Body Language for Public Speaking

Only 7% of how we communicate comes from what we say. That’s a whole 93% coming from our tone of voice and body language.

Non-verbal communication is an essential skill that should not be ignored. It can be a game changer for both giving you confidence and portraying that confidence to your audience.

There are steps you can take to improve your body language that will directly improve your public speaking ability.

Optimize your posture

Good posture not only makes you feel comfortable and confident but it gives the audience confidence in you. It shows everybody that you know exactly what you are talking about. And on the flip side, bad posture can give the opposite impression — making you look uncomfortable and unsure in what you are saying. Even if this is not the case, the impression you give is always important as audience perception is their reality.

What your posture should look like:

• Standing tall
• Shoulders back
• Arms by your side
• Keeping your back straight
• Feet facing forward

This will show you are comfortable speaking and confident in what you are saying.

What you should avoid doing:

• Slouching
• Crossing your arms
• Hands in pockets
• Head forward