speech topics using body language

17 Body Language Presentation Cues to Use in Your Next Speech

I used to shake, stutter, and simmer during presentations. Now, I confidently own my speeches. Here are my top 17 body language tips for any presentation.

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Some people may go into a presentation like they’re going into battle.

I was one of those people. But after years of public-speaking experience, dozens of experiments, and hundreds of talks, I can finally say I’ve conquered my presentation fears. And now I want to teach my tactics to you!

Can You Read Body Language?

How good are your body language skills? Take our free body language quiz to find out!

Here is my ultimate guide on what body language to use to give the most captivating presentations . In this guide, you will learn:

• the first thing you should always do when giving an online presentation
• the best way to turn your audience into your friend
• how to use space to captivate your audience
• why Nixon won the heart of voters through the radio, but not on TV (hint: it was his appearance)
• how to use a podium to your advantage
• … and more!

I have been fortunate enough to speak to hundreds of companies , from Google to Intel to Frito-Lay. I’ve also been lucky enough to speak on stages at SxSW, at MIT, and the World Domination summit .

But all of those successes were hard earned. And I started out knowing nothing…

My Presentation Fail

OK, I have a really embarrassing story to admit.

Back in fifth grade, I wasn’t just bad at giving presentations. I was a train wreck : my legs shook, my palms sweated, and I had this really bad condition where my face would just dye itself red from embarrassment.

Fast forward to the most important presentation of the year: I spent an entire month preparing (and even working after school!) for this fleshed-out speech on Columbus’s journey to America. It was full of amazing, captivating content… but unfortunately lacking in delivery.

On the big day, I couldn’t help but feel the sea of stares burning deep into me.

My face reddened like a beet, and I did the only thing my logical brain told me to do… I made a run for it. I literally stopped 5 minutes into my presentation, ran out the door, and hid in the nearest bathroom stall.

That day scarred me forever. I remember wiping tears from my face, wondering how the heck I’d ever get through any presentation again.

Fast forward to today…

• I have talked on stage at well over 100 different events.
• I regularly give training sessions at big corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.
• I even have my very own TED Ttalk!

So yeah, I can say now with a sigh of relief I have (somewhat) conquered my stage fright . Here are my best body language tips I’ve learned from my years of struggle. My aim for you in this article is to give you a boost of confidence the next time you’re giving a presentation!

They might sound small, but they matter.

Signal “Friend!”

So what’s one of the best ways to signal, “Hey, I’m your friend”? Is it:

• show your palms
• give an eyebrow flash
• all of the above

The answer is d) all of the above!

Here’s why these nonverbal cues are so powerful while presenting:

Right when I start a presentation, I like to immediately show my palms. This is absolutely essential to do in video calls since it’s even harder to build rapport than with in-person presentations.

Here’s me, where I show my palms in my TED Talk:

Showing your palms is a great way to signal to others that you have no weapons in your hands. This works because our primitive brains kick into overdrive, worrying that someone may brandish a hidden weapon.

You can even try it! The next time you’re in a conversation, bury your palms deep in your pockets or keep them behind your back. You may notice the other person seems a little unsettled or nervous.

A great way to show your palms during a presentation is to open with a personal story. Personal stories are full of truth and honesty, so you might find your hand gestures naturally opening up (you may not even have to consciously think about opening your palms!).

Give the Eyebrow Flash

The eyebrow flash.

It’s a commonly used gesture in greetings, especially when two people recognize each other. In essence, a quick up-down of the eyebrows shows someone that you’re happy to see them.

Research even shows that it’s used by monkeys and apes, meaning this is likely an inborn gesture.

So here’s the golden rule for presentations: always eyebrow flash when you walk onto stage. Just a quick, up-down of recognition. Couple it with a genuine smile (coming next!), and you’ve got a killer combo that shows you’re trustworthy and friendly.

But be careful of overdoing it—move your eyebrows up -and -down too many times and you’re inviting a different kind of attention!

Use a Genuine Smile

Did you know a real smile includes what is known as the “Duchenne marker,” or wrinkles around the corners of the eyes? Without this key indicator, a person might be faking their smile.

Check out more mouth cues, including licking lips, lip biting, and pursed lips here: 39 Mouth Body Language Gestures

Take Up Space

When we’re nervous on stage, we often go into “deer in the headlights” mode.

We bring our arms in close, keep our feet in the smallest space possible, and bring our shoulders in like a turtle. To give effective presentations, you’ve got to learn how to master your space.

Don’t forget there is space around you! Widen your stance, walk around, use big gestures, and power pose.

• Widen Your Stance. Ask a body language expert what’s the most important body part to pay attention to and chances are, they’ll say the feet. People know what kind of face they’re making. Or what their hands are doing. But they rarely pay attention to their feet during presentations. Avoid standing with your feet awkwardly close. Make sure your feet are at least shoulder-width apart and don’t be afraid to go even wider.
• Walk the Stage. Don’t plant yourself in the room if there’s room available to move around. People pay attention to what’s in motion, so keep moving during your speech to grab attention. One clever way to remember movement is to move with your points—if you have 3 main points, when you switch from one point to another, move to the other side of the room to signal a shift.
• Use Your Arms. Generally, you don’t want huge gestures all the time. But there’s also no need to keep your arms to yourself—use those puppies for emphasis! When you are exaggerating a point, showing a large measurement or data, or talking about something grand, spread your arms and take up space.
• Power Pose. Do you know the power of posing? In a TED Talk, Amy Cuddy explains that power posing can actually increase our confidence. Do this before a presentation to boost your confidence, or do it during a presentation to command attention and feel powerful.

Other than taking up space, another body language presentation trick you can use is to minimize space between you and the audience.

Bridging the distance between you and the audience is a powerful cue to use sparingly.

In the 1992 debate between Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, Clinton is asked a question from the audience.

But rather than answering it immediately, he stands up and tries to get as close to the speaker as possible. This little difference allowed the crowd to resonate with Clinton more than Bush, who stood answering questions at a distance.

It was a small change, but it made a world of impact.

Save this for points that really matter to you. When you want your audience to lean in and listen up, move close.

I also do this during question and answer sessions.

Generally speaking, pointing is considered rude… except when you’re presenting with a big screen or projector. If you don’t have a laser pointer or long stick, pointing HELPS the audience by directing their eye gaze at what they should be paying attention to.

Make sure to point at the screen if you think your audience needs a bit more engagement, or during really lengthy and explanatory parts of your slides with text, so they can visualize better.

Raise Your Hand

Remember those times in class when the teacher asked us to raise our hands? Teachers do it for a reason: it increases audience engagement! Whenever you ask a question to the audience, try to spin it in a way to get the audience to participate:

• Instead of asking your audience, “Did you think the Christmas event was amazing?” try asking, “Raise your hand if you think the Christmas event was amazing.”
• You can even spin a statement into a question. If you are stating an exciting fact like “McDonald’s once made bubblegum-flavored broccoli” (totally true, btw!), you can ask your audience, “Which product did McDonald’s once come out with?” and ask for a show of hands for each potential answer.

Since raising our hands is still likely a learned body language that is ingrained in our brains, utilizing this body language cue is a no-brainer to keep the audience hooked.

Read Between the Eyes

Here’s a quick way to boost your perceived intelligence during a presentation: increase your eye contact! Make sure to sweep across the room as you make eye contact with others. Maintaining eye contact is great if you want to build rapport with others. It’s even been found to increase feelings of love and affection!

And forget about the “imagine your audience naked” advice that somehow got popular.… Instead, imagine your audience members are your closest friends.

Imagine your audience are your closest friends. They are there to root for you!

Even if it’s one close friend, imagine you are talking to them. You’ll naturally make more eye contact, your body language will open up, and you’ll be more authentic and honest. No wonder the eyes are the window to the soul.

Side Note: Don’t forget those in the back! Always make contact with every single person in the room, if you can. If it’s a bigger audience, you might want to mentally section-off the crowd in blocks to make sure you make eye contact with most of the crowd.

Laugh It Off

Humor is one of the best ways to turn a dull presentation into a lively one. Who doesn’t love to laugh?

Chances are, you’re not laughing enough.

Research shows that adults only laugh an average of 15 times a day, while preschoolers laugh 400 times 1 https://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Book-Body-Language-attitudes/dp/1409168506 !

It’s not only about feeling good, either. Laughing is actually more about building relationships than reacting to jokes.

That’s why laughter is 30 times more likely to occur in social situations than by yourself!

Laugh more if you want to become more likable.

Verbal back channels, cadence, mumbling, and stuttering—learn more body language tips to give you a boost in your people skills arsenal!

Forward Lean

Sure, everybody knows not to be a slouch: chest up, shoulders back, and head raised.

But did you know adding a slight forward lean to your presentation can increase engagement? Just imagine the last time you were super hooked in a conversation.

Chances are, you were leaning slightly forward:

Body leaning is our body’s natural way of saying, “Wow, this is interesting!” If you see it in your audience? That’s great! And if you do it yourself? You are sub communicating that you’re interested in both the audience AND what you’re saying.

Add a slight forward lean to increase audience engagement.

Use Hand Gestures

Here’s the deal: Research 2 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234115692_Gesture_use_in_social_interaction_how_speakers’_gestures_can_reflect_listeners’_thinking shows that using hand gestures increases the value of your message by a whopping 60%!

And we confirmed it using science.

In our human behavior research lab, we analyzed thousands of hours of TED Talks and found one striking pattern: the most viral TED Talkers spoke with their words AND their hands.

Want to dive into our research and see which hand gestures to use to WOW a crowd? Click below to find out: 60 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using And Their Meaning

Here’s a self-test you can try out right now: cross your arms.

Which arm appears on top?

Science says that 7 out of 10 people cross their left arm over their right one 1 https://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Book-Body-Language-attitudes/dp/1409168506 .

Crossing arms over your torso is not only a way of defending your most vital organs, but also a form of “self-hug.”

People normally cross arms when they feel defeated or defensive. In presentations, you might find yourself manifesting the arm cross in subtler ways—reaching across the body to fiddle with a watch, adjusting a shirt cuff link, or even adjusting a tie knot.

To counter crossed arms, always default to having your arms relaxed and to the sides when you’re not gesturing. Having your arms to your sides is the most natural position and one that shows you’re confident enough to be relaxed.

Want more cues to arm yourself? Head on over to our guide: Crossed Arms and 17 More Cues to Know

Have you ever been in a presentation where the person giving the speech stands behind the podium the whole time? Podiums are a huge presentation faux pas and effectively block presenters from the audience.

If there’s a podium in the room with you, a personal tip I try to use is to never use the podium for more than a quarter of my presentation. Not only do podiums plant you in place, they also block off half your body.

Here’s a hilarious example of giving a presentation behind a big table… notice how nobody knows what could be going on down there!

Podiums and tables are great as a bounce-back point (if you need to check your notes, change slides, take a sip of water, etc.), but shouldn’t be a nest you coop up in all day.

Keep Cool as a Cucumber

It was September 26, 1960. The entire nation was tuned in to see the first- ever televised presidential debate, featuring John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon.

Except there was one glaring problem for the Republicans.

The millions of Americans who tuned in could see Nixon sweating under the hot studio lights, while Kennedy remained as cool as a cucumber. Nixon also displayed other signs of anxiety, like lip licking and fast blinking.

So who won the presidential debate ?

It turns out, most people who listened to the debate on the radio voted for Nixon, due to his deep, rich voice.

