You’ve prepared your presentation, gone over the your meeting notes, and are excited about the idea. You assume you’ve been clear, effective, and informative, yet you walk out of the meeting unsure of how it went. What happened?
Were you possibly paying too much attention to the presentation instead of your audience?
Being aware of how your audience reacts, whether it’s a short meeting or a face-to-face pitch with a client, is important in determining how your material is being received. It also helps you improve your communication skills and make needed adjustments to make the presentation work better. Here are a few tips on how to watch your body language as well as theirs:
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Make eye contact. It shows you’re actively paying attention to them.
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If your audience is leaning forward, they’re interested. Keep up what you’re doing.
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However, if they are leaning their head on their hand it could indicate boredom!Switch up the pace or ask a question to engage them again.
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Use vocal variety to re-engage your audience.
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Use humor if appropriate!
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Don’t slouch–stand strong to project confidence.
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Use the stage, however be cognizant of erratic movements or other restless behavior. These gestures can be distracting and come off as unassured.
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Keep your arms open instead of crossing them, since it could come off as defensive.
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Above all, be sincere–audiences can easily spot this.
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And be passionate about your subject–after all you are the expert here!
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Watch your audience and adjust when needed.
By watching the nonverbal communication happening, you can hone in on what you can do to improve the next time and understand what information to give best.
To improve your presentation skills further, sign up for a local Toastmaters meeting.
What are your body language tips to watch for in your next meeting?