Have you ever been inside of a vehicle with a state of the art sound system? It is an incredible experience. Every word is crisp, every hit of bass resonates through your body, and even the most intricate sounds dance on your eardrum.
Now compare that with a standard sound system. The words are flat, the bass hits have no authority, and you miss the inner workings that truly make a song magical.
Public communication and it’s relationship with gestures can be thought of the same way. Words are incredibly powerful tools. Well crafted sentences can convey a message but sometimes they miss the mark. When words fall short we must employ physical gestures to communicate the complexity, intricacy, and emotion of our message. A fully involved speaker who skillfully maneuvers around the room, implements facial gestures, and animates his/her speech is captivating. A speaker who strictly delivers content has 10 times less impact.
What body parts can you use to amplify your public communication? .
- Face - The face never lies. Whether a person is happy, sad, disappointed, afraid, joyous, or shocked you can typically see it in their face. When you feel the need to get a point across make sure that the emotion attached to your message is inscribed in your face.
- Hands – Using the hands is another powerful tool of communication. Hand placement and usage can be used to add that essential three dimensional element to a message. Use your hands when you need to grip, throw, punch, smack, slam, or snatch an object.
- Arms – Your arms are useful when you need to physically display the scale of a situation. Holding your arms down or holding your palms toward the floor downplays a situation. Raising your arms in the air, waving your arms, or making direct gestures with them indicate urgency and grandeur.
- Legs - Leg involvement is the most dramatic body movement you can employ. I’ve felt the need to unleash a waist level kick in a speech. Believe me, a karate kick will get attention when nothing else will! If you move around the room with purpose then people will follow you. If you feel like showing that something happened quick then take a quick jab step. If you want something to play out over time then gradually make move until you reach your destination. It is easy to overdo movement so be cautious.
Conclusion
When it comes to public speaking you have 2 choices:
- Your speech can mirror the run of the mill sound system with no impact.
- Your speech can mirror a state of the art sound system meant to garner attention for years to come.
Which one would you want to hear?
Thanks for reading. Please pass this information to anyone who can make good use of it.
To view a list of services click here .
Bookmark this page or follow this link to RSS subscribe to make sure you don't miss out.