But those who saw it on the big screen? Hands down, the majority of them sided with Kennedy. During a presentation, people will be able to read a lot from your face. Are you a nervous lip biter? Do you sweat when you’re under pressure? Do you blink too much—or not enough?

Try these tips to master your facial expressions :

• Record Yourself. One of the ways I became much better at public speaking than I was before is that I constantly do YouTube videos . In my early days, I always looked away from the camera and bit my upper lip, until I rewatched my videos and corrected the problems. If you have any glaring issues, video will find it.
• Take a Deep Breath. It’s totally OK to pause and take a deep breath. Make sure to constantly breathe deeply. It’s super easy to get nervous and start shallow breathing. I find a session of quick meditation actually helps me to calm my nerves.

And remember, it can’t be all that bad. Have a look at Colin Robertson’s hilarious TED Talk , where things seem to go awry.

Hide Your Notes

I generally don’t recommend having notes with you if you can help it. Using notes is great to keep you on -pace, but relying on them could be a crutch.

Physically holding them in your hands could take up valuable palm space for gesturing and can make your movements more awkward. You can also forget to make eye contact at critical moments.

I recommend keeping your notes to a bare minimum (i.e., don’t write your college thesis on them) and leaving them at the podium or by your side. Refer to them as needed, but you should be at a place where you only need to look at a few key words to remember what you’re going to say next.

Many presenters already know they should move and take up space. But sometimes it can be easy to over-do it. One powerful, advanced body language trick is to actually keep still and silent during the important parts of your presentation.

Steve Jobs was a master at movement. Watch as he moves to emphasize his points, but during the very important points, he tends to stay still and command attention:

Color Psychology

What colors you wear can drastically affect the perception of you on camera. Just take a look at these 2 different outfits, but with their colors switched:

See how different I look?

One image portrays power, confidence, and authority. The other is perfect for spring picnics and tea time.

OK, those images are a bit on the extreme side. But for normal colors, choose your color to match the mood you want to give off:

• Blue gives off feelings of stability, tranquility, and trust.
• Red primes emotions of intensity, aggression, and passion.
• Yellow indicates emotions of happiness, vibrance, and youth.

Check out this article: Color Psychology: What Colors Should You Wear and Why

News Reporter vs. Preacher

One way to speak is like a monotone news reporter:

On the other end of the spectrum, you’ve got an enthusiastic preacher:

In most presentations, you want to be somewhere in the middle (leaning toward enthusiastic).

Vocal variety is a huge body language cue that you can easily change to spice up your presentations. If you’re not naturally vocally gifted like Freddie Mercury, no worries! Try a vocal warm-up .

One of my favorite vocal warm-ups I do almost every time before a video or presentation is to simply hum:

• Do one long “hmmmmmmmmm,” and try to hold it for as long as you can.
• Now, loosen up your lips and mouth. Hum again, but now more relaxed. Try to keep your jaw and cheeks nice and loose as well.
• Inflect! Go up and down with your hum. Alternate between descending and ascending hums.

Do this five times and be amazed at how magical your newly – prepped voice is.

Remember, your goal as a captivating presenter isn’t just to relay information. You’ve also got a second job as an entertainer. Remember to engage the audience and have fun on stage! Your audience will appreciate it, and you’ll feel more free, too.

Presentation Body Language Mini-FAQ:

How much of a presentation depends on your body language.

You may have heard that communication is 93% nonverbal, and only 7% verbal. These percentages are actually false. We may not know the exact percentage, but nonverbal communication plays a huge role in presentations (with the right body language, you can turn any old, boring content into the most exciting presentation ever!).

Why is body language important in presentation?

Open, confident body language allows you to clearly express your message during a presentation, without disengaging your audience. Great body language during presentations builds your credibility, draws the audience’s attention to your points, and helps you connect with your listeners and build rapport.

Bonus: Give Captivating Presentations

You might not realize it, but you are presenting ALL the time. Whether it’s:

• speaking up in a meeting
• giving an introduction on a video call or joining a conference call
• or even talking on stage

… we are constantly presenting. So I want to help you achieve your presentation goals. Whether you’re looking to find the best openers and closers, use visuals in your presentations, tell amazing stories, or even present online, I’ve got you covered: Master Your Presentations With Powerful Presentation Skills

Are there any other presentation body language tips you have? Or can you relate to my embarrassing story? Leave a comment below!

Side Note: As much as possible we tried to use academic research or expert opinion for this master body language guide. Occasionally, when we could not find research we include anecdotes that are helpful. As more research comes out on nonverbal behavior we will be sure to add it!

Crack The Code on Facial Expressions

The human face is constantly sending signals, and we use it to understand the person’s intentions when we speak to them. In Decode, we dive deep into these microexpressions to teach you how to instantly pick up on them and understand the meaning behind what is said to you. Learn how to decode emotions in our advanced communication course, People School.

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Body Language in Public Speaking: How to Master It

Public speaking can be daunting. Even seasoned speakers can sometimes lack confidence and poise in front of a crowd. Your words may be carefully constructed, but what about your body language? Are you making the best use of everything from your head tilt to your hand gestures to create the most impressionable, powerful performance? It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to improving your body language for public speaking. After all, there’s so much to take into account. Which can make you even more anxious! But never fear – in this blog post we’ll show you how to master your body language and make your public speaking more impactful. We’ll cover basics, like posture and facial expressions, to finer details, like microphone technique, to ensure you make the right impression every time. So let’s get started on taking your public speaking to the next level – the only way is up!

Quick Answer

Using body language when giving a speech or presentation can help to convey your message more effectively and engage the audience. Make sure to avoid any nervous habits such as fidgeting and maintain good posture. Use hand gestures and facial expressions sparingly and intentionally for maximum effect.

Understanding Body Language

Understanding body language is key for any public speaker to be successful in creating an impact. On one hand, researchers suggest that body language can provide insight into a person’s true feelings, intentions and thoughts.

Whether it be positive reinforcement like a thumbs-up or negative reinforcement like facial expressions of frustration - body language always plays an important role in the understanding of communication.

Additionally, during the speaking portion of a presentation, a speaker’s posture will affect their delivery, giving off strong signals of confidence and power when done correctly. On the other hand, many people have studied nonverbal communication and report mixed findings on its accuracy. 

Our own biases as individuals tend to influence our interpretation of what we observe in another’s body language. Context can also play a big role in how we interpret cues - something that someone may consider as confident body language could easily be considered intimidating or aggressive depending on the scenario and the audience it is being given to. Overall, understanding the basics of both verbal and nonverbal communication is essential for any successful public speaker to make an impactful statement. By understanding these essential differences between each form of speaking, a speaker can craft their presentation accurately and congruently in order to achieve their desired outcome. Now that an understanding of body language has been discussed, the following section will discuss "What is Body Language" in further detail.

Must-Know Summary Points

Body language, both positive and negative, plays an important role in communication. Body language can influence how successful a public speaker is, as their posture not only affects delivery but also signals confidence and power.

The interpretation of nonverbal communication, however, can be affected by the individual's biases and context-dependent cues. To make a successful impact through speaking publicly, one must understand both verbal and nonverbal forms of communication.

What is Body Language?

Body language is a form of communication that uses nonverbal cues, such as posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact to convey messages. It is defined as “ the behavior that one displays during communication through body movements, posture, and gestures .” 

Body language can be used to express a variety of emotions, including happiness, anger, sadness, confusion, or surprise. It is also an effective way to make a point or emphasize something important when delivering a speech. Body language can be both beneficial and detrimental depending on the context in which it is used. For instance, standing up straight with your arms crossed applied can make you appear more authoritative or confident. On the other hand, this gesture may come off as aggressive and intimidating if the tone of your message isn't aligned with the assertive body language. By being mindful of our body posture and movements before and during a presentation we can ensure that the message we are trying to convey is accurately interpreted by our audience. With a better understanding of how body language affects public speaking, we can use it to our advantage and create meaningful connections that foster trust and respect with our audience. In the next section we will explore how to use body language to make your public speaking more impactful.

The Impact of Body Language

When it comes to public speaking, what we say matters, but the way we say it matters even more. Body language is a universal language and can have an immense impact on how your message is received by an audience. Often times, before you have even said your first word, your body language has already spoken thousands of words to the audience. The lines of your face, curve of your throat, folds in your clothing and the look in your eye all speak volumes about how you are feeling and what kind of attitude you bring to the podium. For example, if a speaker appears tense or closed-off, it may cause some audience members to become defensive or uncomfortable. But if a speaker comes across as open and confident, it helps put the audience at ease and encourages them to respond positively to what they hear. Body language can also have numerous other nonverbal communication benefits during public speaking . For example, well-timed pauses , emphasis on certain points through gestures, and capturing attention with eye contact can all help take an average speech and turn it into something that really resonates with the listener. On the other hand, there’s no denying that people’s perception of body language can be highly subjective. While certain body language cues such as crossed arms may be indicative of being closed off to ideas that don't align with one’s own beliefs for some people, for others crossed arms may simply mean deep concentration.

So its important to keep in mind that how we interpret someone else’s body language largely reflects our own preconceived notions rather than calling out any specific trait of another person. The impact of body language when giving a public presentation should not be underestimated - it can turn a mediocre performance into something extraordinary by creating a connection with listeners and keeping them engaged throughout. Now let's take a closer look at how you can use body language effectively during public speaking to maximize this impact.

Body Language During Public Speaking

Body language during public speaking can have a huge influence on the delivery of your speech, as well as your overall success. The way you move and use your body to convey your message is one of the most important elements of delivering an effective presentation . Your body language can reveal how confident or hesitant you are about the material you’re conveying and how engaged or disinterested your audience is. When speaking in front of people, maintaining an open body language can demonstrate your confidence and help put them at ease. Some people tend to cross their arms when they become nervous , which can come off as confrontational or even hostile.

Your posture should be relaxed but upright—avoid slouching or hunching over, as this comes off as unprofessional and may signal a lack of confidence in yourself and your message. On the other hand, standing too straight and rigid can also be intimidating. Standing with your feet slightly apart in an open stance conveys openness and comfort with yourself and your message. Your facial expressions should also match what you’re saying—a grimace when telling a funny story, for example, is confusing for the audience. It’s important to stay aware of flinching or winking too much, which can make it seem like you’re not paying attention to what you’re saying or are uncomfortable with the content. Make sure to look out for any unintentional visual cues that might distract or confuse your audience. Keeping good posture and making sure your movements coincide with the flow of your speech will enable you to project confidence and enthusiasm that will keep your audience engaged throughout the duration of your presentation.

Your facial expressions play an equally vital role in helping you get your point across efficiently so it’s important to become aware of them while speaking. With greater awareness and practice, mastering nonverbal communication during public speaking will become easier and more natural. Next we will discuss how facial expressions and posture play key roles in how impactful a speaker is during public presentations.

Facial Expressions and Posture

The way we use facial expressions and posture when speaking publicly has a huge influence on how people perceive us. Our eyes, forehead, mouth, and chin all send organic cues to others about our feelings and thoughts.

It’s important to pay attention to the signals our faces are sending, making sure they are intentional rather than merely fleeting. Additionally, our posture speaks volumes when it comes to communicating with an audience. One of the most important gestures that can help you connect with your audience is smiling. A charming smile can boost credibility, increase positive reactions, and help keep the atmosphere light-hearted.

On the other hand, the opposite can also be true: frowning and furrowing your eyebrows may distract or upset a room of listeners. So practice your presentation with a big smile and choose wisely when changing expressions during your speech. In addition to facial expression, posture is essential in public speaking. Standing up straight and tall projects strength and authority while slouching signals weakness and uncertainty. By standing up with proper posture while speaking publicly you give off an impression of capability and confidence, which will make people better listen to what you have to say.

