Body Language Tips for Presentations

According to a survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, oral communication is one of the most sought-after skills in the workplace, with over 90% of hiring managers saying it’s important. Some educators credit in-class presentations with building essential leadership skills and increasing students’ confidence and understanding of material.

If you need to make a presentation, do you get anxious about standing in front of the class and how well your message will be received? Most people do. But by focusing on your body language, you can enhance the words you’re delivering, connect better with the audience, and enjoy a more positive response to what you have to say.

Address Your Stress

It’s not easy to get up in front of an audience and speak. To get past those opening jitters, start in the hallway or wherever you can have a private moment before beginning. Experts say to begin with centering yourself, looking straight ahead. Then take a deep breath, tensing your muscles you do so. Then release the tension in your muscles as you breathe out. Do this until you feel steady so you are relaxed, making you more engaging and easier to connect with.

Define Your Emotions

Whenever you speak, you’re going to want your audience to connect to a specific emotion or set of emotions. Ask yourself before you begin what emotions you want them to experience. How can you like those emotions to your own? The more you connect on this personal level, the more authentic your message will sound, and the more your body language will be in tune with your message.

Begin in Confidence

Walk to the front of the room or up to the podium as though you own it. Be confident and proud, head up, back straight, with easy strides. Audiences love confident speakers as they seem more trustworthy and will respond favorably right from the start to what you have to say.

Dodge the Podium

The last thing you want to do is to hide behind a piece of furniture while speaking. Instead, own the room by stepping out where everyone can see you (when possible). The same goes for notes. The less you read from something, the better. Have someone else handle the visual aids if you can, to keep yourself further unencumbered.

Know When to Move…and When Not To

Use your entire body to make a point. Shift your position on the stage when you need to change topics or move onto another point but stand still while making that point. These subtle shifts will guide your audience through your message, to where you want them to go.

College presentations can be stressful, but being able to use your body to better convey your message will make what you have to say much more powerful, and more likely to be heard. Take the time to practice these skills as you rehearse your presentation – then relax, smile, and have fun with it.

At the Arise Society, we provide personalized academic, therapeutic, and social support in a real-world college setting, which gives our students the skills to reach their fullest potential.