Chances are you have to present to an audience now and again — sometimes under extreme pressure! You may be speaking to kick-off an event, pitching your business, getting your new ideas heard, or perhaps even delivering a TED-style speech!
I’ve coached thousands of speakers, even some of the world’s best. And I regularly speak internationally to all kinds of audiences big and small. So here for you now, are my top three winning body language tips to win trust immediately when you find yourself speaking in front of any audience, any time.
Put Your Body on Display
When speaking, have a lavaliere or handheld mic and step away from the podium. If sitting, pull your chair back from the table — in short, display more of your body. Your audience’s instinctual brain need to see your body to decide what they think your intentions and feelings are towards them. The less you show, the more they make those feelings and intentions up and tend to default towards the negative.
Speak From Your Belly
Place your hands in what I have trademarked the TRUTHPLANE, the horizontal plane that extends 180 degrees out of your navel area, to allow your audience to sense that you can be trusted. Bringing the audience’s unconscious attention to this vulnerable area of your body makes them feel that you have nothing to hide, are open to them, and are very confident. By assuming this physicality, you will feel open and confident too.
Show Your Hands
Show your palms open with nothing in your hands to show others know that you mean no harm and are speaking for their benefit. This is a universally recognised ‘friendly’ gesture.
The truth is that any audience makes up the majority of its idea about you from the behavior you show. It then makes the ideas you are talking about fit its ideas about you. So you really need to get the impression right for them to get the right idea.
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