For example, when talking to an audience try planting your feet hip-width apart; this will ground yourself in your message. Slumping or swaying back-and-forth sends a negative message about self-belief that your audience can sense subconsciously; so pay attention to subtle adjustments that express dedication and seriousness for your speech topic . Overall, facial expressions and posture play an integral role in public speaking as they set up tangible associations with the message one is trying to communicate as a speaker or presenter. Next up in this article we will discuss practical tips for utilizing body language during public speaking.

Tips for Using Body Language in Public Speaking

When preparing to give a public speech , body language plays an essential role in connecting with and impressing your audience. It can be used to emphasize key points and create the kind of lasting impression you want to make. Here are some tips for using body language effectively: 1. Stand Confidently – A confident posture expresses power, passion, and conviction. Keep your hands at your sides instead of crossed over your chest as this has been shown to make people appear more defensive and tense. Make sure your body weight is well-distributed by standing with both feet firmly planted on the ground. 2. Don’t Fidget – People tend to fidget when nervous and this can be distracting or even annoying to an audience. To combat this, practice presenting in front of a mirror so that you can become familiar with how you move and where you may need to adjust. 3. Use Intentional Gestures – If done properly, gestures can help add energy and excitement to an otherwise dull presentation. Avoid robotic gestures that don’t mean anything; practice deliberate gestures that connect with the topic or point you are making in meaningful ways for maximum impact. 4. Make Eye Contact – People love it when presenters look them directly in the eye because it makes them feel included in the action, connected to their speakers, and more likely to remember what was spoken about. Aim for 3-5 seconds of direct eye contact with each person who is listening so that you communicate strong, vibrant energy throughout the room. By taking advantage of these speaking techniques and using meaningful gestures, powerful stances, and confident looks, you will have presented a far more impactful speech than had any of these body language methods been overlooked or neglected. Now, let's talk about common mistakes to avoid when delivering public speeches...

• Research studies show that a speaker's body language accounts for up to 93% of their communication when presenting (although this may not be true).
• Effective body language can help to create rapport between the presenter and the audience, leading to more effective communication
• Studies have shown that positive body language, such as open and inviting gestures, can help increase audience engagement and understanding of the message.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Public speaking is a challenging endeavor, and even seasoned presenters can make mistakes. It can be easy to forget about the need for attentive body language if you get too caught up in your presentation. To mitigate the possibility of ‘faux pas’, it is important to understand some common blunders that can lessen the impact of your performance. It is vital to avoid maintaining an unfavorable facial expression; for instance, scowling or yawning. Such expressions tend to leave negative impressions, making it difficult to maintain attention. Instead, try to adopt a relaxed and pleasant facial expression which will help put people at ease and keep them engaged.

Your posture is another essential aspect of body language. Don’t slouch or hunch your shoulders as this position communicates a lack of confidence or enthusiasm and disengages the audience. Aim to stand with even proportions; your feet shoulder-width apart with your chest held up and arms loose by your side. This establishes a stance that suggests dynamism, engagement, and assurance - words you want associated with yourself and your speech. On the other hand, it is also important not to contort yourself into an over-assertive pose that may distract from the content of your address. Many speakers adopt hyperextended poses such as spreading their arms wide and pacing back-and-forth across the stage setting their audience on edge rather than inspiring them with confidence in the speaker’s message. In conclusion, practice mindful body language when speaking publicly: maintain a friendly expression, appropriate posture, and avoid gestures that detract from what matters most -your presentation content! Building self-confidence to ensure successful public speaking requires both clever content delivery and skillful manipulation of body language – something we will explore further in the following section on building self-confidence while speaking publicly.

Building Your Self-Confidence

Confidence is the cornerstone of public speaking. It is essential for conveying effective messages and connecting with your audience. Building up your self-confidence before a speech or presentation will ensure that you are ready to deliver an impactful performance. Here are some strategic tips for increasing your self-confidence when you take the stage: 1. Practice, practice, practice – Before delivering a speech, engaging in multiple rehearsals helps individuals become more familiar and comfortable with their material. Rehearsing enables speakers to focus on specific points of their speech and practice the flow and delivery of their words with precision.

Additionally, rehearsing also provides an opportunity to perfect and enhance content that can potentially elevate the level of enthusiasm within your audience. 2. Boost your posture – Holding yourself in a “power pose” can be an effective way to channel confidence both onstage and offstage. Highlighting important moments with dramatic gesture indicates a grounded, passionate presence that leaves a lasting impression on viewers.

When people feel as if they can trust and respect who is communicating a message, it increases engagement and creates opportunities to further dialogue or discussion afterwards. 3. Set attainable goals – Curating manageable objectives for yourself is another great way to build self-confidence before going on stage. This includes building out an agenda (also known as ‘ speaker notes ’) that lays out talking points and bullets important sections of your presentation beforehand so that you can confidently navigate transitions between slides or topics during delivery.

Setting clear expectations beforehand not only reminds the speaker what topics are of importance, but it also offers direction so speaking becomes easier when conducting research or writing scripts ahead of time.

4. Visualize success – Visualization is another form of preparation that can have significant effects on one’s self-confidence levels prior to taking the stage. It involves creating vivid mental images related to successful performance while simultaneously reminding oneself that they have successfully conquered other speaking engagements prior preceding this one; this essentially helps make it easier transitioning from anxiousness into preparedness pre-speech day nerves. Confidence can be seen as both an intrinsic quality associated with personality traits such as charisma, charm, poise and eloquence, as well as something environmental or situational like body language, external feedback or attitude surrounding a particular event or task at hand that contributes to overall comfortability levels onstage (or offstage).

Consequently it can be argued that one needs both external factors working in tandem with personality attributes to establish robust personal confidence capable of maximizing success onstage as a public speaker; however where people depict various levels of comfortability with how each contributes towards self-efficacy depends largely upon individual beliefs about their own character and abilities involving communication(s).

Ultimately, developing strategies for harnessing confidence for public speaking requires individuals to assess what works best for them based upon what makes them feel most prepared & competent when under pressure - that’s why it’s important to review all available options prior developing tactical plans designed to elevate public speaking performances; good luck!

Most Common Questions

How does body language emphasize content when public speaking.

Body language is an important factor when it comes to emphasizing content when public speaking. This is because people tend to take in nonverbal cues more than verbal cues. S

tudies have shown that 93% of communication is nonverbal, which means that what you do with your body language can be just as influential as the words you use.

When delivering a presentation or speech, gestures and movements can be used to emphasize key points, draw attention to certain ideas, and add depth and meaning to the content.

For example, making large hand gestures when discussing a significant idea helps communicate a powerful message, while pointing at relevant diagrams or visuals helps guide the audience’s attention toward important information.

Additionally, maintaining strong and confident posture while speaking also sends a signal of authority and helps engage listeners. Ultimately, by deliberately incorporating body language into presentations or speeches, presenters can effectively emphasize the content being presented and increase its impact on audiences.

What are some common mistakes to avoid with body language in public speaking?

One of the most common mistakes to avoid with body language in public speaking is not maintaining good posture. Keeping your head up and shoulders back shows confidence. Avoid slouching, which can make you appear uncomfortable or insecure.

Additionally, avoid excessive movements such as fidgeting, gesturing too much or rocking back and forth. These habits can be distracting to your audience and detract from the message that you are trying to get across. Another mistake to avoid is using negative gestures and facial expressions. Too many negative expressions like frowns or eyerolls can provide a conflicting message to your audience, weakening the impact of your words.

As a speaker, it’s important to project confidence, so negative body language can be counter-productive. Smiling or looking positive while speaking will give off a confident air and help keep the atmosphere positive and engaging. Finally, be aware of how much space you are taking up and remain conscious of what your body is saying. Invading too much personal space makes people in the audience feel uncomfortable.

Be sure to match people’s body language cues so that it doesn’t come off as aggressive or intimidating. By paying attention to these small nuances, you will be able to properly control your body language in public speaking and make a bigger impression on your audience!

What are the most important tips for using body language in public speaking?

The most important tips for using body language in public speaking are: 1. Establish good eye contact - to your audience, look around the room and make sure to engage people with eye contact at different points while you speak. 2. Use open body language - avoid postures that suggest discomfort or lack of confidence such as crossed arms, fidgeting, and avoiding direct eye contact. Instead, strive to use body language that suggests openness and comfort. 3. Use gestures to emphasize points - gestures can help engage your audience, amplify the message you're trying to get across, and give energy to your presentation. Practice beforehand what gestures will help accentuate each point in your presentation and use them appropriately when speaking. 4. Use facial expressions - don't just stand still like a statue! Make sure to smile, frown, use surprise and other subtle expressions as appropriate to convey emotion with your words and make your story come alive for the audience. 5. Vary Your Speech Pace & Volume - vary the speed of your delivery based on the content of your speech and don't forget about pushing up or down on the volume of your voice for multi-syllable words or when emphasizing a point – movement of your hands can be helpful too! Using these tips during public speaking can help make it more impactful and have better results in conveying your message across effectively to any audience.

5 Ways to Use Body Language To Improve Your Speech

• The Speaker Lab
• July 15, 2024

Table of Contents

Imagine watching a speaker take the stage. As he walks up, you see his head is bowed and he’s walking slowly. In addition, his hands are clenched at his sides and his shoulders are hunched. When he reaches the podium, he sighs, murmurs a weak greeting, and begins his talk. If you saw this speaker, would you be excited to hear what he has to say, or would you dread the next thirty minutes? Chances are, the body language that this man exhibited before giving his speech have thrown you off.

And that brings us to an important point: when you’re a public speaker, body language is a game-changer. Effective gestures, strong posture, and meaningful eye contact can all make or break your speech. That’s why, in this article, we’re going to explore how to use body language that complements your speech . Let’s get started.

Importance of Body Language in Public Speaking

If you’ve ever watched a speaker who seemed to captivate the entire room, chances are their body language played a big role in engaging the audience. That’s because the way we carry ourselves on stage can have a powerful impact on how our message is received.

How Body Language Impacts Your Speech

When you give a speech, your body language can either reinforce or undermine what you’re saying. Imagine a speaker who’s talking about confidence but has their arms crossed and shoulders hunched. Not only does it send mixed signals to the audience but it can also make the speaker seem insincere.

On the flip side, a speaker who uses open gestures, maintains good eye contact, and has a relaxed posture will come across as more credible and trustworthy. Their body language aligns with their words, making the message more impactful.

The Role of Non-Verbal Cues in Communication

Non-verbal cues like facial expressions, gestures, and posture play a crucial role in how we communicate . They can convey emotions, emphasize key points, and create a sense of connection with the audience.

For example, a genuine smile can help build rapport, while animated gestures can make your stories more engaging. These non-verbal cues add depth and meaning to your words, making your presentation more memorable.

Why Mastering Body Language is Essential for Speakers

As a public speaker, your goal is to engage, inspire, and persuade your audience. Once you’ve mastered body language, you can deliver a speech that does just that. When you use effective non-verbal communication, you can:

• Capture and maintain your audience’s attention
• Build trust and credibility with your listeners
• Convey confidence and authority on your topic
• Create a stronger emotional connection with your audience
• Make your message more memorable and impactful

In short, body language is a powerful tool in a speaker’s arsenal. By understanding and leveraging non-verbal cues, you can take your presentations to the next level and become a more influential communicator.

