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So how do you use body language when giving a speech? Well for starters, you don't do
this. This looks like I have to go to the bathroom. You don't want to be standing like
this. Another bad thing people do, they put their hands behind them like this. That looks
like I'm being handcuffed and taken away to prison. The thing to do with your body when
you're giving a presentation is what you do all day long when you're speaking and you're
relaxed and comfortable. If you're at the water cooler and you're talking about a football
or hockey game last night, you're typically going to say "Did you see that last goal?"
You're not going to be "Did you see that last goal?" That's not how people talk. So it's
a myth out there that you need to somehow learn new body language when giving a speech.
That's not it. The main thing is you just need to move the way you normally move when
you're talking to people and not be frozen or stiff. There are certain things you do
with your body language that make you look uncomfortable. People like to play with their
ring finger or hold a pen. Why do you want to hold a pen when you're giving a speech?
Are you afraid you're going to say something so brilliant you need to write down your own
quotes? Put the pens down. Free up your hands. Don't hold pens and note pads, papers. Have
your hands free. Now the ultimate in body language when you're giving a presentation,
a sure fire way to make people think you're comfortable, confident relaxed, move a little.
Walk some. Now you don't have to be running all over the stage like Zig Ziglar or some
famous motivational speaker but just walking a little creates variety, it forces your audience
to move their head, move their eyes when following you and it will make you appear much more
confident, comfortable and relaxed and that way people can actually focus on your message
and not worrying about whether you're nervous or not.