Interpersonal Communication Effective Physical Delivery Except fom Speak Up! PHYSICAL MOVEMENT Physical movement describes how much or how little you move around while delivering a speech. Not surprisingly, standing stock-still (sometimes referred to as the "tree trunk” approach) isn't very effective; nor is shifting or walking restlessly from side to side or back and forth ("pacing") in front of your audience. A MOVEMENT motionless speaker comes across as boring EMPHASIZES or odd, while a restless one is distracting TRANSITIONS and annoying. AND ENGAGES Instead of going to either of these LISTENERS extremes, strive to incorporate a reasonable as amount and variety of physical movement as you give a presentation. Skillful use of physical movement injects energy into x your delivery and signals transitions tna STAND between parts of your speech. Pan pace For example, when making an We FIRST The SECOND _ especially important point in your PONT POINT presentation, you can take a few x steps to the left in front of your perc on audience, then casually walk back to your original spot when you shift to the next major idea. HERE How much physical movement, if any, is right for you? Move as much as necessary to invigorate your speech (even if you must come out from behind the podium or lectern), but not so much that you confuse or distract your audience. Finally, a brief note about speaking from a lectern or podium. Although the lectern might make you feel somewhat more comfortable, it usually acts as a barrier between you and your listeners. Thus, unless you must be at the lectern because of a microphone, we recommend that you come out from behind it at least part of the time, and > thereby interact more fully with your audience. When you are at the lectern, be sure to avoid gripping the sides or top tightly with your hands; such a grip adds tension to your body and will be clearly visible to audience members.Excerpt from TALK LIKE CARMINE GALLO THE GIST ON GESTURES Are gestures necessary? The short answer is—yes. Studies have shown that complex thinkers rise complex gestures and that gestures actually give the audience confidence in the speaker. Dr. David McNeil says it’s all in the hands. The University of Chicago researcher is one of the foremost authorities in the area of hand gestures. McNeil has empirical evidence proving that gestures, thinking, and language are connected. I spoke to McNeil and I can confidently say that the most popular TED speakers reinforce his conclusion: disciplined, rigorous, intelligent, and confident speakers use hand gestures as a window to their thought proce: Soon after I spoke to McNeil, I had the opportunity to watch Cisco CEO John Chambers in on, He's an astonishing and charismatic presenter who works the room like a preacher, pe: walking offstage and into the audience. He uses his voice mastecfully—speeding up or slowing down the pace, raising and lowering his voice, punching key words and phrases, ete. Chambers is considered one of the most intelligent and visionary executives in high-tech and is said to have a prodigious memory. As McNeil observed, complex thinkers have complex gestures, and— Chambers, being a complex thinker, uses large, expansive hand gestures to punctuate nearly every sentence. Based on my conversation with McNeil and my experience working with global leaders on their communication skills, here are four tips you can use today to improve the way you use your hands: (@_Use gestures. Don't be afraid to use your hands inthe first place. The simplest fh fora sit presentation isto pull your hands out of your pocket and use them. Don't keep your hands bound when you present. They want to be free, (&F_Use gestures sparingly. Now that Ive told you to use gestures, be careful not to go overboard, Your gestures should be natural. f you ty to imitate someone else, youll look lke a Saturday Night Live caricature of @ bad politician, Avoid canned gestures, Don't think about what ‘gestures to use. Your story will ue them (G>_Use gestures at key moments. Save your most expansive gestures for key moments in the presentation. Reinforce your key messages with purposeful gestures... as long as it feels, ‘genuine to your personality and style [Keep your gestures within the power sphere. Picture your power sphere as a circle that runs from the top of your eyes, out to the tips of your outstretched hands, down to your belly button, and back up to your eyes again. Try to keep your gestures (and eye gaze) inthis zone. Hands that hang below your navel lack energy and “confidence.” Using complex gestures above the waist will give the audience a sense of confidence about you as a leader, help you ‘communicate your thoughts more effortlessly, and enhance your overall presence.