Here is something worth remembering the next time you want to be believed: because of the way we evolved, we read a person's body language long before we take in a single word they say. So why not put that to work? Learn a few gestures that strengthen your message, or, when it suits your purpose, that gently soften it.
A few examples of the kind of movement I mean: the hand placed on the heart, scratching your head, rubbing your hands together, and the spatial gestures for big, small, up and down, drawn in the air with your hands.
Let me show you how that plays out. Imagine you are selling a ride-on lawn mower. You say, "Of course, it is a fair amount of money," and at the very same moment you make the spatial gesture for something small, holding a tiny space between your finger and thumb. Suddenly your words do not feel nearly as heavy as they otherwise would.
You will see the same principle in great speakers. There is a gesture Barack Obama often uses, the open hand pressed to the chest, and when you use it, it strengthens the listener's belief in what you are saying. Or picture someone saying, "And the effects are enormous," while their hands sweep wide apart to show exactly how enormous. The body says it before the words even arrive.
Want to become a better presenter?
This is a short piece from David's knowledge bank. To go deeper, the best places are a keynote, a course, or one to one coaching.