Executives: Don’t undercut your own communication

Identifying what’s NOT working for others in public speeches or presentations is relatively easy. We immediately sense discomfort or boredom and can tell when the speaker and content aren’t in sync.
Fixing those issues in our own presenting gets harder because we’re usually concentrating on the content, not the way we’re delivering it.

The problem, especially for executives, is that nonverbal communication is more telling than we imagine. If we rush, stumble, fail to make eye contact, our audience might think we’re disconnected from what we’re saying. That forces them to speculate about why. Is it nerves? Unfamiliarity with the subject?

How do you make sure your delivery matches the power of your content? Here are some tips and techniques to remind you to power up your non-verbal communication:

1.) It isn’t acting.
If you feel uncomfortable with your content, we’re going to see it. Make sure you’re only speaking to or presenting about what you know and have confidence in. This doesn’t mean there won’t be unknowns, or that you need to master every angle. Focus on what you DO know and build around it and you’ll automatically sound more confident. If you have limited knowledge, defer to someone else for detail, but remember, if you head the team, get comfortable with the impact of what’s being said by others. You’ll need to authoritatively supply the context of any detail others offer and the bigger picture. (A note to team leads: Be careful about interrupting subordinates with clarifications. That can look like questioning their expertise and may undercut their effectiveness or show distrust.).

2.) If you build it, we’ll come.
If you sound excited and interested, we’ll stay tuned to find out why. If you sound and look uninterested, we’ll notice that too. Don’t mistake a flat delivery for a professional one. Speak to us about what you want us to understand, and your voice will naturally follow normal patterns of rising and falling with animation. That’s why you don’t want to read to any audience. It flattens your voice and distances you from your audience. If you must read, refer to your notes, pause, then look up and speak. (Otherwise, consider a teleprompter: the subject for another post.)

3.) If you’re comfortable, we’ll see it.
Natural movements convey comfort. (Pacing doesn’t). Don’t hold yourself back from using your hands and natural expressions. (Hold a pen if you need to). The idea is to mimic your natural speaking style without hands in pockets or clasped in front or behind you. I’ve said before butterflies are a normal part of public speaking. Welcome them to supply you with the energy to stay animated. The trick is to make sure the butterflies fly in formation. Practice (and videotaping) can help you see the difference.

Remember people, no one really cares about the small mistakes. They care about the connection.