Body language when speaking in public

Our physical communication style tells more of our expertise as a keynote speaker than even the words that we choose. Most professional speakers agonize over the utter use of a punctuation mark, pause, voice inflection and provoking thought concepts. Yet it’s the way we stand, the use of our hand gestures, intonations and the openness of our body language that will engage our audience.

Motivating an audience is one of the biggest joys of speaking. There is something phenomenally empowering about inspiring others to change what isn’t working in their lives. A key component to involving your audience is thinking in the same terms in which they are involved. What keeps them up at night? What stops them from embracing their happiness? Do they allow stress to control their decisions?

When you learn to use your body language to engage your audience, you will endear yourself to them in a long term effect. That is what the ultimate goal of a professional speaker should be. When you have finished your presentation, are you inundated with questions and requests for more information? If you are, then you know you have reached the definitive of a keynote speaker’s goal.

 

 

Is the title for my presentation important?

I made my first call to book myself for a speaking engagement at a Berkeley Rotary Club and the program director asked for the title of my presentation. “Title?” I repeated. I hadn’t thought of a title. Was it important? Would they not book me if they didn’t like the title? How about “Mixing It Up!” I stammered.

“Fine, that will do just fine!” he assured me.

As I heaved a sigh of relief, I thought “okay, so I can do this!”

The title(s) you choose tell your program director what to expect. They should be short, from three to five words; have an impact; use well known concepts when possible (example: SOS Strategy Outweighs Scarcity or Incubators Are Not for Chickens); utilize action words or results words.

You want to make sure your presentation is tied to your expertise and will in no manner be considered an infomercial. It’s hard to imagine, yet only 3% of your presentation is content. The balance consist of you using your personality.