|
Favorits •
Web Domain Directory •
ODP •
Annuaire FR •
Directorio ES •
Directory EN •
Diretório PT •
IT Katalog •
Czech Katalog •
Polski Katalog •
Maps •
Satellite Photos •
View Card
|
||
|
|
Public Speaking |
|
|
| ||
 |
Speaking Body Language
I observed an almost surreal event when I was a business student. At the front of the classroom, an entrepreneur was practicing a pitch he would make later to venture capital firms. Specifically, he was talking about a technology his firm had developed, a respirator which had the potential to save the lives of many infants. When he talked about the potentially great financial returns, the audience, made up of business students, sat back passively. But when he talked about getting babies through critical moments with his respirators, every single person in the classroom sat up, alert and fully focused. As he went back and forth between stories of saving babies and talking about financial results, almost every student in the classroom moved with him. And what's more, it seemed the students' unconscious body movements had been carefully choreographed. We sat up together when the entrepreneur talked about saving babies, and we sat back in unison when he discussed the numbers. And, by the way, I did it too until I become aware of how we were responding as a group. Since that event I've been a firm believer in body language, which is the idea that people unconsciously show what they're feeling or thinking through gestures or body movements. As you know, the art of interpreting body language is hardly a science. But, we do know a few basics that can help us read the emotions of others. A few examples follow. Crossed arms, as almost every salesperson knows, means the person on the other side of the table is defensive or not receptive. On the other hand, if that person leans forward and keeps his or her eyes on you, then you do have a receptive listener. If you watch novice speakers, you'll probably notice how they keep their arms close to their bodies, indicating a lack of confidence. As they get more practice speaking in public, you'll see their arms move away from their sides and become active tools for conveying messages. Arms wide open indicate trust and openness, as do open hands, while arms held high above the head show a sense of victory, and clenched hands indicate anger. Curiously, one of the most difficult interpretations of body language involves lying. Researchers have probably spent more time on this aspect of body language than any other. And their conclusions? The only surefire way to know if another person is lying is to observe very small and fast wrinklings of the brow. If you haven't yet spent much time studying body language, I recommend that you add it to your to-do list for communication development. It's invaluable not only for speaking and listening, but also for negotiating and leading. About The Author Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. If you subscribe, you will receive, at no charge, communication tips that help you lead or manage more effectively. Click here for more information: http://www.CommunicationNewsletter.com
MORE RESOURCES: |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Fear FearOf what am I afraid, you ask. Of myself, I answer. How to Create a Compelling Media Kit A well-built media kit is vital for effective marketing. Without it, all your promotional efforts could be wasted. Top 7 Tips for Speakers Public Speaking is the number one way to advance your business career.Do you get nervous when speaking to a group? Do you feel butterflies in your stomach? The following tips will help you get your butterflies to fly in formation. 13 Publicity Tips for Professional Speakers In a funk because other speakers seem to be snagging all the media attention? It's time to start claiming your share. Here are a baker's dozen of tips that will boost your publicity efforts and help you finally get noticed. Speaking for FUN and PROFIT How do you gain contacts from a speaking engagement?The name of the game in providing speaking engagements is to gain more contacts to add to your list of potential clients. Speaking is only one way of attracting business. Five Tips for Overcoming Public Speaking Nerves Your mouth is dry, heart palpitating, and knees knocking. You go into panic, facing a dreaded public speaking assignment. A Simple Guide to Writing (and Giving) a Speech Nearly as dreaded as snakes and spiders, public speaking ranks high in causing fear in many of us.Whether your motivation is a desire to learn or simple necessity, here is a really simple guide to writing and giving a speech. How To Handle Audience Questions Effectively For some reason, the prospect of having to answer audience questions fills many presenters with dread and fear. Looking at it in a positive way however, it's an ideal opportunity for you to satisfy the audience further, and you can continue to drive your main points home adding emphasis to your talk. What is YOUR Speaking Expertise? Why do you have to be an expert when getting speaking engagements?The first thing you need to do before engaging into a speaking career is to define what you are an expert in. I have seen so many speakers that get relegated into the mediocre list just because they say they can talk on anything and "what would you like to hear?" Although I am not advocating sticking with one topic, I am advocating that you are an expert in a field that you choose. Speech Coach's Tips to Public Speaking Success It is inevitable that at times during our careers or personal lives; we will be required to provide a presentation or public speech to a group of people. Perhaps the group is a group of peers; perhaps the audience will be senior or top-level management; perhaps the group will be comprised of people who wish to learn something from you. What is Public Speaking? When we talk about public speaking, we usually think about some person in front of a large group giving an extended presentation on a difficult or technical subject. That is not usually how it is. Getting on the Speakers List How do you get your name on a speakers list?Speaking experience is usually required before you will be placed on the speakers list. Groups often want to know where you have spoken and will want to have a referral from a couple of the groups you already spoke to. Does Uptalk Make you Upchuck? Uptalk is invading the work place and is reaching epidemic proportions. It's that singsong speech pattern that has a rising inflection at the end of sentence. Youre Making Me Nervous Almost everybody is nervous when they stand up to speak. There's no shame in being nervous. Lessons in Love for the Shy at Heart One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I was cursed with the shyness gene. Shyness is an often misunderstood condition that can leave the afflicted alone and miserable. So Youre Going to Make a Speech What Do I Talk About?Start by asking yourself three questions:1. Who is my audience? (What do I know about the corporate culture or collective personality of the group?)2. What Makes A Great Presenter? Every day millions of people around the world make a presentation. Yet most of us who have been to meetings know that very few of those people are truly great. For Speaking Ease, Forgive Your Younger Self I love the Disney movie The Kid with Bruce Willis. In it he plays a stressed-out, high-power image consultant. Performance Feedback: Why Were Scared and How Not to Be Effective communication is not a one-way street. It involves an interaction between the sender and the receiver. You Too Can Be A Public Speaker Have you ever watched a speaker and said, "Wow, I wish I could speak like that"? or "That person was just so wonderful. I could never do that.
|