10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking by Princeton Language Institute & Lenny Laskowski

Author:Princeton Language Institute & Lenny Laskowski [PRINCETON LANGUAGE INSTITUTE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REF000000
ISBN: 9780759525009
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2001-06-30T17:00:00+00:00

Proper Speaking Posture

How you position your body when you speak communicates a set of visual messages to an audience. Good posture also helps you breathe properly and project your voice effectively. When you stand still, be careful not to sway or rock. Make sure both feet are planted firmly on the floor and your shoulders are square. Don’t lean, slouch, or hunch over. When you walk, stand tall. Be proud of yourself—you have an important message to communicate!

Gestures

Gestures are specific body movements that reinforce a verbal message. Most gestures are made with your hands and arms. Your hands are marvelous tools of communication. A speaker’s gestures can suggest very precise bits of meaning to an audience. To be effective, a speaker’s gestures must be purposeful. They must also have the same meaning to the audience as they do to the speaker. Gestures reflect not only what is being said, but the personality behind the message.

• Gestures clarify and support your words. They strengthen the audience’s understanding of your verbal message.

• Gestures dramatize your ideas. They help paint vivid pictures in your listeners’ minds.

• Gestures lend emphasis and vitality. They underscore your feelings and attitudes.

• Gestures help dissipate nervous tension. They are a good outlet for nervous energy.

• Gestures function as visual aids. They enhance audience attentiveness and retention.

• Gestures stimulate audience participation. They help elicit the response you want.

Gestures are grouped into four categories:

1. Descriptive gestures. Are used to clarify or enhance. Some descriptive gestures include using your hands to indicate the size, shape, location, and function of something, like choppy ocean waves, a huge mountain, or a miniature creature.

2. Emphatic gestures. Underscore what is being said. For example, a clenched fist suggests strong feelings such as anger or determination.

3. Suggestive gestures. Are symbols of ideas or emotions. For example, an open palm suggests giving or receiving, while a shrug of the shoulders indicates ignorance, perplexity, or irony.

4. Prompting gestures. Are used to evoke a desired response from the audience. For example, if you want your listeners to raise their hands, applaud, or perform some other action, you will encourage the desired response by doing the act yourself as an example.

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