Public speaking tips - Your physiology

The dreaded public speaking, the number 'fear' for most people, even more feared than death itself!

First impressions

First impressions in business count, no doubt about it and your 'ability' to put across your business message relies on a couple of important elements working together to churn out a decent pitch or piece of communication. Those 'elements' being the right words, your frame of mind whilst doing it and your physiology.

As a networker, its very interesting watching and listening to people pitch their business. Some are confident in communicating verbally, but not physically. Others are not in the right frame of mind to do it as well as they could and most are looking for solutions to enhance their performance in that 40-60 seconds (or more if they stray into 1 minute plus land!). Finally, the seasoned 'pro' who continually reels off the same message they developed 10 years ago without any feeling/emotion attached to it now as they've 'exhausted it' and everyone just knows what they're going to say. In fact, they don't need to be there!

So the question is, how do you improve your presentation by making personal physiological adjustments.

Improvement made through physiological adjustments

Your mind and body are a linked system. You may notice that the way you stand, sit and hold yourself can be described by you in one word, whatever position you are in. As you are reading this text, pay attention to how you are now and what word describes how you feel as you read this. What word would you use to describe how you are now?

If you find that you are challenged by presenting, you may want to give the following exercise a go.

Make some changes

Find a mirror. Stand in front of it. Define, using one word, how you feel now.

Now. Make changes in the following areas:

Width of stance. (Adjust until to your preferred stance is achieved - recommended shoulder width)
Feet position (adjust the position to toes straight forwards)
Positioning of head (chin up and down - adjust to your requirement)
Positioning of shoulders (back and forwards - adjust)
Hand position (situate your hands infront of your waistline - adjust)
Facial features (adjust your features to suit how you want to be portrayed)

As you make the adjustments, ask yourself "How do I feel now?" Make further minor adjustments until you get the response you are looking for. When you get a 'response' that suits the context, then that may be YOUR required physiology to operate to optimum in that context.

Looking forward to seeing you present next time round!