"Don't underestimate the importance of body language."
That's what the villainous sea witch said just before taking Ariel's voice.
Though I don't support Ursula's motives or her rationale, I couldn't agree more with the statement itself.
I learned this all too well during my father's illness.
Some days he relied completely on body language to communicate. While that might seem horrible (and it was) it was also fascinating to see just how effective it could be.
In fact, we all rely on visual cues for communication - both consciously and not. They can often enhance (or detract) from our words.
And when it comes to presentations, the right body language can certainly take things up a notch. Here's how:
Reinforces what you're saying.
Makes you more interesting and engaging.
Creates rapport with your audience.
Builds trust in you and your message.Simply put, you can communicate more powerfully when you add some physical...oomph.
But what if that's not your style? What if you're not a hand-talker or overly expressive? That's ok, you do you. Some of the best body language is when you come across naturally (the way you would in other interactions). In other words, don't switch to dull and motionless when you present.
So then what do I mean by "oomph"?
I'm really just referring to movement and visual cues. The most obvious examples are:
eye contact
hand gestures. * For more on hand gestures, check out this post.
smile
And some less obvious examples include:
head (nod, tilt, etc.)
shoulders
facial expressions
arms (folded, by your side, etc.)
posture
sitting vs standing
full body (walking, stepping aside, etc.)
The list is endless. To see what I mean, just sit back and observe people the next time you're out. If that gets awkward (!) simply watch a video or show with the volume turned off.
What's the best way to improve your body language?
Watch yourself on video! Again, without the sound. Pretty neat what you'll notice.
It's even easier for virtual presentations since you can record with your webcam and see exactly what your audience sees. Of course, the classic 'stand in front of a mirror' is also great practice, especially for in-person events.
Once you're aware of your body language, you can be more intentional in how you use it.
A few things to watch out for:
Too much movement can be distracting.
Identify and eliminate nervous habits.
Body language should be consistent with your words.
Just like Ariel, you can't rely strictly on body language to succeed. After all, she also had some Disney magic on her side...
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