Body Language Can Improve Your Presentations

Pre-reading task

You are going to read an article about why body language is important and some techniques for appearing more confident in stressful situations， such as giving a presentation. Before you read， think about presentations you have attended. Have you noticed the body language of the presenters？ What made one presenter appear more or less confident than another？

Message in a body

When preparing for an important job interview or presentation， you might worry about finding the perfect words or the most impressive graphics for your slides. While it’s important to use words and visuals effectively， don’t make the mistake of ignoring the messages your body is sending. According to the respected psychologist Albert Mehrabian， more than 65 per cent of face-to-face communication is conveyed through gestures， facial expressions and body posture. Think about the last time you noticed two people arguing in public. Even if you couldn’t hear their conversation， you could probably tell who was angry and how the other person was feeling by watching their reactions. Similarly， when someone is delighted about something， it’s usually apparent in their shining eyes， excited gestures and wide smile. Much of this bodily communication is unconscious and sometimes contradicts the actual words and tone of voice we use. For example， even if someone tells you they are fine， they aren’t always convincing， especially if they look miserable or avoid your eyes.

Look me in the eyes

Eye contact， or lack of it， can be misleading. Some people think that if others refuse to look them in the eye， they must be lying. However， in some cultures， young people are taught that it’s rude to look directly at someone older or in a position of authority so be careful not to make assumptions. Similarly， those who are lying might maintain eye contact for an unnaturally long time in an attempt to convince you that they are being truthful. In Western business culture， however， it’s extremely important to make eye contact with your audience if you want them to take you seriously. Even if you have the most wonderful presentation， if you walk into the room with your head down and shoulders rounded， no one will listen to you.

Walking tall

The way you stand can make all the difference to the way people perceive you. You may not feel especially confident before a presentation or interview so take a few moments to compose yourself both physically and mentally before entering the room. Smiling not only puts others at ease， it also sends chemical signals to your brain which help to relax you. Likewise， straightening your back and shoulders and standing with your feet firmly apart make you appear more self-confident. Good posture also releases hormones into your body which reinforce the impression that you are in control and know what you are talking about. Conversely， if you round your shoulders as an unconscious form of self-protection， others may see this as a sign that you are weak and probably not worth listening to.

No barriers

Another common protective gesture is folded arms. They literally form a barrier between people and you might find yourself doing it when you feel nervous or uncomfortable. You should certainly avoid folding your arms when speaking in public， but what about your audience？ If they are watching you with crossed arms， don’t panic. There could be a number of reasons for this; they might be cold or simply want to comfort themselves because they are feeling anxious or uneasy. One way of removing this ‘barrier’ between you and them is to ask for a show of hands. This not only forces your audience to change position， it also actively involves them in your talk by getting them to participate and make decisions.

Hide your nerves

Many presenters reveal their nervousness through small， unconscious gestures like playing with their hair， a ring or a watch strap. Try to learn about what you do when you’re stressed， and make an effort to control these nervous gestures. If you aren’t sure what you do in stressful situations， ask a close colleague to watch you or video yourself while rehearsing for your presentation. Small repetitive movements distract your audience from your message and make you seem less confident. If you have a habit of touching your jewellery， remove it before you start your presentation. Avoid wearing clothes you can play with， and take control of your hands by joining them behind your back if you find yourself tempted to touch your hair or face.

Putting on the show

It’s always important to rehearse your speech or presentation so you are confident about what you want to say. But next time you have to speak in public or deal with an uncomfortable situation at work， make sure your body doesn’t send the wrong signals. Put your shoulders back， stand tall and walk confidently into the room with a smile on your face. Make a personal connection with your audience by catching their eye， even if only for a moment or two. Resist your distracting habits and remove barriers between you and your audience by asking them questions.

You should spend about 20 minutes on questions 1–13 below， which are based on the reading passage.

Questions 1–5

Choose one phrase （A–H） from the List of phrases to complete each Key point below. The information in the completed sentences should be an accurate summary of the points made by the writer.

Key points

1. Body language communicates …