How to Enhance Your Public Speaking Body Language

Success in public speaking relies on using body language to captivate the audience, or risk losing them to their mobile phones. 

So how can you captivate your audience? Our public speaking experts are here to give you a quick run-down on the importance of body language. We’ll also offer some top tips for successful public speaking body language. 

What is body language?

Body language is a form of nonverbal communication that conveys thoughts, feelings, and messages through physical gestures, such as facial expressions and hand movements. 

Body language makes up ‌55% of your communication and is often subconscious. However, learning how to harness body language ‌is an incredible method to level up presentations and ‌convey your message.

What is body language in public speaking?

Public speaking body language is when you use confident and positive non-verbal communication to express your message clearly. Confident body language is essential in public speaking and media settings for effective communication. It can also help you foster a positive relationship with an audience.

What are the 5 C’s of body language?

The five elements of body language are vital for good non-verbal communication. These are context, clusters, congruence, consistency, and culture. 

Below is a brief overview of each one, along with its importance for effective communication.

Context

Contextual body language takes into account the situation, environment, and relationship. For example, when talking to a friend, you may use informal body language, such as standing close to them while talking, hugging, or greeting them with wide-open arms. When you are in a professional setting, your body language changes; for example, you may give a person more space and avoid unsolicited physical contact.

Clusters

Clusters refer to multiple cues that communicate a larger message. The action of walking across the stage while talking could signify you’re either nervous or confident, but it’s unclear which one. 

However, walking across the stage, maintaining eye contact, and using deliberate hand gestures are a cluster of cues that signal confidence.

Congruence

Communication congruence occurs when a person’s actions align with their words. For instance, if someone tells you, “I’m fine,” but they are looking at the ground and folding their arms, it’s likely that the person isn’t okay. 

If they say, “I’m fine,” while smiling and seeming relaxed, that person’s actions are aligning with their words.

Consistency

A person’s feelings and message are reinforced by consistent nonverbal cues, such as body language. Consistently maintaining eye contact indicates that they are comfortable and confident talking to you, whereas consistently avoiding eye contact suggests that they are nervous.

Culture

Whether you connect with someone or make them uncomfortable can depend on your understanding of cultural communication. For example, direct eye contact may be considered rude in some parts of Asia, but it’s often seen as welcoming in Europe.

How body language is important for communication

Body language in communication is critical if you want to get your message across to someone else and build a connection. This could be with friends, in the workplace, or during a public speaking task. 

What are the dos in body language communication?

Do:

• Maintain eye contact in European cultures.
• Use open body language, e.g., open arms.
• Stand up straight.
• Lean toward the person when talking.
• Maintain a pleasant facial expression.

What are the don’ts in body language communication?

Don’t:

• Avoid eye contact in European countries.
• Used closed body language (liked crossed arms).
• Fidget (e.g., rock on your feet or play with your hands).
• Slouch or lean away from the conversation.
• Use negative facial expressions, such as frowning.

How to show confidence using body language

There are specific skills you can adopt to come across confident when presenting to a group of people.

• Be intentional with your movements: Don’t make small, distracting movements. Instead, be deliberate and clear when using hand gestures or walking across the stage.
• Use hand gestures to emphasise points: Hand gestures are an essential part of body language, and using them to emphasise certain points is very effective. For example, pointing up towards a graph you are showing or widening your hands to signify something big.
• Make eye contact: Make eye contact with different areas of the audience as you speak. This helps everyone stay engaged and shows that you have something important to communicate.
• Keep your hands by your side when not in use: If you are unsure what to do with your hands, keep them by your sides. Clasping them behind your back can be too formal, and fidgety hand movements may take away from your presentation.
• Don’t rock: When standing in one place, avoid rocking on your feet, as this can express nervousness. Stand your ground, and when you move or walk, do so with intention.
• Face the audience: Never turn your back on the audience, as this instantly disengages them. Instead, face the audience, and if you’re pointing at something behind you, try to stand at an angle so you are still partially facing everyone.
• Smile: Smiling when presenting is an excellent way to build a warm, friendly connection with your audience and engage people as you speak.

Develop confidence in public speaking with CoComms

Public speaking for beginners can be daunting. However, a Communication Skills Training Course or Presentation Skills Training can help you feel confident and prepared for any public speaking event. 

Learn about our courses, and contact us today to transform your public speaking skills with CoComms.