3.

Contact
Speaking on your own is good practice, but a live audience is a whole different
experience. In what way would you like to connect with your audience? You want to keep
them interested and while at the same time creating a sense of connection between you
and them. How? Here are few tips for you to follow:

● Eye Contact. This is particularly difficult with large audiences, but not
impossible. Change your focal point, scanning each section of the audience
so that everyone feels engaged with you and the presentation. Do not scan

back and forth too quickly because that can

make you look nervous. It is also good to avoid constantly looking up toward
the ceiling or down toward the floor so that you do not appear to be bored or
rude.
● Gestures. Studies indicate that up to 55% of communication is body language.
We use our arms, hands, legs, facial expressions and much more when
explaining and emphasizing. A good presenter is careful to avoid keeping his
hands in his pockets or his arms at his sides at all times. Use open gestures as
a complimentary expression to what you are saying and as a means to invite
your audience into the conversation. At the same time, be moderate with your
gestures in order to avoid looking anxious or nervous.
● Verbal contact. Always check beforehand if everyone can accurately see you
or hear you; test the audio and lighting to be sure they are working. Engage
your audience with rhetorical questions (they should be direct and clear) such
as “How do you think we get to this conclusion?” or “What does this tell us?”
● Language. You may be tempted to believe that a good presentation is one in
which only technical or academic language is used. This is not always the
case. Either way, you want to be sure that you speak in a clear and
understandable manner. A good technique you can use is to use the pronoun
“we” so that your audience feels involved. You can ask questions like, “How
can we learn something here?” or “What can we learn from this chart?”
 To learn more about the above explained aspects of body language check out the
following video:

SkillPathSeminars. (2014, july 1st). Powerful Presentation Skills: Body Language [Video file].

Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4O5szBzIA0

4. Voice
It is believed that only people with a certain type of voice can be heard or understood. The
truth is, though, that we all can do something with what we’ve got, by paying attention to
the following aspects: volume, pitch, rhythm and tempo, and timbre (Total Communicator,
2004).

● Volume can fluctuate to avoid a monotonous tone and to

highlight important parts of your speech. Increase volume a little when
introducing a new idea and decrease volume when closing an idea or thought.
And keep in mind: everyone should always be able to hear you.
● Pitch, the frequency of the sound waves you produce should be refined. It is
about the high or low notes you hit with your voice. Establish and reinforce
your message with these variations. For example, questions should end on a
higher note whereas affirmations should end on a slightly lower one.
● Rhythm is used to carry meaning as it is the pattern of the sounds you
produce. Tempo, on the other hand, is the pace of your voice: how slow or fast
you speak. Slow down when you want to emphasize and quicken to show
emotion or humor. Also, a good pause can help improve the understanding of
complex ideas, or when you’re changing subjects.
● Finally, timbre is the emotional quality of your voice; how you reflect your
attitude to enhance meaning or express emotion.

To learn more about the use of voice check out the following video: