Whether at a huge political rally or homeowner’s association meeting, reverential anticipatory silence is offered to very few. Much of your success in getting a group’s attention and keeping it hinges on your skill with non-verbal communication rather than what you have to say. Use appropriate visual coding as well as the right verbal conventions to increase your chances of successful communication.
Step Up
In many cultures, slouching is considered a sign of disrespect. In Western culture it telegraphs that the speaker is not engaged in his task. Sit or stand straight before speaking; imagine a string that pulls right up your backbone. Pay physical attention to the speaker who precedes you by watching; listen for the audience’s reactions to get a “sense of the room” but don’t watch them. Wear business dress for most public speaking; it is universally recognized and shows that the speaker takes his task–and his audience—seriously. When it’s time to speak, stand up straight, hold your head up and speak up; you know more about your subject than most of your audience.
Expressions
Once at the podium, address your audience with your eyes before speaking to let them know that they, not your notes, are your focus. Use active eye contact; move from person to person, involving but not intimidating individuals. Michael C. Corbalis maintains that language may have evolved from gestures, making them an integral part of any spoken words. Today’s audiences, however, are accustomed to subtle television-sized gestures. According to Charles Tidwell at Andrews University, women smile more than men; both should limit smiles because they may be interpreted as artificiality. Use nods, facial expressions and hand gestures to accent, reinforce or complement messages. Nods or gestures should emphasize or move attention to, say, visual aids. Too many facial expressions or hand gestures telegraph distraction or lack of preparation.
Know Audience
You don’t have to know every individual in the audience but you do need to respect general cultural conventions with the group. Deals have been broken and clients lost because of a gesture with a negative cultural meaning. Don’t attempt to remake yourself in what you think is their image; just stay away from gestures that might be interpreted as negative. Robert Like advises health care providers to avoid prolonged direct eye contact with any individual in an Asian audience but that eye contact is imperative with Latin Americans. Pointing with the index finger is rude in some cultures. The “OK” sign with thumb and forefinger is considered the sign for money in Japan but it is an obscene gesture in some Eastern European countries. In Latin America shrugging with palms up can be a vulgar gesture. Avoid using gestures that have negative meanings in other cultures as a matter of habit; that way, you won’t make a mistake when you actually address or present to a group with members from another culture.
About this Author
Chicago native Laura Reynolds has been writing for 40 years. She attended American University (D.C.), Northern Illinois University and University of Illinois Chicago and has a B.S. in communications (theater). Originally a secondary school communications and history teacher, she’s written one book and edited several others. She has 30 years of experience as a local official, including service as a municipal judge.
