual Gestures: Your Body Speaks, which is included in your New Member Kit.