When giving a presentation, the impact you have on your audience depends on your body language as much as it does the words you are speaking. Strong and positive body language is an essential tool for connecting with your audience and appearing confident. This can be tricky, however, because many people are unaware of their body language when they are speaking in front of a crowd.   The fact is most people rehearse what they are going to say during a presentation but they neglect to focus on their body language. Audiences will respond to people whose body language conveys energy and charisma so it is necessary to keep this in mind when preparing for a presentation.
Body language refers to stance, gestures, and facial expression. All of these are important when your audience has focused their attention on you. Effective body language will help you project your message while captivating your audience.
Stance
The way you are standing conveys a message to your audience. It either says that you are comfortable and confident or it can show that you are nervous and anxious.  You should always try to have good posture by standing up straight with your shoulders back. Avoid slouching or leaning on a podium. It is also acceptable to move around a bit but remember not to pace back and forth through the entire presentation. Constant motion such as walking or swaying can be a distraction to your audience. It is important to have moments of stillness between gestures, as this can have a dynamic effect.
Gestures
Remember to use your hands. Avoid placing them in your pockets or folded across your chest. Instead, use them to emphasize your point and express emotion. These gestures will engage your audience and capture their attention. Remember that when you are presenting in front of a large audience to scale your gestures to the size of the room. Small gestures that are used in everyday conversation might not be noticeable in an auditorium. In a large room your gestures should come from the shoulder instead of the wrist. Use gestures to embrace your audience and help them connect with what you are saying.
Facial Expression
The way you use your eyes, mouth, and facial muscles can have an impact on your audience. Eye contact is the most important element when speaking in front of a group. Maintaining eye contact with your audience conveys credibility and sincerity. It is also important to focus on one person at a time instead of just staring out into the audience. This is highly effective for drawing your audience in and capturing their focus. Another important element of facial expression is a simple smile. Oftentimes presenters feel nervous and show it by having a grim, serious look on their face throughout the entire presentation. Try to smile once in a while to lighten the mood and let the audience know you are at ease.
Regardless of how exceptional your material is, strong body language is imperative for delivering a dynamic presentation. It takes practice to appear natural and comfortable in front of an audience, but positive body language can make your presentation more powerful. Focusing on these important elements of body language will help you increase confidence and become an effective public speaker.
