Mastering the Art of Body Language
Alex Pollock
August 21, 2018
Great leaders are great communicators. What then do great communicators know and apply that could benefit the rest of us? I've discovered a few "truths" along the way that I'd like to share for us to reflect upon and then comment on.
Truth #1: An audience will have taken no more than 10 seconds to have evaluated our likeability and credibility
Truth #2: This evaluation is based much less on what we say than how we say it
Truth #3: It takes work to become a great communicator
I recall the shock I felt when, as a new leader, I went to "Charm School" and was told that the most crucial aspect of communication is nonverbal. I struggled then to see how posture, facial expressions and eye contact could trump a well documented array of data. I'm wiser now.
In the book "The Silent Language of Leaders", released in 2011, Carol Kinsey Goman details how body language can help or hinder how we lead. She reveals that in the latest research in neuroscience and psychology, body language impacts a leader's ability to negotiate, lead change and build trust and confidence. A sobering fact is that long before our performance proves them right or wrong; people will have evaluated us and have made a decision on whether to trust and support our leadership.
Goman shares six simple yet valuable insights on how to use body language to improve our onstage effectiveness:
- Make a confident entrance: Once you have honed a message that you can emotionally connect with and feel excited about presenting to others, you are ready to take center stage. Staying relaxed, walk forward with good posture, head help high and with a steady smooth gait. At centre stage stop, smile raise your eyebrows and slightly widen your eyes while you scan the room. A relaxed, open face and body will convey your confidence in the information that you are about to share.
- Maintain eye contact: Throughout the presentation maintain steady eye contact with individuals or small groups. Hold their attention briefly then move on.
- Ditch the lectern: A lectern acts as a barrier between you and the audience. If you must use notes then use a video prompter located off stage.
- Talk with your hands: Hand gestures can be powerful to emphasize what you feel is important and to express feelings and convictions. Don't allow hands to hang limply or hide in pockets.
- Move: Movements helps keep the audience engaged but limit movement when you are making a key point. Instead stop, widen your stance and deliver your thought.
- Monitor the audience: If you sense inattentiveness do something unexpected; ask a question, or initiate an exercise.
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About the Author
Alex Pollock
Alex Pollock has been studying leadership effectiveness for more than 30 years. A former leader in environment, health and safety, and public affairs at The Dow Chemical Co., he learned that we all have leadership roles to play. He enjoys discussing new ideas and sharing practical ways we can all become better leaders.