How to improve body language and gestures.

You can divide your non-verbal communicators into 5 categories.

1. Hands
2. Legs
3. Face
4. Body
5. Stage

Hands

1. Hands must be used to communicate a message. The process I use is this:
2. Have a speech ready that you would like to deliver.
3. What you do then is deliver the speech WITHOUT SAYING A SINGLE WORD AT ALL.
4. Video tape this and have a look.
5. Have a look and ask yourself – does my hands speak my message?
6. If yes, you are doing a good job.
7. If not, work to make it happen.

Word of advice

1. Larger the audience – bigger the gestures.
2. Make sure your gestures are in sync with your verbal message

Legs

1. Some speakers believe in walking around and using the whole stage area, while some others feel a small space is enough.
2. Find out how much space is comfortable to you.
3. Move ONLY if there is a purpose OR you want to connect to another part of the audience.

Word of advice

1. When you move forward – it is to make a point stronger and focus on that point.
2. When you move backward – it is to make a point weaker or show the larger picture.
3. When you want to make sense / chronological point – Move (if you are on the stage facing the audience) left to right i.e. provided the stage is large.
4. Avoid walking around like a desperate person or as they call it ‘hungry lion’

Face

Follow the same procedure as stated in ‘Hands’

Body

1. Your posture is very important – Have a power posture
2. Avoid standing on one leg or having the weight of your body on one side
3. Let your body move when there is an expression you want to express
4. When you lower you body – it is done for a sad moment
5. When you elevate your body – it is for a positive / happy moment. The higher – the happier

Word of advice

1. Your posture is very important – Have a power posture
2. Avoid standing on one leg or having the weight of your body on one side

Stage

1. The stage can be used for
1. past, present or future.
2. particular incidents
3. to show a person’s presence
4. to state a point of wisdom

Word of advice

1. I normally use 8 areas of a stage to communicate my message
2. Use the stage ONLY if you are comfortable with it – not because someone said it.