The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

342 / TAKING CENTER STAGE

Using gestures

Use gestures to reinforce points, just as

you would in casual conversation; you

may need to “amplify” small movements

to take into account the scale of a room:

for example, a hand gesture may need

to become a movement of the whole

forearm if it is to be seen from the back.

You may need to practice to make such

gestures appear “natural.” Avoid at all

costs any intimidating gestures, such

as pointing fingers at your audience or

forcefully banging your hand or fist on

the table or lectern.

Making eye contact

Many presenters deliberately avoid

making eye contact with the audience.

But if you can keep your nerve, engaging

with the audience in this way creates

trust and intimacy, and is one of the most

effective means of keeping attention,

especially throughout a longer

presentation.

95 %

You may need to “amplify”

small movements to take

into account the scale

of a room

of an audience thought the

style of a talk was equally

important as the content

Your movements need not be too

theatrical—your goal is to hold the

attention of the audience rather

than to entertain them.

Coordinate your movements to

emphasize an important point—for

example, walk across the room, and

turn quickly to coincide with the

conclusion of a point.

Move to a different spot on the stage

area when moving from point to

point—this can help the audience to

separate out your key messages.

When you want to refer the audience

to a projected slide, step back

toward it, and sweep your arm to

guide the viewer’s eyes up toward

the slide: be careful not to turn your

back on your audience as you move.

Moving for effect

Human attention is drawn to

movement—it is programmed into our

genes—so one of the most powerful

ways to hold on to your audience, and to

make viewers focus on you, is to move.

Always use movement purposefully

and intentionally—if you merely walk

back and forth it will be interpreted as

nervous pacing and will distract the

audience. However, using movement in

tandem with words will boost impact.

Listed below are a few examples where

actions will reinforce the message:

US_342-343_Looking_confident_3.indd 342 31/05/16 5:29 pm