Now that you’re free from the lectern, hunting around the stage ready to pounce on the audience with dynamic speaking energy, what do you look like? An apex predator of the speaking world? Or a neurotic housecat?
My college girlfriend had a roommate who had a cat with a licking obsession. If my girlfriend fell asleep on the couch after a busy day, she’d always wake up with her hair sopping wet and the cat sitting above her head. The cat’s repetitive licking was a sign that it had been weaned too early. It creeped me out to watch her lick one lock of my girlfriend’s hair over and over. I’d try to have a conversation, but my attention kept flicking back to the cat and her human popsicle.
For the cat, I’m sure it felt reassuring, even normal, but all I thought when I looked at it was : that is one crazy cat.
As a speaker, you don’t want your audience to be thinking anything like that while they’re looking at you: “Look at that guy, flailing around up there. What is that, a nervous tic he’s doing? Does he do that all the time? Is it genetic?” Meanwhile, you just revealed the secret to cold fusion and no one heard it because they were watching your nervous hands.
I get more than a little frustrated watching political analysts fill airtime by discussing how an important politician sounded or looked instead of discussing the message or the issue at hand. The minimum goal with your movement is to avoid distracting from your message and the impression you want to create for the audience.
There are two great ways to identify and begin to correct extraneous movement:
VIDEO I record every important speech I give. You may not realize what distracting movements have crept into your delivery. They may feel ‘normal’ to do, but are distracting to watch. Video will make you much more aware of how you are perceived.
A COACH OR TRUSTED FRIEND Someone with a good eye can spot what you sometimes can’t. Pick someone with good taste and a supportive manner (see www.MichaelHSchaefer.com, for example) Have them watch for movements like:
Repetitive or Symmetrical Gestures
The Robot Hand Lift/Hand Waggle Half a gesture, with the upper arms locked at the sides and the forearms moving like they’re tied to the same marionette string.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mhschaefer1?feature=mhum#p/u/3/gcj-L9g6CWY
The Jabbing Point Punctuating too many sentences like you’re popping balloons with your finger. You risk coming across as condescending.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mhschaefer1?feature=mhum#p/a/u/2/Y4Zggwxyogg
Pounding The Lectern Dictators love this one. Live microphones mounted to the lectern don’t.
The Square Dance Moving forward to make a point, then moving hack. Subconsciously a desire to retreat to safety. Stand your ground.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mhschaefer1?feature=mhum#p/a/u/1/lzhHjeqQ3kU
The Oh-So-Subtle-But-Still-Annoying Ankle Weave That’s where you stand your ground so much that you look like a gently weaving parade float tethered by just the shoes.
↓ Note the similarity ↓
http://www.youtube.com/user/mhschaefer1?feature=mhum
But here’s the big secret: the best way to deal with these manifestations of nerves is to not focus on them. What? Then why are we talking about them, coach? Because awareness is a great first step. Accept that you can become aware of something without filling your head with don’ts: don’t do this, don’t move that. There’s something much more crucial to focus on: the audience and whether or not they’re getting your message.
The best way to deal with any movement that distracts from your message is to rehearse a lot and to speak often in front of audiences. It’s no magic bullet, but you can watch the video by yourself afterwards and pound the table to your heart’s content. Unnecessary things will fall away, and confidence earned will change your speaking forever.
Next time: Going organic…
