The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

LOOKING CONFIDENT / 341

SPRING-CLEAN YOUR

BAD HABITS

Rid your performance of any

visible signs of discomfort

you may be feeling. Avoid

nervous mannerisms such as

putting your hands stiffly

behind your back, looking

down at the floor, playing with

jewelry or hair or fiddling

with your sleeves or buttons.

Tip

THE 7-38-55 RULE

According to a study by Dr.

Albert Mehrabian of the

University of California, how

much we like someone when

we first meet them depends

only 7 percent on what they

say. Tone of voice accounts

for 38 percent. The remaining

55 percent is body language

and facial expression. This is

known as the 7-38-55 rule.

In focus

inconsistent with your words. Your

stance, gestures, and eye contact must

support what you say; in the event of any

conflicting information, the audience will

tend to believe what your body language

appears to be saying.

Start your presentation with a neutral

but authoritative posture. Maintain a

balanced stance, with your feet slightly

apart and your weight spread evenly

between them. Keep upright, facing

the front, with shoulders straight, not

hunched, and your arms loosely and

comfortably at your sides. Don’t lean on

a chair or perch on furniture for support.

Timing your movement

For the first 30 seconds of your

presentation, try not to move your feet.

This “anchoring” will help establish your

authority with your audience. As you build

rapport, you can relax your posture—this

will help win you trust and make the

audience feel much more comfortable—

leaning forward sends a positive and

friendly message.

Your stance, gestures,

and eye contact must

support what you say, the

audience will believe

your body language

30

seconds at the start

of your presentation

should be spent standing

in a balanced stance

US_340-341_Looking_confident_2.indd 341 31/05/16 5:29 pm