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Mastering Eye Contact

When it comes to engaging an audience, eye contact is one of the most powerful tools a speaker has. It helps create a sense of connection, builds trust, and makes your presentation feel more conversational. But for many speakers, maintaining eye contact can feel intimidating or unnatural. If this is your experience, then the good news is that you can develop this skill with practice.

How to Engage Your Audience Through Eye Contact

One effective technique is to make brief but meaningful eye contact with individuals throughout the room. Don’t just sweep your gaze across the audience—actually pause and connect with a person for a few seconds before moving on. At the same time, avoid for staring at any one person for too long in order to keep your eye contact natural.

How to Avoid Awkward or Excessive Eye Contact

Of course, there’s a fine line between engaging eye contact and awkward staring. To avoid making your audience uncomfortable, aim for brief moments of connection rather than prolonged, intense eye contact.

A good rule of thumb is to hold someone’s gaze for about 3-4 seconds before moving on to another person. And if you feel nervous about making direct eye contact, try looking at the person’s forehead or nose instead. From the audience, you’ll still appear as though you’re looking at them.

Remember, the goal is to create a sense of connection and engagement with your audience. By using eye contact strategically and naturally, you can build rapport, trust, and impact as a speaker.

Perfecting Your Posture and Stance

Have you ever noticed how a speaker’s posture can affect your perception of them? A speaker who stands tall with their shoulders back and head held high exudes confidence and authority, while someone who slouches or shifts their weight from foot to foot may come across as nervous or unsure. This is just one more example of how your body language affects the way your audience perceives your speech. While good posture can boost your credibility, poor stance may undermine it, interfering with how your audience receives your message.

The Confident Speaker’s Stance

So, what does a confident speaker’s stance look like? Aim to stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, distributing your weight evenly. Keep your shoulders back and your head up.

This open posture not only makes you appear more self-assured, but it also allows you to breathe more easily and project your voice effectively. You’ll feel more grounded and in control, which can help calm any nerves.

How to Convey Authority and Confidence Through Posture

In addition to standing tall, there are other ways you can use your posture to convey authority and confidence. For example, taking up space by keeping your arms uncrossed and using expansive gestures can make you appear more powerful.

Maintaining an open posture while facing the audience also communicates that you’re approachable and engaged. Avoid turning away or closing off your body, as this can make you seem disinterested or defensive.

Common Posture Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to posture, there are a few common posture pitfalls that speakers should watch out for. One is shifting your weight from side to side or swaying, which can make you look nervous or unsteady.

Another is slouching or rounding your shoulders, which can make you appear less confident and diminish your presence on stage. Crossing your arms or clasping your hands in front of you can also be seen as a defensive or closed-off position.

Noticing how you stand and pose can make a significant difference in your delivery. By making small tweaks in your posture, you can project the confidence, assertiveness, and connectivity avid speakers use to seize the stage.

Using Gestures Effectively

Gestures are a powerful way to add visual interest to your presentation and emphasize key points. They can help bring your words to life, making your message more engaging and memorable for your audience. However, not all gestures are created equal. To use hand gestures effectively, it’s important to understand some basic do’s and don’ts.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Hand Gestures

Firstly, aim for natural, purposeful movements that reinforce your words. Your gestures should feel authentic and flow with your speech. Avoid overused or clichéd gestures like air quotes or excessive pointing.

It’s also important to keep your gestures within the “gesture zone”—the area from your waist to your shoulders where your movements will be most visible and impactful. Avoid letting your hands drop below your waist or fly above your head, as this can be distracting.

How to Emphasize Key Points with Gestures

Gestures can be a great way to highlight important information or add emphasis to your words. For example, you might use a chopping motion to punctuate a key statistic or a sweeping gesture to indicate a broad concept.

The key is to synchronize your gestures with your speech. If your body language and words do not line up, your audience will probably end up confused or skeptical by the end of your speech. To avoid this, align your gestures and words so that they reinforce each other. Mastering this skill takes practice, but when done well, it can make your points more impactful and help your audience remember your message.

Incorporating Natural and Purposeful Gestures

So how can you incorporate gestures naturally into your speaking style? One tip is to practice speaking with your hands and notice what feels natural to you. What gestures do you use in everyday conversation? How can you adapt those to your presentation?

You can also try watching other speakers you admire and observing how they use gestures effectively. Take note of what works well and experiment with incorporating similar techniques into your own style.

The goal is to find a balance. You want to use gestures purposefully to enhance your message without overdoing it or seeming forced. With practice and self-awareness, you can make hand gestures a natural, powerful part of your speaking toolkit.

Facial Expressions and Their Impact

Because the audience will be watching your face throughout your speech, it a vital aspect of your overall body language. So once you’ve written your speech, think about how you can best convey your message through your facial expressions.

How to Use Facial Expressions to Convey Emotion

The key to using facial expressions effectively is to let them flow naturally from the emotions you’re discussing. If you’re sharing an exciting story, let your eyes light up and a genuine smile spread across your face. On the other hand, if you’re discussing a more serious topic, it’s okay to let your expression be a bit more somber.

The goal is to match your facial expressions to the tone and content of your message. This helps create a sense of authenticity and allows your audience to connect with you on a deeper level. Just be careful not to force it—your facial expressions should always feel genuine and not like you’re putting on a show.

Matching Your Facial Expressions to Your Message

Practicing your speeches in front of a mirror is a great way to ensure your facial expressions match your message. It allows you to see exactly what your face is doing and make adjustments as needed. You can also record yourself and watch the video back to catch any expressions that don’t quite match up with what you’re saying.

As you practice, watch for any unconscious facial expressions you might be making. For example, if you’re discussing a challenging situation, you don’t want to be unintentionally smirking or looking bored. These small facial cues can undermine your message and make you seem insincere.

Avoiding Distracting or Insincere Expressions

When giving your speech, you also want to avoid any exaggerated or distracting body language. Over-the-top smiling or constant eyebrow raising can make you seem insincere or like you’re trying too hard. The goal is to find a natural balance and let your expressions enhance your words, not distract from them.

If you find yourself getting tense or making unintentional faces, try taking a few deep breaths before you go on stage. Relaxing your face and jaw can help you avoid those distracting expressions and project a sense of calm confidence. With practice, you’ll be able to master the art of authentic, impactful facial expressions that truly connect with your audience.

Overcoming Nervous Habits

Even the most seasoned speakers can fall victim to nervous habits on stage. Whether it’s fidgeting with your hands, pacing back and forth, or playing with your hair, these little tics can be incredibly distracting for your audience. The good news is, with a bit of self-awareness and practice, you can learn to overcome even the most stubborn habits.

Identifying and Eliminating Nervous Tics

The first step to overcoming nervous habits is to identify what yours are. One way to do this is to ask a trusted friend or colleague to watch you speak and take notes on any repetitive movements or tics they notice. You can also try recording yourself and watching it back with a critical eye.

Once you know what your nervous habits are, you can start working on eliminating them. This might mean practicing keeping your hands still at your sides or consciously stopping yourself from pacing. It can feel awkward at first, but with time and repetition, you can train yourself to stand still and project a sense of calm on stage.

Strategies for Calming Nerves Before a Speech

Of course, the best way to avoid nervous habits is to tackle the nerves themselves. One strategy is to arrive at the venue early and spend some time getting comfortable in the space. You could walk around the stage, test out the microphone, and visualize yourself giving a successful speech.

Deep breathing exercises can also be incredibly helpful for calming nerves. Before you go on stage, take a few minutes to close your eyes and focus on your breath. Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four, hold it for four, then exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of four. Breathing exercises like this one can help you center yourself and let go of any nervous energy.

How to Appear Confident Despite Nervousness

Even if you’re feeling nervous on the inside, you can still project confidence through your body language. Stand tall with your shoulders back and your feet planted firmly on the ground. Make eye contact with your audience and use purposeful gestures to emphasize your points.

It’s also important to remember that a little bit of nervousness is totally normal. Most people in your audience will be sympathetic—they know how nerve-wracking public speaking can be. If you do stumble over a word or lose your place, just take a breath and keep going. The more you practice pushing through those nervous moments, the more confident you’ll become over time.

Practicing and Improving Your Body Language

Like any skill, improving your body language takes practice. The more you get up on stage and pay attention to your movements and expressions, the more natural it will start to feel. In addition to practicing, you should also be intentional about seeking out feedback and guidance if you want to improve.

Techniques for Analyzing and Refining Your Body Language

One of the best ways to analyze and refine your body language is to watch yourself on video. Set up a camera to record your next speech or presentation, then watch it back with a critical eye. Take notes on your posture, gestures, facial expressions, and any nervous habits you notice.

You can also try practicing in front of a mirror. This allows you to see your body language in real-time and make adjustments on the spot. Pay attention to how you’re standing, what your hands are doing, and whether your facial expressions match your words. With practice, you’ll start to develop a muscle memory for confident, expressive body language.

Incorporating Feedback and Constructive Criticism

Another key to improving your body language is to seek out feedback from others. Ask a trusted colleague or mentor to watch you speak and provide constructive criticism. Be open to their suggestions and incorporate their feedback into your practice sessions.

You might also consider working with a public speaking coach or taking a workshop on body language and stage presence. These professionals can provide expert guidance and help you identify areas for improvement that you might not have noticed on your own.

The Importance of Consistent Practice and Self-Awareness

Ultimately, the key to mastering confident, expressive body language is consistent practice and self-awareness. Make a habit of regularly recording yourself, watching your movements, and seeking out feedback. Pay attention to how you feel on stage and what your body is doing in response to those feelings.

Remember, improving your body language is an ongoing process. There’s always room for growth and refinement. But with dedication and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone, you can develop a stage presence that truly connects with your audience and enhances your message. So keep practicing, stay open to feedback, and most importantly, have fun up there.

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FAQs on Using Body Language During Speeches

How should your body language be during a speech.

Your stance should be open and confident, with shoulders back. Maintain eye contact to keep the audience engaged. Use gestures for emphasis but don’t overdo it.

What are the 7 elements of body language?

The seven elements include posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, movement and space usage, touch, and voice modulation.

What is the best body language when talking?

An upright posture signals confidence. Combine this with steady eye contact and natural gestures to strengthen your message.

What are the four types of body language?

The four main types are visual (gestures), auditory (tone), verbal (speed of speaking), and physical distance (personal space).

As you can see, body language is crucial for powerful speeches. From maintaining eye contact to using effective hand gestures, each element plays a role in engaging your audience. In order to improve your own presentation skills, it’s important to train yourself in appropriate body language. With a little self-awareness and practice, you can master these techniques and speak confidently every time you hit the stage. So what are you waiting for? Your journey to better body language starts now!

• Last Updated: July 14, 2024

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10 Body Language Tips For Public Speaking

When giving a public speech, it is especially important to be aware of your body language, as it can convey confidence, enthusiasm, and credibility to your audience. In this article, we will explore some body language tips that can help you effectively communicate your message when speaking in public. 

Whether you’re an experienced public speaker or just starting, these tips will help you convey confidence , engagement , and authenticity to your audience. Here are some key body language tips for public speakers.

1. Stand Up Straight

2. keep your body open, 3. use gestures, 4. make eye contact, 5. use facial expressions, 6. vary your tone and pace, 7. use your hands, 8.  use props effectively, 9. vary your body language, 10. relax and be yourself.

Good posture is key for public speaking. Stand straight, feet shoulder-width apart, with weight evenly distributed. This helps you look and feel more confident.

Keep your body open during public speaking. Avoid crossing your arms or legs. Instead, maintain a relaxed posture with your arms at your sides or use natural gestures while speaking. 

