Body Language in Public Speaking

Don’t think about a pink elephant.  The image of a pink elephant is now embedded in your mind and you can’t erase it…right? When you’re talking with someone—or even giving a presentation like a keynote—your mind can play the same nasty trick when you think too hard about what to do with your hands. The hand question is one that I’m most often asked. And it’s a tough one to answer because how we use our hands (and arms) should come naturally. Yes, it’s easy for me to say because I come from French ancestry. We (and I) tend to let our hands fly. For those of you who don’t come by this emotive way of speaking like I do, here

When it comes to public speaking you may have heard that body language is more important than your content or words. However, it’s actually a myth that’s made the rounds so many times that it’s believed to be true. The idea that body language commands the stage was taken from a study conducted by Dr. Albert Mehrabian in 1967. His communication study has often been misquoted and misinterpreted. The Mehrabian Myth From his study came the “Golden Rule” of human communication: the 7%-38%-55% rule. This communication rule consists of three elements: Words (words that are said) Tone of Voice (how the words are said) Body Language Body language and tone of voice are often combined as non-verbal communication. This implies that