Full-bodied communication

 

When communicating with others, make sure to use more than just your voice. Yes, you can do phenomenal things with voice variety but that’s still only one weapon in your communication arsenal. Don’t forget that you have a whole body that speaks volume to your audience.

Consider your stance. Do you slouch? People will think you are shy. Do you shift your weight from one foot to another? People will see you as uncomfortable and nervous. Make sure you stand straight with your feet apart. When sitting down, make sure to take space by keeping your arms open and leaning back in your chair.

If you plan on moving about while talking, make sure that each location represents a point or story in your presentation. When you are repeating or adding to the point, come back to the same spot. When you have to say something important, move closer to your audience.

Your gestures can greatly help in making physical attributes, such as size, weight, shape and direction, more visual. Hands, such as closed fists, can also help impress your audience on important points. Arms can also be balanced to help with comparisons.

Your face is what will set the emotional tone for your audience. They will pick up your expressions before they get your verbal message. When using facial expressions, think like a theater actor: the bigger the audience, the bigger your expressions must be.

Finally, use eye contact to build rapport with the people. If you are speaking to one person and don’t feel comfortable looking that person in the eyes, look at the bridge of their nose. You can look up and down but as soon as your gaze moves left or right, you will break the connection with the person.

While all this body language can and should be practiced, your goal is ultimately to look natural. Using your full body will make your communication much more effective, entertaining and enjoyable.