Gestures emphasize your words and make your message more engaging. Open, expansive gestures show enthusiasm, while subtle ones convey calmness and professionalism.

Making eye contact with your audience is vital for building a connection and conveying your message effectively. Look at different individuals across the room instead of focusing on just one person.

Facial expressions play a crucial role in body language, conveying emotions and reinforcing messages. Use them to show enthusiasm, sadness, or other appropriate feelings.

Changing your tone and pace keeps your audience engaged and emphasizes key points. Use a slower pace to show importance and a faster one to convey enthusiasm.

Using your hands adds emphasis to your words and keeps your audience engaged. Be mindful not to overuse them, as excessive movement can be distracting.

If you’re using props, use them effectively and keep them organized. Avoid fumbling with them or becoming too reliant on them, as this can distract from your message.

Vary your body language to keep your audience engaged and avoid boredom. Use different gestures , facial expressions, and movements during your presentation to maintain interest.

Finally, try to relax and be yourself when speaking in public. If you’re comfortable and confident, it will come across in your body language and delivery.

Related Posts:

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative
• Introduction
• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery
• How to make cue cards
• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
• Pronunciation
• Speaking rate
• How to use pauses
• Eye contact
• Body language
• Voice image
• Voice health
• Public speaking activities and games
• Blogging Aloud
• About me/contact

Speech Topics - 100s of them!

By:  Susan Dugdale   | Last modified: 01-10-2023

Speech ideas ordered by speech type & theme 

So you're preparing to give a speech.

The next step, unless you've been told or you've already decided for yourself, is choosing a topic.

What will you talk about?  There are literally so many possibilities.

To make choosing a subject easier, here's a collection of speech topic suggestions arranged either by speech type,  age group or theme. 

• Demonstration speech topics  (5 pages: 738 + topics)
• Speech topics for kids  (2 pages: 150 + topics)
• Persuasive topics  (6 pages: 998+ topics)

125 examples of narrative speech topics

• 60 vocal variety and body language topics

145 good cause and effect topics for students

• Fun public speaking topics  (2 pages:165 topics)
• 180+ interesting topics for students  (1 page: 180 + topics)
• Good informative speech topics  (1 page: 100s of topics)
• Commemorative speech topic ideas  (1 page: themes)
• Argumentative/controversial speech topics  (1 page: 290 topics)
• Easter themed speech topics  (1 page: 32 topics)
• Impromptu speech topics  (4 pages: 570 topics)
• Printable impromptu speech topics  (98 proverbs or quotations ready-to-go)

Teacher or student, these lists are for you.

I hope they're useful! Happy speaking, Susan

Demonstration speech ideas

These are the 'show and tell' or 'how to' speeches where you demonstrate a skill, make something, or explain how something works. Think of these speeches as stepping through a process from beginning to end, showing and explaining every step of the way.

The goal of them is often to inspire those listening to try whatever is being shown for themselves.

I have five pages of topics specifically selected because they are good for demonstration speeches. You'll see the lists are adaptable to meet the needs of people of middle school age and upwards.

• 290 themed 'how to' demonstration speech ideas   
• 6 themed demonstration topic lists using the magic of 'how'
• 50 soft skill 'how to' demonstrative speech topics
• 100+ 10-minute, or less, demonstration speech topics
• 188 funny how-to speech topics

Return to Top

Speech topics for kids

I've got two pages of speech topics especially chosen with children in mind. They're mainly for kids in the middle school age bracket (11 - 14 years old) but are readily adaptable for those either younger or older.

Both pages are really useful if you're a teacher or parent looking for inspiration! I've carefully put together lists covering social/community issues, arts and culture, sports and games, food, fun and whimsy, hobbies, and more. 

-  8 themed lists of speech topics for children

- 50+ elocution topics for kids

Persuasive speech topics

Convince me!

Change my mind!

Challenge my thinking!

Convert me!

And, if appropriate, make me laugh!

Whatever topic you choose you will be expected to take a position on it and persuade your audience to consider what you're saying about it seriously.

For example:

'To be vegan is the only right, and moral way to live.'

'Good or right thinking is a matter of opinion.' 

My six persuasive speech topic pages are below.

• 50 good persuasive speech topics
• 5 0+ persuasive speech topic ideas
• 105 fun persuasive speech topics
• 309 easy persuasive speech topics
• 310 persuasive speech topics for college
• 108 feminist persuasive speech topics

125 strong ideas for effective story telling speeches, preparation guidelines, plus a printable narrative speech outline.

If you're looking for suggestions for the Toastmasters Level Three Project 'Connect with storytelling' these will get you off to a great start.

Go to: 125 examples of narrative speech topics

60 vocal variety & body language topics

60 speech topic ideas to help you work with body language and gesture. They're perfect for evocative personal storytelling speeches or for either of these Toastmasters Pathway projects:

• Level 2: Learning Your Style: Effective Body Language or,
• Level 1:  Mastering Fundamentals: Vocal Variety and Body Language

Go to 6 0 vocal variety and body language speech topics

Cause and effect topics for speeches and essays to challenge, connect and make a difference. With explanations, examples and a free printable blank fish bone diagram, (an extremely useful visual cause and effect analytical tool), to download for your own use.

Go to 145 good cause and effect topics

Fun public speaking topics

They're silly; deliberately daft and ridiculous!

These speech topics focus on light-hearted nonsense, tilting the world side-ways, giving your audience a glimpse of it funny side-up.

Gems include:

• 'How to procrastinate like a professional',
• 'How to look innocent',
• 'Why lying can be useful', ...

Go on. Make them snort with laughter. Visit:

• 60 fun public speaking topics for kids of all ages 
• 1 88 funny how-to speech topics

180 + interesting speech topic ideas

Here's a page of topic suggestions encouraging people to push beyond ordinary.

There's a bundle of 50 ideas around the growing influence of social media, a collection of 45 thought provoking suggestions centered on your very own community and family history, 61 'weird' topics, and more. 

You only need ONE truly bright and original idea, right?

Have a look here for it.

There are  180  interesting speech topic ideas   to browse through. 

Good informative speech topics

An informative speech does what its title says: it informs. It gives the facts about the topic. Not people's feelings about the subject - just the facts.

Informational speech topic possibilities are quite truly endless.  Use my page as a beginning to set your own creative juices in motion.

Visit:  100s of good informational speech topics

Commemorative speech topic ideas

A commemorative or tribute speech honors the memory of  a person, a group, an institution, a thing, an event or an idea.

Use this  commemorative speech topic helper  page (and its resource links) to identify the right topic and theme to match the event you've been asked to speak at.

239 controversial or argumentative speech topics

These topics are deliberately provocative. They cover four broad areas affecting us all: the food we eat, our children (from infancy through to teenage years), and the communities/countries we live in.

In addition to the 239 topics there are comprehensive guidelines about choosing the best topic: one fitting yourself and your audience. 

Find yourself a controversial speech topic .

Note: these topics are best suited for high school and college students.

32 Easter themed speech topics

Easter - what is its history? What are the special days, like Palm Sunday, all about? What do bunnies and chocolate eggs have to do with it? Why does the White House have a tradition of egg-rolling as part of its Easter celebrations?

Use this page of 32  Easter speech topic possibilities  to find an idea for an inspirational  demonstration or an interesting informative speech.

Impromptu speech topics

Help! I have a class and need lots of impromptu speech topics for them to practice with.

You've got them here. I have four pages of topics for impromptu speeches.

You'll find them suitable for middle school and upwards. They're great for public speaking clubs too.

• 200 impromptu speech topics
• 150 1 minute speech topics - with sample speech outlines, speeches: full text & audio
• 11 themed sets of fun topics for impromptu speeches
• 80+ themed table topic questions, with printables   

And last, but not least there's ...

98 printable impromptu speech topic cards, an almost* instantly available resource for busy public speaking teachers.

If you're time-poor and need a grab-and-go solution to your "HELP! I want speech topics for my public speaking class, and I need them now" problem, check these out.

Printable Impromptu Speech Topic Cards

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by David JP Phillips • November 16, 2021

Public speaking is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences that many of us face in our daily lives (although it’s dropped off the list of Americans’ biggest fears in recent years, replaced by more immediate threats like … sharks ?).

Part of our fear is about what we’re going to say, but the other part is about how we’re going to say it, according to communications expert David JP Phillips (TEDxZagreb Talk: The 110 techniques of communication and public speaking ). Phillips has spent years analyzing 5,000 public speakers to identify what moves work — and which ones don’t — when talking to an audience.

When we think of body language, many of us immediately think about hand and arm gestures. But body language is so much more than that — and it’s also something that we should all get comfortable with. By making small, easy tweaks to how we stand, move or even smile, we can help hold an audience’s attention. While Phillips has an entire 110-step system to public speaking, there’s no way or need to master them before your next presentation. Here, he shares 7 body-language tips that anyone can use.

Lean towards your audience

“Taking a step back indicates that you are threatened and makes your audience feel less relaxed,” says Phillips, who is based in Sweden. “Whenever we are threatened, we tend to close our body language, tense our muscles, and take a step back.” Crossing your arms is another move to avoid — it’s something else that people do when they’re nervous or scared and it puts those watching us on the defensive. So keep your arms open, and lean towards your audience. Make sure your head is inclined too; tilting your head backwards signals to your listeners that you feel superior to them.

Match your gestures to your words

Phillips’ rule of thumb when it comes to hand gestures: Make them functional (they should always have a purpose) and make sure they match your message. “The core of all communication is to make your message as clear as possible,” Phillips notes. If you’re talking about sales figures going up, that’s a good time to use a gentle, rising motion. If you’re setting two rhetorical options out for your audience to consider, place your hands on either side as if you’re weighing items in your palms. Humans are visual creatures, and movement will arouse an audience’s attention. But do not abuse this tendency. “If a person is using non-functional gestures, they can become annoying very quickly,” explains Phillips. “Functional gestures, however, are rarely used too much.”

Give your hands a rest

Most of us struggle mightily with what to do with our hands while talking. Put them in our pockets? (No, says Phillips: Too closed off.) Clasp them behind our back? (Nope: Domineering and overly formal.) Phillips has a whole lexicon of poses not to do with one’s hands, such as the “the prayer” (hands clasped in front) and “the beggar” (hands in front, palms up). And then there’s “the peacock”: hands on hips with elbows flapping loosely at your sides. “You often see this one being used by people who are nervous and who desire to quickly become ‘bigger’ in front of their opponent,” he explains. Phillips’s recommendation: “Leave your hands by your sides when you’re not using them.”

Tilt your head

Some of the ways that humans communicate nonverbally are pretty hardwired in us, says Phillips. One of these nonverbal signals is something you probably do all the time without realizing: When you’re trying to show empathy, you tilt your head to one side. “Good listeners are head tilters,” Phillips says. The same empathy signals work — even when you’re the one doing the talking.

Smile like you mean it

One of the most important things that a public speaker can do is deliver a Duchenne smile — the kind of genuine grin that fills your face and reaches your eyes. People respond more warmly to a Duchenne smile. “It will help make the audience more at ease and relaxed. And if they are at ease and relaxed, you’ll become more that way too and you’ve created a positive spiral, making you deliver your talk better. Also, adds Phillips, “as our emotions work from the inside out and the outside in, it means that you can affect your own emotional state in a positive way by smiling on stage.” No need to fake it — just bring to mind a person, place or animal that you know automatically brings a Duchenne smile to your face.

