| Behavior | Tips for Improving These Skills | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 1. My posture is upright. | This indicates your confidence and creates an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust with the audience. Try to correct your posture in front of a mirror. Relax your shoulders, lean forward, then straighten your back and feel the difference. | | 2. My movements are natural. | It is normal to have some discomfort regarding the use of gestures. You can start by using only those gestures that feel natural. Gradually, you will be able to develop your use of gestures. | | 3. My facial expression is pleasant. | Look in the mirror and see what others see. If your facial expression is naturally serious or gloomy, ensure that your facial expression is friendlier when entering the auditorium/room. Look at the kind faces sitting in the audience and smile at them. | | 4. I establish eye contact with the participants. | Eye contact is very important for connecting with the audience. If you find it difficult to look directly into the eyes, try looking at the forehead first, which will give the impression that you are trying to establish a visual connection and will build confidence in you. Later, try to look people in the eyes. | | 5. I do not look at anyone for more than 5 seconds. | Three to five seconds is the best duration to establish eye contact. Anything shorter gives the impression of a wandering gaze, while anything longer can seem unsettling and intimidating to individuals. There is no need to keep time when looking. Simply find what is a comfortable duration for you and the audience. | | 6. In the audience, I look for friendly faces that help me regain confidence. | There are kind faces in almost every audience. These are the people who smile and nod while you are speaking. When you get confused, feel insecure, or see someone gloomy, use the disposition of kind-faced people to restore your self-confidence. | | 7. Before starting, after reaching the center of the room, I pause—I breathe—and only then do I begin my speech. | Tense speakers often start talking before they even reach the center of the room. Instead, walk to the center of the room/stage, take a breath, look around, look at the participants, smile, and mentally count to three. After this, you can start the presentation, and it will be perceived as self-confidence and calmness. | | 8. I use prompting gestures to show what I want the audience to do (e.g., I raise my hand to get them to stand up). | Interacting with the audience is easier when you show them what to do. If you want to know how many of them are doing one thing or another, use your hand to show them that you want them to raise their hands. If you want them to stand up, show them with your hands. | | 9. I watch recordings of my presentations to eliminate distracting habits. | Ask one of your colleagues to record a small part of your presentation so you can see it through the participants' eyes. Are you fidgeting with the small change in your pocket (empty your pocket)? Are your earrings moving and shining (wear smaller ones)? Find any distracting factors that take away from the topic and minimize them. | | 10. Before the presentation starts, I try on my clothes. | Do not wear new clothes during a presentation that you haven't had a chance to try on yet. The audience is not the best place to discover a tear in your shoe, pants, or shirt. Try on your clothes beforehand and make sure it allows you to move freely and does not restrict your actions. | | 11. I am aware of my body movement. | Crossed arms in the eyes of others make you look small, closed off, and uncommunicative. Leaning on a table can create the impression that you are insecure or even exhausted. Study the speakers you admire. How do they move their hands and body? This will allow you to realize how important non-verbal communication is. | | 12. I move from behind the table or podium and go toward the audience when appropriate. | Moving around the room allows you to capture the audience's attention and get closer to those asking questions. It also eliminates anxiety. Be careful so that this movement does not look like the movement of a restless person constantly walking back and forth. | | 13. I use the remote control, whiteboard, and other supporting materials without drawing attention to them. | Find time and try out all supporting equipment and materials in advance. This will allow you to move and act more naturally and confidently use the materials and equipment at hand. | | 14. I use only keywords and concepts in my presentation notes. | If you have the entire script of the presentation in front of you, you will definitely start reading it during the presentation. Instead, note only the main concepts and words. When using computer presentation notes, be sure to have a printed version of them. Make notes only at the top of the page so that you don't have to hang your head when the whole audience is looking at your head. Write in the notes where you need to pause or slow down your speech. Familiarize yourself well with the notes so that you know exactly the pages where the topics are located. Number your notes so that if you shuffle the pages, you can quickly restore the order. | | 15. The volume of my voice is good while speaking. | Try speaking at different volumes and see how it sounds in the given room. If you are going to have a microphone, try it in advance before the participants arrive so that you can adjust the volume. | | 16. My speech is slow enough and easy for the audience to perceive. | When we get excited, nervous, or involved in a topic, our speech can speed up and become incomprehensible. Try speaking slower than usual and pay attention to whether your speech is understandable. If you have colleagues in the audience, ask them to give you a signal when your speech speeds up. Pauses are your best friends. | | 17. I change the tone and emphasis of my voice to engage participants. | Are you sure you are doing this? Record a segment of your presentation and listen to it as a participant. What stands out? What is missing? Is there a need to place emphasis in certain places?<br>Identify the words that need emphasis and try to pronounce them differently. Reading children's literature is the best way to change your emphasis and tone. | | 18. I am familiar with my voice's pitch and manage it effectively. | Try to change the pitch of your voice to generate interest.<br>Remember, when we are nervous, our voice often gets higher. Try to breathe deeply before speaking. Breathe in such a way that your stomach expands, but the position of your shoulders does not change. | | 19. My speech is clear and articulate. | Use tongue twisters to adjust the clarity of your speech. Try to use unusual words or expressions. | | 20. I begin my presentation with great enthusiasm and speak in a way that captures the audience's attention. | Remember that the first two or three minutes are the most important. Make the beginning memorable and impactful. <br>Try to use humor and stories related to the material. |