1. “Actions
Speak Louder
thAn Words”

2. Public Speaking

3. In public speaking, your body can be an effective tool for
adding emphasis and clarity to your words. It’s
also your most powerful instrument for convincing an
audience of your sincerity, earnestness, and enthusiasm.
However, if your physical actions are distracting or
suggest meanings that do not agree with your verbal
message, your body can defeat your words. Whether your
purpose is to inform, persuade, entertain, motivate,
or inspire, your body and the personality you project must
be appropriate to what you say.

4. Gesture
• is a form of non-verbal communication in which visible
bodily actions communicate particular messages. Gestures
include movement of the hands, face, or other parts of
the body.
• allow individuals to communicate a variety of feelings and
thoughts.

5. Gestures can be used to:
a. emphasize the point you are making
–shaking your fist to show you are serious; making
an OK or victory sign with your fingers
b. suggest something
–shrugging the shoulders to show that you don’t
know
c. describe
–acting as if you are falling to describe that you fell
face first into the water
d. prompt
- clapping your hands to make your audience
also clap

6. SPEAKING POSTURE

7. Stand straight but not rigid, with your feet about six to
12 inches apart and one slightly ahead of the
other. Balance your weight evenly on the balls of your
feet. Lean forward just a little. Your knees should be
straight but not locked. Relax your shoulders, but don’t
let them droop. Keep your chest up and your stomach
in. Your head should be erect and your chin up, but not
uncomfortably so. Let your arms hang naturally at
your sides, with your fingers slightly curled.

8. Facial Expression

9. When you speak, your face communicates your
attitudes, feelings, and emotions more clearly
than any other part of your body. According to
behavioral psychologists, people can easily
recognize – simply by observing a speaker’s
facial expressions – such distinct feelings as
surprise, fear, happiness, confusion, disgust,
interest, disbelief, anger, and sadness.

10. Using Appropriate Posture
and Bodily Gestures in
public speaking

11. 1. Stand with confidence. Stand and spread
your feet about 6 to 8 inches apart parallel
to each other to achieve a comfortable
speaking position.

12. 2. Face your audience with
your hands on the side
with your chin up.
Face your audience with
both your hands on the
side. This position will make
you appear open and sincere
to your audience as well as
give the impression that you
are in control of the
situation.

13. 3. Use your hands to emphasize or reinforce your
message when speaking. The most effective gestures
are spontaneous ones. Don’t force yourself to raise your
hand or shake your head. Bodily gestures occur naturally
if you know what you want to say. If relevant gestures
are used at the right time, your message will definitely
get across.

14. 4. Make an Eye Contact
When you speak, your eyes also function as a
control device. Simply by looking at them, you
have an influence on your listeners’ attentiveness
and concentration.

15. Don’ts in Public
Speaking

16. Avoid the following as much as possible:
• crossing your arms - makes you look defensive
• hands at the back -
as if you are hiding something
• hands in your pocket -as if you’re hiding
something. It might cause embarrassment if you
happen to jiggle coins/keys in your pocket

17. • Swaying in front of the audience
• Finger tapping
• Licking your lips or biting your lips
• Fidgeting with clothes, pockets or jewelry
• Frowning
• Fussing with hair
• Bobbing your head

18. • hands on hips - makes you seem aggressive;
as if you’re bullying your audience
• hand on chin -as if you’re not yet ready with
what you’re going to say because it
seems you’re still thinking of what to say
• two hands cupped - makes it look like you’re
covering something in front of your chest