When you slip up, don’t panic

We’ve all had that moment: We practiced our speech until we could recite it in our sleep, but suddenly we can’t remember what comes next. The best way to recover, according to Phillips, is to act like you’re not panicking. “Avoid reacting on your fear,” he says. “Your body will want to tense up, reverse, hide in a corner, but all that just makes you feel less confident.” Instead, he suggests, “lean forward, open up your posture, breathe deep and slow, talk slowly, pause, and smile a Duchenne smile. All of those in combination will make you feel more comfortable.”

Practice — even when you’re not in front of a crowd

One of Phillips’ favorite mottos when it comes to body language is: “It’s a skill, not a talent.” He believes that anyone can become a great public speaker, even the most awkward and nervous of us. He says that a good first step is to simply become more tuned in to your everyday body language. Learn what gestures you tend to use to get your point across. Once you’ve gotten familiar with your existing body language vocabulary, you can start changing it and expanding it. “My most practical tip is to pick one to three skills and practice them every day until they become part of your natural way of communicating.”

This post was originally published on TED Ideas . It’s part of the “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from someone in the TED community; browse through all the posts here .

© 2024 TED Conferences, LLC. All rights reserved. Please note that the TED Talks Usage policy does not apply to this content and is not subject to our creative commons license.

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8 Elements of Confident Body Language

August 10, 2017 - Sophie Thompson

If you want to find the truth, do not listen to the words coming to you. Rather see the body language of the speaker. It speaks the facts not audible. – Bhavesh Chhatbar

When you speak, you don’t just speak with what you actually say, you also speak with your body language. From your facial expressions, to your posture and eye contact, they all add up to the ‘truth’ behind what you are saying. If you’re feeling nervous, your body could be giving a different message to your audience than the one you’re saying.

Body language is an essential part of  public speaking success . Your non-verbal cues will impact on the way your message is received, how engaged your audience is, and what they think of you as an individual. Even if you’ve prepared the best speech in the world, if you aren’t animated, open or active then your audience won’t know what you’ve said.

Working on your body language can make a big difference to how you come across to your audience, and how you feel about public speaking in general. We’ve put together 8 of the most important elements of your body language that will shape how successful your speech is, explaining why they’re important and how you can use them to your advantage.

• Body Language: Online Course with Examples and Practice

1. Power pose

Why?  In 2011, US social psychologists Amy Cuddy, Dana Carney and Andy Yap proposed that holding a ‘ power pose ‘ resulted in people actually feeling more powerful.

Their theory suggests that an open pose can raise testosterone levels and lower your cortisol levels – ie. increase your dominance and lower your stress. If you have confident body language and pretend you feel powerful, you’re more likely to actually feel it! And, who doesn’t want to feel powerful on stage?

• Stand straight with your shoulders back and feet shoulder width apart.
• Imagine your shoulders opening up from one another so that they rest centrally.
• Place your hands either side of your body so that you can easily make hand gestures when you need to.
• Face the audience as much as possible. If you’re in a large room, tilt your whole body towards different parts of the audience so everyone feels included.

Amy Cuddy demonstrates a power pose — spreading your arms wide to appear more powerful. Image from  TED .

Note: Issues with replicating this theory

There has been some debate recently as to whether power posing is actually effective. Read more here:  Power posing replication failure

2. Eye contact

Why?  Making eye contact with your audience builds a connection between you and them and they feel more valued by you. This makes the audience more likely to respect and listen to you because they feel important. It also makes the  audience trust  you more because people tend to avoid eye contact when they’re lying.

Confident body language can also be used as a feedback loop. Making eye contact is the easiest to way to receive feedback from the audience about your speech.

You can see if your audience are listening and read their facial expressions to see if they are interested, bored, angry, happy, and so on. You can then alter your speech accordingly based on the feedback you see. Without making eye contact, you could go through your whole speech irritating the audience!

• When talking to a large number of people, maintain eye contact with one audience member for 4 or more seconds before moving to another member of the audience for 4 seconds, and so on.
• Make eye contact in a ‘Z’ formation – look at one person at the back left corner of the room, then the back right, then to the front left, and finally to someone at the front right. Be careful not to just repeat the Z formation with the same audience members each time you do it – you want to connect with as many members of the audience as possible.
• In one-on-one settings, maintain eye contact for 9-10 seconds and then break away to save yourself from coming across as intense or like you’re starting. (The same applies when answering a question from an audience of any size.)

Practice your eye contact in the virtual world with  VirtualSpeech . A heatmap shows you where you were looking.

3. Hand gestures

Why?  When used correctly, hand and arm gestures can help enhance your message and make you seem more confident and relaxed.  Gestures amplify your stories  and will help you come across as more genuine and believable. They’re an essential element of our non-verbal communication in showing others how we feel, and in turn how we make them feel.

Hand gestures are one of the most clear non-verbal ways we communicate confident body language or nervous body language – and your audience will react more positively to the former.

• Think of your hand gestures as a storytelling tool; put verbs into action by acting them out with your hands.
• Don’t overdo it – gesture sparingly, and focus on action words. Make your gestures strong and defined.
• Begin in a neutral position with your hands either side of your body so that your hand gestures flow smoothly.
• Use symbolic gestures to communicate numbers and position, eg. 2 fingers for the number 2 and a raised hand for stop.
• Use descriptive gestures to communicate movement, eg. shapes, size, length, etc.
• Use emotional gestures to communicate feelings, eg. hands clasped together to show pleading, hands raise either side of your head to show despair.
• When  using visual aids , point and turn slightly to look at the relevant data, and the audience will automatically follow your hands and eyes.
• Vary your gestures with different parts of your body. You don’t have to just use your arms- you could use your legs, facial expressions and full body movement as gestures too.

Learn how to use body language to improve your professional relationships. Practice what you learn in virtual reality exercises. Learn more about the  body language course .

4. Movement

Why?  Moving around the stage is a great way of showing your audience you are confident in what you’re saying and including everyone in the conversation.  Commanding the space  around you shows strong leadership and, after all, when you’re presenting you are the leader.

When you have confident body language, you’ll be more dynamic and interesting to listen to and your audience will not only be more engaged but they will have more trust in your message too.

• Don’t pace around the stage every 30 seconds – this is distracting to your audience. Wait at least 3 minutes before moving to another area of the stage.
• Time your movement on stage with a change in topic – this is a way of physically marking the transition.
• Move towards the audience when asking questions or making an important point.
• When you’re walking to another side of the stage, try to avoid turning your back to any areas of the audience as this disconnects them and can come across as rude.
• Avoid swaying or rocking on the spot – either walk to another area of the stage or don’t move your entire body at all.

Watch 3 examples of positive and negative body language while giving a speech

5. expressions.

Why?  People depend on facial expressions to interpret motives and emotions so an audience will respond better to you if you are expressive. This is a bit like acting – you want to emphasize your expressions so that everyone in the audience can interpret meaning from them.

You could  film yourself speaking  and identify artificial or unfriendly facial expressions you make when telling a story and replace them with more genuine, believable expressions. Try to practice speaking with your face to show happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise. Your face should reflect the emotions within your stories.

• When trying to show shock or confusion, raise your eyebrows.
• If you’re conveying anger or concern, frown.
• When you’re happy in your story, simply smile.
• For sad moments, frown a little and slightly tilt the sides of your lips downwards.

6. Mannerisms

Why?  Mannerisms are the nervous habits most people have that detract from your message and can make the audience feel uncomfortable. They are key to confident body language.  Common habits  you have that you might not be aware of are fiddling with your hair or suit, putting your hands in your pockets, and excessively using filler words such as ‘um,’ ‘so’ and ‘like’.

• To break these habits, film yourself speaking and become aware of them.
• You could ask a trusted friend to tell you if you have any.
• Once you’ve acknowledged your nervous habits, work in your everyday conversation to break them. If you can break them on a small scale, you’ll likely find they disappear in front of larger audiences too.

7. Breathing

Why?  Even though your audience can’t see your breath, it is a significant factor in portraying confident body language. Maintaining a slow, steady breath can reduce your stress levels and make you less likely to revert to nervous habits, bad posture and excessive movement.  Relaxed and deep breaths  also ensure that you’re speaking at the right pace and your voice can project across the room, which in itself will make you feel and sound more confident.

• Before you present or speak in public, do some breathing exercises to warm up your voice and fill your lungs. Slowly inhale for 3 seconds, and exhale for 4 seconds. Repeat this as often as you need to, in order to feel calm.
• Always make sure you’re standing up straight so that your lungs can expand fully.

To maximise your breath, and thus your voice and consequently your influence, you should aim to fill your lungs all the way down.  Image from RADA Effective Communication .

Why?  Your vocal expression is physical and so your body language has an effect on your voice and can enhance or detract from the message of your speech.

Albert Mehrabian wrote extensively on the relative importance of verbal and non-verbal messages and his findings have been quoted for years as the ‘ 7-38-55 Rule ‘.

Importance of verbal and non-verbal communication:

• 7% – words
• 38% – tone
• 55% – body language

When you combine these 3 elements, your audience will be more engaged and connected with you. So don’t forget that your body language should always enhance your voice and emphasize your message.

• Imagine you have a string on the crown of your head that is being gently pulled. This will help elongate your spine, maximise your rib cage and allow more air to inflate your lungs and support your vocal expression.
• Watch videos of good and bad speeches to see how their words are in tune with their body language, or how they are not.
• Practice varying your pitch. You can do this with the VirtualSpeech app that you gain access to when purchasing the Essential Public Speaking course.

Most of our body language and movement is subconscious so it can be difficult to retrain ourselves away from habits we’ve had for years. However, to master the art of public speaking you must also master your body’s language too.

Of course, you don’t want to distract yourself from your speech by consciously thinking how you are standing, where you are looking, and if you’re breathing correctly.

So, as with any other skill,  regular practice  is the secret to success and the quickest route to confident body language. You could practice the techniques above in your day-to-day life so that they become deep-rooted habits and then you won’t have to consciously think about doing them when you’re on stage.

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Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety

Does your voice put your audience to sleep? Does it put you to sleep?

Do you find it hard to convey emotions with your voice?

Are you easy to listen to, or does your voice let you down?

The sixth Toastmasters speech project guides you to harness the power of your own voice. This article of the Toastmasters Speech Series examines the primary goals of this project, provides tips and techniques, and links to numerous sample speeches.

• The Ice Breaker
• Organize Your Speech
• Get to the Point
• How To Say It
• Your Body Speaks
• Vocal Variety
• Research Your Topic
• Get Comfortable with Visual Aids (coming next)
• Persuade with Power
• Inspire Your Audience

Why is This Speech Important?

The aims for this speech project are to use your voice to complement your message by enhancing your:

Your voice is the best tool in your delivery toolbox. You must learn to use it effectively to enhance your presentation.

Tips and Techniques

1. plan around the 4 p’s: pace, pitch, power, and pauses.

Be conscious of all four major vocal variables, and work all of them into your speech.

• Pace — One of the easiest ways to incorporate variable pace is to slow down through key statements .
• Pitch — A convenient way to hit different pitch points is to play with different emotional content . A sad voice takes on a different pitch than a content voice, which is distinct from an excited voice, and so on. Stories are good speech building blocks for many reasons, including how they bring a speaker’s voice alive through different emotions.
• Power (Volume) — Don’t overdo it with changes in volume. Again, align your variations in volume with emotional content. Anger or joy tends to bring out a loud voice . Fear or sadness calls for a quiet voice .
• Pauses — There are a multitude of ways to incorporate pauses in a meaningful way (watch for a future Six Minutes article dedicated to pauses). For this speech, keep it straightforward. Make sure you’ve got short pauses following every sentence, and longer pauses at the ends of paragraphs or transitions within your speech .

2. Be Deliberate (Keep Score if You Have To)

“ Your voice is the best tool in your delivery toolbox. You must learn to use it effectively to enhance your presentation. ”

Don’t just write a speech and try to incorporate vocal variety on the fly as you deliver it. You won’t get any value from this speech project if you take that approach.

As you write, edit, and rehearse your speech, select words or phrases where you will consciously vary your voice in each of the four P ways. As you grow as a speaker, you’ll hit all four of these unconsciously, but when you are learning, it’s okay to be a little more deliberate.

Consider annotating your speech with colored pen to highlight vocal variation opportunities.

You might even consider making a “scorecard” in the margin of your page, and giving yourself one point for each vocal manoeuver. Shoot for a score of at least 3 for each P.

3. Align Your Voice with Expressive Gestures

One of the best ways to bring out your most expressive voice is to use expressive gestures, particularly facial gestures!

If participate in teleconference calls or webinars, you may have learned this trick. Even though nobody can see you, it really helps to stand up in your office and give body, hand, and facial gestures as you talk on the phone. Your voice will naturally come alive, as if synchronized with your gestures.

The same trick applies to face-to-face presentations as well. If you are expressive with your face and other gestures, your voice tends to naturally align.

4. Ditch the Notes, Keep Your Head Up, and Project Your Voice

Maybe you have used notes for the five previous Competent Communicator projects, but now is a great time to break free of your notes.

• When you glance down to read notes , your neck and throat bend and can get contorted. Your voice tends to be low, or poor quality, and low volume.
• Without notes , you’ll be able to keep your head up high and your eyes on your audience. With your head high, your neck and throat will be stretched out, and the quality of your voice will be much more resonant.

5. Exaggerate Words

“ If you are expressive with your face and other gestures, your voice tends to naturally align. ”

If your speech allows, find some words where you can play with the pronunciation to add some vocal spice to your delivery. For example:

• Instead of saying “The car was a long way from the beach,” you could say “The car was a looooooong way from the beach”.
• Instead of saying “The hamburger was delicious,” try “The hamburger was deeee -licious.”

6. Don’t Speak About Vocal Variety

When choosing your topic for this speech, avoid the temptation to speak about vocal variety, like this guy (who admits he “cheated”). If you do, you are missing the point of this speech project.

Your objective for this speech project is not to educate your audience about vocal variety. Your objective is to incorporate vocal variety to enhance your delivery.

You have infinite speech topics at your disposal… explore!

What I Did for Speech 6

I chose to deliver a biographical speech about Theodor Seuss Geisel, the children’s book author better known as Dr. Seuss.

This topic was fantastic as it begged for me to use my voice in a wonderful variety of ways:

• My “normal” speaking voice was used for “bones” of the speech — the biographical details which formed the framework. Even in this section of the speech, I used vocal variety to emphasize key words, phrases, and points.
• Happy, sing-songy passages from Fox in Sox and The Cat in the Hat
• A stalwart, committed passage from Horton Hatches the Egg
• An angry passage from The Lorax (this was one of my all-time favorite moments in Toastmasters as I used one of the audience members as a “prop” to be the source of my anger)
• An optimistic passage from Oh, the Places You’ll Go

Reading Dr. Seuss books and other stories with my daughter is one of my favorite activities. Therefore, this topic revealed an inherent passion, and I knew this would come through in the quality of my voice.

Toastmasters Speech 6 Examples

Here are a few sample video speeches which may provide inspiration for you. As you watch some of these videos, ask yourself which speakers are using vocal variety to enhance their speeches, and which are missing opportunities. Then, try to emulate the best behaviors in your own speech.

• Pauses are used effectively, particularly before/after transition statements. This (along with clear language) helps convey the structure of the speech.
• Increase volume and pace when impersonating another person @ 2:00
• Varying voice to mimic personality traits on “the person who needs love more than information” @ 2:35
• Emphasis on the word “perturbed” (to make it sound perturbed!) @ 2:55 , and the great emphasis on  “I wish you’d show me more respect” (in a way that is demanding respect)
• “I was in this one loooooooooong class about muscles” @ 4:05
• Effective use of pauses throughout, particularly in the opening minute of the speech, to enhance the understandability. For example (starting @ 1:00 ), notice the pause after phrase  “herding, hauling, and hunting”; brief pauses after after “loyalty” and “security”; and then the longer pause after “companionship”.
• Effective exaggeration used in the phrase “DESperate meOW” @ 2:08
• Notice the variation in pitch @ 2:25 and 2:40, and also how this is accompanied by gestures
• Effective vocal variety throughout.
• The speaker’s variation in pace and pauses conveys much of the humor.
• Is Your Dream a Loud Gong or a Faint Whistle by Daniel
• Unknown Title by Anonymous
• Last Child in the Woods by Paul Miller
• That’s Just Rude by Dianne
• Friend or Foe: It’s All In Your Perspective by Robin
• Sioux Hockey Fan by John Sanders
• My Turn Around by Jerome Moore
• Who Wrote That Book? by Stephanie Bryant
• Beyond the Nineteenth Hole by Glenn Woodson
• It’s Your Money by Anonymous
• Unknown by Dick
• The Upside of Failure by John Armstrong

Next in the Toastmasters Speech Series

The next article in this series examines Toastmasters Speech 7: Research Your Topic .

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29 comments.

Happy to see an article on public speaking that also includes basic use of voice..vocal variety being only one aspect of that. Any thoughts on why singers make good speakers…or do they, in your opinion??

I’m not sure I have a firm opinion on whether singers are good speakers or not. There are certainly some common aspects/skills, such as overcoming performance anxiety or making an emotional connection with the audience. Similarly, a songwriter and a speechwriter share traits.

A full article on the similarities between songwriters and speechwriters: 8 Speechwriting Lessons You Can Learn from Songwriters

Link to my Project 6 speech http://toastmasterspeeches.blogspot.com/2009/05/project-6-speech-michaels-story.html

Hi See my 5 speeches in my blog : http://jainy-speaks.blogspot.com/

Also you can follow CrystalTalk Toastmasters Club of Motorola Bangalore on youTube at – http://www.youtube.com/user/CrystalTalkTM

Hi, I always follow your blog before going to my next speech and infact I am just one speech behind your progress.. e.g. I am on 6th speech and you have written about 6th speech.. thanks a lot -Abhi

I cheated at Level 6. I sang! He Who Must Be Obeyed! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiXlma2er-w

Sound level low.

The way I see the vocal variety speech is as a ear / audio focused speech, i.e. how it will sound. It must make sense to a blind person, whereas your show-what-you mean topic had to make sense to a deaf person.

This is a very useful article., and I linked to it from this page: http://www.toastmasters-public-speaking.com/vocal-variety-speech.html

I am about to do my #6 speech and i really have writers block . Thank for sharing you really opened up my imagination and have me ticking again.

Hi Andrew I was desperately looking for some information on Vocal Variety as I have to do a 15 minute presentation (educatinal session) on the same for young boys and girls at the Church. (YLP) Found your article and was over the moon. Fantastic informtion. Used nearly all of it. I will be visiting more often. Thanks again. Cheryl

This Toastmaster’s speech series is excellent and inspiring. I just wish it didn’t end here!

The other articles are coming…

I was googling “vocal variety speech ideas” and found your site. I like the examples you give to implement the various aspects of vocal variety such as the 4 Ps–I didn’t find the Toastmaster Competent Communicator good enough in terms of examples. I am giving speech # 6 next Tuesday. Thank you. I’ll be visiting often. I joined Toastmasters last February.

Your points really halped me in facilitating my task; delivering P 6. All descriptions are to the point and comprehensive. We hope to benefit from you in future as well

Andrew, I was just passing by on my path to preparing for my speech 6 when I stumbled on your blog site. I must say that it has been absolutely useful especially as I did not remember to bring my speech manuals along. Keep the good work and God bless you.

Kudos to you for your work well done i look foward to make such powerful speech. Train me.

Hi Andrew, i liked your post, it’s great to see you giving back.

Dean Sampano President, Mass Consultants Canada

Link to my Toastmaster speech 6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGLT8dDWu_g or search Project 6_Toastmasters vocal variety

I had to give a short presentation about voice to some young toastmasters. I thot that your 4 P’s was an excellent way of explaining voice variety so I used that in my speech. Thanks! I’ve been told to keep that speech and use it as an educational advisory at my regular Toastmasters meeting!

Thanks again for your help!

This was great insight .. That helped me with putting togather my Toastmasters Speech 6 on Vocal Variety. Today morning I had no clue what to speak about after reading this, there I was ready with my speech and I have to go and practice. Thank you

Thanks for the great repository of information in this website. For every speech i do, i always refer to this site one or more times.

I wanted to watch the recommended videos but they are all private. How can I get access to them?

Please send me your articles. Thank you!

Dear Andrew,

I have been reading your articles on Toastmasters speeches for sometime. I am a little curious on why you have not written anything about projects 8, 9 and 10 yet.

Thanks and best regards, Sreejith

please forward tips for CC6

great articles and contribution to the toastmasters community. much obliged!

Thanks for these tips, extremely useful and practical to implement

Thanks a lot for the great and educative article!!

i like your content

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Don't usually get much info on voice use, but here it is….RT @6minutes Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety http://bit.ly/4bFlqy — Kate Peters Nov 16th, 2009

RT @6minutes Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety http://bit.ly/4bFlqy — TweakYourSpeak Feb 20th, 2010

#Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety http://ow.ly/36Mzl — Brighton-Speakers Nov 11th, 2010

Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety http://bit.ly/4bFlqy — Sergio Garcia May 25th, 2011

@mekidlonsod Check mo to: http://t.co/654bix0D … Yan ang lumalabas pag isearch 😛 — Kathleen Pastrana Nov 13th, 2011

What shall I talk about? Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety http://t.co/pCuMLN4f via @6minutes — Rebecca Aug 12th, 2012

#Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety. Howto. http://t.co/SBFlpjiH … via @6minutes — TMOTH Sep 23rd, 2012

#Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety. Howto. http://t.co/SBFlpjiH … via @6minutes — Oke Toastmasters Sep 23rd, 2012

@MikolajGrajnert @malwinazyrek Here’s a great post on Project 6 from my friend, @6minutes. http://t.co/FcUxDa1L7C Hope it helps! Good luck! — @ZimmerJohn Apr 21st, 2014

Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety https://t.co/NUz8uxrYIO by @6minutes — @castlenorthwest Feb 28th, 2017

5 Blog Links

Competition Time: My first Humorous Speech – extricate.org — Sep 29th, 2010

Sanctuary – extricate.org — Nov 27th, 2010

Updated Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches | "Public Speaking in Singapore" — Apr 25th, 2011

Speeches, Vocal Variety and Emotion – extricate.org — Jul 15th, 2011

D-Day | Toastmasters Speech 6 - Vocal Variety - SamithPich.com — Jun 10th, 2013

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7 ways to be a better communicator — by tweaking your body language

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This post is part of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from people in the TED community;  browse through  all the posts here.

Public speaking is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences that many of us face in our daily lives (although it’s dropped off the list of Americans’ biggest fears in recent years, replaced by more immediate threats like … sharks ?).

Part of our fear is about what we’re going to say, but the other part is about how we’re going to say it, according to communications expert David JP Phillips (TEDxZagreb Talk: The 110 techniques of communication and public speaking ). Phillips has spent years analyzing 5,000 public speakers to identify what moves work — and which ones don’t — when talking to an audience.

