Your Body Speaks

Imagine stepping onto a stage, feeling the eyes of the audience upon you, and knowing that your body is already telling a story. Mastering body language in public speaking is about creating a connection, conveying your message with clarity, and leaving a lasting impact.

Today, I would like to show you how effective the use of body language in public speaking can be. Think about how food is packaged. It’s the job of marketers to sell us the product. The food inside could be amazing, but if the packaging is boring, we’re not likely to buy it. In the same way, your body language sells your message.

Research has shown that listeners believe non-verbal communication over verbal. Therefore, to be persuasive, it is essential to complement our words with the right tone and appropriate body language. Start with good posture – straight but not rigid, chest and chin out, arms hanging naturally. Good posture allows you to breathe, project your voice and decrease nervousness.

I’m going to share some strategies and you can remember them by using the acronym U-SLAM!

U – Use your body language to emphasise your main points. For example, ‘I went out for dinner last night, and it was freezing.’ (Hug body) ‘My friend had cooked seven types of
vegetables.’ (Show seven fingers)

S – Spontaneous movements should appear natural. Even if you have rehearsed for days, movements should look spontaneous. Each speaker is different. Ensure the movements are natural for you.

L – The Larger your audience size, the larger your movements. In an auditorium, you may need to hold your arms up to make actions visible to everyone.

A – Avoid nervous movements! We need to go against what our brains are telling us. Avoid pacing or clutching the lectern. If we show nerves, the audience will feel uncomfortable. We can use our body language to tell our brain that we are safe. e.g. calm, relaxed posture and expression.

M – Match facial expressions, tone and body language with your speech. We’ve all met the person who sits down saying, ‘It’s so lovely to see you’, while scrolling through their phone! What they are saying does not match their actions.

Remember, U-SLAM! when you use body language to sell your message.

Want more tips? … Introduction to Body Language by Vinh Giang