When presenting a speech, a vast amount of information is visually conveyed by your

appearance, manner, and physical behavior. In public speaking, your body can be an effective
tool for adding emphasis and clarity to your words. It is also your most powerful instrument
for convincing an audience of your sincerity, earnestness, and enthusiasm.

In this project, you will learn to use your body to express emotion and attitude, recognize
different forms of body language, and identify gestures that show confidence when speaking
in public. You will also learn how to demonstrate awareness of unintentional movement and
use gestures to enhance speech content.

Competencies

The following is a list of competencies that you will learn and practice in this project.

 Understand how body language expresses emotion and attitude.

 Recognize the body language used when speaking publicly.
 Identify gestures that show confidence when speaking in public.

 Use gestures to enhance speech content.

 Demonstrate awareness of unintentional movement.
Body Language

Body language is the nonverbal expression of emotions, feelings, and ideas. Your posture,
movement, position, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions all contribute to the message
you send when you speak. Your body language can enhance your communication or
undermine your message.

1. Posture, Stance, Position, and Movement

 When you present a speech, effective body language is an essential tool in building
credibility and connecting with your listeners. Appropriate gestures focus your
audience on you and your message.

a) Posture

How you carry yourself when you speak communicates a strong visual message to an
audience. Your posture reflects your attitude and your level of confidence. Without making
any changes to your speech content, you can communicate that you are alert and in command
of yourself and the speaking situation. Proper posture helps you breathe well and effectively
project your voice. Proper posture includes head held high with chin up slightly, back straight,
shoulders squared, chest out, and stomach in.

b) Stance

When standing, your stance is the way you position your body. The ideal stance to
demonstrate confidence includes:

 Weight evenly distributed over your feet

 Knees straight but not locked, shoulders relaxed
 Feet pointing straight ahead, not quite shoulder-width apart
 Arms hanging naturally at your sides

c) Position

Practice in front of a mirror, with a friend, or with a mentor. You should feel comfortable and
relaxed. Adjust your position until you see the message you want to communicate reflected
back to you in the mirror. Those with physical concerns can practice in front of a mentor or
friend and ask what appears more confident. The best position will always be what feels
natural and comfortable.

d) Movement

If you are physically able, movement adds energy and variety to your presentation and
helps you appear confident. Changing your position or location by stepping out from
behind the lectern during a speech is the most visible kind of physical action you can
perform.
While constant motion, such as swaying or pacing, is a distraction that can detract from your
message and annoy your audience, there are types of intentional movement that can be
meaningful and support your presentation:

 Taking a step forward helps emphasize a point.

 Moving a few steps back creates a distance that may help your audience process
information.
 Making a lateral movement can help emphasize a transition in your speech.
 Standing in front or to the side of the lectern makes you appear more open to the
audience.
 Combining stillness with a verbal pause can add drama or intrigue.
 2. Gestures

A speaker’s gestures can suggest very precise meaning to an audience. To be effective, a

speaker’s gestures must be purposeful—even when they are performed unconsciously.
Unconscious movement is unintentional, often a habit or a natural expression of the speaker’s
personality. Whether the movement is intentional or unintentional, gestures must support a
speaker’s words, as well as the meaning behind the message.

There are four types of effective gestures.

a) Descriptive Gestures

Descriptive gestures indicate position, location, or anything tactical. For instance, use your
hands to specify a number of objects.

b) Emphatic Gestures

Emphatic gestures underscore strong emotion such as earnestness and conviction. Placing
your hand on your heart in many cultures communicates a powerful belief in your message.

c) Suggestive Gestures

Suggestive gestures are symbols of thoughts and emotions. An open palm can suggest
giving or receiving ideas or a tangible item.

d) Prompting Gestures
 Prompting gestures evoke responses from an audience. When asking for a show of
hands to answer a question, raise your hand to encourage audience members to
contribute feedback.

Ineffective Gestures

Some unintentional gestures send the wrong message to an audience. You may inadvertently
communicate anxiety, frustration, or other discomfort when you present by exhibiting any of
the following gestures:

 Gripping the lectern

 Clutching an object such as a pen or notes
 Fidgeting with clothing or accessories
 Tapping your fingers
 Biting or licking your lips
Eye Contact

Making effective eye contact means focusing on individual listeners and creating a
connection. Recognize that some audience members may be less comfortable with eye contact
than others. Be sensitive by briefly making eye contact before moving on to another person.
Brief eye contact acknowledges the individual without making him uncomfortable.

 Make eye contact with audience members before you begin.

 Begin your speech by selecting one person and addressing him or her personally.
  Hold eye contact for three to five seconds, roughly the time required to complete a
sentence or share one thought.

 Keep your eyes up and shift your gaze to another person.

 Move your eyes from one person to the next without following any set pattern.

 A Note for the Visually Impaired

 Members with visual impairments may not be able to make eye contact with audience
members. That does not mean they cannot engage an audience. When you present with
a significant visual impairment, move your head instead of keeping it fixed in one
direction. Your voice will carry to different parts of the room as you shift your
position and engage audience members regardless of their location.
 Arrive for your presentation early and orient yourself to the room. Locate the area
where you will present, either the front of the room or the lectern. When it is your turn
to make your speech, take the time you need to make sure you are properly positioned
and lined up to face your audience. Ask another member to assist you if needed.

Facial Expressions
When used effectively, facial expressions can enhance your message. One of the biggest
challenges for many speakers is relaxing their expression enough to communicate well when
they are nervous. When anxiety is an issue, concentrate on what you can control. Practice
facial expressions in front of a mirror or on video just like you would other forms of body
language.

Smile as you approach the lectern. Use your expression to communicate surprise, demonstrate
appreciation, or show disagreement during your speech. As with most components of a public
speaking, practice will help you use your facial expressions to your greatest benefit.
Cultural Differences

Acceptable gestures can vary widely between cultures. An innocuous gesture in one culture
can be inflammatory in another. Because of this, you must be aware of cultural differences
when planning body language in your presentations. If you are presenting to a group with
members from a culture or cultures that are unfamiliar to you, research common body
language and its corresponding meaning in those cultures.