When we think of body language, many of us immediately think about hand and arm gestures. But body language is so much more than that — and it’s also something that we should all get comfortable with. By making small, easy tweaks to how we stand, move or even smile, we can help hold an audience’s attention. While Phillips has an entire 110-step system to public speaking, there’s no way or need to master them before your next presentation. Here, he shares 7 body-language tips that anyone can use.

Lean towards your audience

“Taking a step back indicates that you are threatened and makes your audience feel less relaxed,” says Phillips, who is based in Sweden. “Whenever we are threatened, we tend to close our body language, tense our muscles, and take a step back.” Crossing your arms is another move to avoid — it’s something else that people do when they’re nervous or scared and it puts those watching us on the defensive. So keep your arms open, and lean towards your audience. Make sure your head is inclined too; tilting your head backwards signals to your listeners that you feel superior to them.

Match your gestures to your words

Phillips’ rule of thumb when it comes to hand gestures: Make them functional (they should always have a purpose) and make sure they match your message. “The core of all communication is to make your message as clear as possible,” Phillips notes. If you’re talking about sales figures going up, that’s a good time to use a gentle, rising motion. If you’re setting two rhetorical options out for your audience to consider, place your hands on either side as if you’re weighing items in your palms. Humans are visual creatures, and movement will arouse an audience’s attention. But do not abuse this tendency. “If a person is using non-functional gestures, they can become annoying very quickly,” explains Phillips. “Functional gestures, however, are rarely used too much.”

Give your hands a rest

Most of us struggle mightily with what to do with our hands while talking. Put them in our pockets? (No, says Phillips: Too closed off.) Clasp them behind our back? (Nope: Domineering and overly formal.) Phillips has a whole lexicon of poses not to do with one’s hands, such as the “the prayer” (hands clasped in front) and “the beggar” (hands in front, palms up). And then there’s “the peacock”: hands on hips with elbows flapping loosely at your sides. “You often see this one being used by people who are nervous and who desire to quickly become ‘bigger’ in front of their opponent,” he explains. Phillips’s recommendation: “Leave your hands by your sides when you’re not using them.”

Tilt your head

Some of the ways that humans communicate nonverbally are pretty hardwired in us, says Phillips. One of these nonverbal signals is something you probably do all the time without realizing: When you’re trying to show empathy, you tilt your head to one side. “Good listeners are head tilters,” Phillips says. The same empathy signals work — even when you’re the one doing the talking.

Smile like you mean it

One of the most important things that a public speaker can do is deliver a Duchenne smile — the kind of genuine grin that fills your face and reaches your eyes. People respond more warmly to a Duchenne smile. “It will help make the audience more at ease and relaxed. And if they are at ease and relaxed, you’ll become more that way too and you’ve created a positive spiral, making you deliver your talk better. Also, adds Phillips, “as our emotions work from the inside out and the outside in, it means that you can affect your own emotional state in a positive way by smiling on stage.” No need to fake it — just bring to mind a person, place or animal that you know automatically brings a Duchenne smile to your face.

When you slip up, don’t panic 

We’ve all had that moment: We practiced our speech until we could recite it in our sleep, but suddenly we can’t remember what comes next. The best way to recover, according to Phillips, is to act like you’re not panicking. “Avoid reacting on your fear,” he says. “Your body will want to tense up, reverse, hide in a corner, but all that just makes you feel less confident.” Instead, he suggests, “lean forward, open up your posture, breathe deep and slow, talk slowly, pause, and smile a Duchenne smile. All of those in combination will make you feel more comfortable.”

Practice — even when you’re not in front of a crowd

One of Phillips’ favorite mottos when it comes to body language is: “It’s a skill, not a talent.” He believes that anyone can become a great public speaker, even the most awkward and nervous of us. He says that a good first step is to simply become more tuned in to your everyday body language. Learn what gestures you tend to use to get your point across. Once you’ve gotten familiar with your existing body language vocabulary, you can start changing it and expanding it. “My most practical tip is to pick one to three skills and practice them every day until they become part of your natural way of communicating.”

Watch his TEDxZagreb talk now:

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Abhimanyu Das is the content specialist at TEDx.

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Faculty - June 21, 2018

Five Ways to Improve Your Body Language During a Speech

• Strategic Communication

Exuding confidence while public speaking can seem unimaginable to some people. It’s easy to assume that professional speakers are just naturally gifted. However, underneath that confidence lies years of training and practice. Stage presence is a learned skill.

Communications focuses on the goal and the audience, and speakers are most credible when they meet audience expectations. If “we develop the mannerisms of a leader, we’ll be perceived as such,” explains  Jesse Scinto  (’12SPS Strategic Communication), Fulbright U.S. Scholar and lecturer in Columbia University’s graduate  Strategic Communication  program. “Our audience will take these outward signs as cues to credibility and strength.”

He recommends mastery of these five important techniques:

1. Leadership Gaze

When speaking to a group, focus on one person at a time for the length of a thought. When there’s a natural pause, shift your gaze to someone new. Speakers should avoid sweeping the room with their eyes or letting their eyes dart up to the ceiling or to the side, which may signal uncertainty. If your lips are moving, your eyes should be locked onto someone else’s.

2. Resolute Stance

Plant your feet shoulder width apart when you’re speaking. Avoid shifting from side to side. Also avoid pacing or speaking while walking. Moving around signals unsettledness and uncertainty. If you want to move to another area of the stage, walk there purposefully, plant your feet and make eye contact before you start speaking again.

3. Emphatic Gestures

Use gestures for emphasis. Bring both hands up ­simultaneously with open palms facing each other as if you were holding a large ball and gesture symmetrically on important words. When you’re not motioning, keep your hands comfortably at your side. Avoid clasping them, placing them in your pocket, and defensive postures like crossing your arms.

4. Vocal Vigor

Be loud enough that people in the last row can easily hear you. This may feel embarrassingly loud, but sound dissipates quickly in a big or carpeted room. To project your voice to the last row, you have to breathe and speak from the diaphragm. Place your hand on your stomach and take a deep breath so your diaphragm expands. Use this air to support your words.

5. Focused Feedback

Feedback is critical. Most trainers incorporate some combination of peer review and video recording. Videotaping people allows them to see their leadership presence and how they are in terms of the way they speak to people. In time, we can become more aware of what we’re doing in the moment and coach ourselves to more useful behaviors.

Read more on enhancing your stage presence at  Toastmasters  and learn about the  Programs in Strategic Communication   at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies.

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Body Language

Microexpressions

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

Body language is a silent orchestra, as people constantly give clues to what they’re thinking and feeling. Non-verbal messages including body movements, facial expressions, vocal tone and volume, and other signals are collectively known as body language.

Microexpressions (brief displays of emotion on the face), hand gestures, and posture all register in the human brain almost immediately—even when a person is not consciously aware they have perceived anything. For this reason, body language can strongly color how an individual is perceived, and how he or she, in turn, interprets others’ motivation , mood, and openness . It's natural to mirror; beginning as soon as infancy, a newborn moves its body to the rhythm of the voice he hears.

Body language is a vital form of communication, but most of it happens below the level of conscious awareness. When you wait for a blind date to arrive, for instance, you may nervously tap your foot without even realizing that you’re doing it. Similarly, when you show up to meet your date, you may not consciously perceive that your date appears closed-off, but your unconscious mind may pick up on the crossed arms or averted gaze. Luckily, with knowledge and a little practice, it is possible to exert some measure of control over your own body language and to become more skilled at reading others.

The face is the first place to look , arching eyebrows might indicate an invitation of sorts, and smiling is another indication that the person welcomes you. And is the person standing or sitting close to you? If so, then there is interest. Plus, open arms are just that: Open.

If a person repeatedly touches your arm, places a light hand on your shoulder, or knocks elbows with you, the person is attracted to you and is demonstrating this with increased touch. People interested in each other smile more, and their mouths may even be slightly open. Engaging in eye contact is another indication. A person who leans towards you or mirrors your body language is also demonstrating interest.

A common form of body language is mirroring another person’s gestures and mannerisms; mirroring also includes mimicking another person’s speech patterns and even attitudes. This is a method of building rapport with others.  We learn through imitating others, and it is mostly an unconscious action.

When you want to persuade or influence a person, mirroring can be an effective way to build rapport. Salespeople who use this with prospective clients pay close attention to them and they listen, observe, mimic with positive results.

People who are attracted to one another indeed copy each other’s movements and mannerisms. In fact, many animals mirror as well. That is why cats circle each other, and why chimpanzees stare at each other before intercourse.

If you tilt your head while looking at a baby, the baby relaxes. Why is that? The same applies to couples who are in love, tilting the head exposes the neck, and perhaps shows vulnerability. The person with a tilted head is perceived as more interested, attentive, caring, and having less of an agenda.

Eye blocking , or covering your eyes, expresses emotions such as frustration and worry. And sometimes the eyelids shut to show determination, while sometimes the eyelids flutter to show that you have screwed up and feel embarrassed.

When you’re stressed out, touching or stroking the neck signals a pacifying behavior. We all rub our necks at the back, the sides, and also under the chin. The fleshy area under the chin has nerve endings and stroking it lowers heart rate and calms us.

The hands reveal a lot about a person. When you feel confident, the space between your fingers grows, but that space lessens when you feel insecure. And while rubbing the hands conveys stress, steepling the fingers means that a person feels confident.

In many cultures, a light touch on the arm conveys harmony and trust. In one study, people in the UK, the US, France, and Puerto Rico were observed while sitting at a coffee shop. The British and the Americans hardly touched, and the French and the Puerto Ricans freely touched in togetherness.  

To make others feel comfortable while standing, crossing your legs will show you are interested in what the other person has to say. It also means, “Take your time.” The standing crossed legs will help you say that you are comfortable with the other person.

Fidgety hands mean anxiousness or even boredom and keeping your arms akimbo may telegraph arrogance. Crossing the arms and legs is, no doubt, a closed position. Whereas sitting with open arms invites the other person in. If you are sitting and want to appear neutral, it’s best to hold your hands on your lap, just like the Queen of England.

Shake hands firmly while making eye contact, but do not squeeze the person’s hand—your goal is to make someone feel comfortable , not to assert dominance. It is important to be sensitive to cultural norms: if you receive a weak handshake, it may be that the person comes from a background in which a gentle handshake is the norm.

Most people think that crossed arms are a sign of aggression or refusal to cooperate. In fact, crossed arms can signal many other things, including anxiety, self-restraint, and even interest, if the person crossing their arms is mirroring someone who is doing the same.   

For the most part, yes. All primates demonstrate behaviors including the freeze response and various self-soothing behaviors, such as touching the neck or twirling the hair in humans. We know that many non-verbal behaviors are innate because even blind children engage in them. Still, some behaviors are mysteries. 

In males, wide shoulders and narrow hips are associated with strength and vitality; this is reflected in everything from the form of Greek statues to padded shoulders in men's suit jackets. How one hold's one's shoulders conveys dominance and relative status within a hierarchy. 

Freezing in place, rocking back and forth, and contorting into a fetal position are all known as " reserved behaviors ," as they are used only when a person experiences extreme stress. Facial expressions alone can signal this state, such as pursing or sucking in the lips, often seen when a person is upset or feels contrite. 

As social animals, we evolved to display emotions, thoughts, and intentions, all of which are processed by the brain's limbic system. Because these reactions precede and at times even override conscious deliberation, body language is uniquely capable of revealing how a person feels--but only if another person is schooled in what these gestures indicate. 

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