[NOTE: This article is meant to serve as a "Bonus" for
article, How To Be Confident And Relaxed When Speaking Before A Group Of People (Powerful Tips To Help You Become A Highly Effective Speaker/Presenter). To access that particular article, just go to: http://confidencetips-articles.blogspot.com ]1. Allow your arms to move freely and naturally. (Avoid pre-planning your gestures.)
In other words, avoid "consciously" saying inside, "I will move my arms this way now. That's what's appropriate at this point." Just allow your arms to move or gesture naturally. Avoid being conscious of them.
You can sometimes tell when your gestures don't look natural to others. Your listeners will look at your arms or hands in a certain way (since their subconscious mind will detect something wrong or unnatural)—and sometimes, they won't even know that they are doing it. In other words, they will have been distracted unnecessarily for a few seconds.
When you just allow your arms to flow freely and naturally as you speak, or as you are making a point, peoples' eyes will be glued to your eyes or facial area...and not to your arms or hands.
2. As much as possible, avoid reading your speech verbatim (or word-for-word).
Instead, write down key words (the main points of your speech) to serve as reminders, in order in which you will present them. Then just surrender to moment. Trust your mind to deliver. Your speech will sound more natural, just like a typical conversation.
3. Ask with extreme confidence.
When asking audience to do something (ex. asking audience to stand up, raise their hands, etc.), do it with extreme confidence...and not in a weak or embarrassed sort of way. Do it in such a way that they feel you expect them to follow...and that it is only right for them to do so.
For example, when you ask audience to give next speaker a warm welcome, be first to clap your hands. The audience will naturally follow because they perceive you as being in charge. Besides, you're only asking something that's appropriate and reasonable.
4. Move in such a way that you don't appear rushed or anxious.
Take your time when you move. Avoid appearing rushed. (When something falls on floor, slowly and naturally pick it up as if it were not a big deal. Or if something goes wrong with sound system or lighting, don't panic. Deal with it in a calm and professional manner. In other words, don't allow anything to distract you and negatively affect your composure.)
Remember, what matters most is how you handle yourself under pressure (or when something unexpected happens). When you remain composed no matter what happens, your audience will perceive you as a leader worthy of their respect. By your ability to stay in charge of situations, they will be even more receptive to what you have to say.
I mean, how would you feel if something unexpected happened, and first to panic was speaker? For example, if he was first to run out door as soon as building's fire alarm went off? (What's worse is if it was only a false alarm.) Would you still respect speaker, or have same degree of respect for speaker, although prior to his panicking, he was interesting (and composed)? Of course not.
Or if a mouse came out of nowhere and speaker jumped up on a nearby table, screaming, "Get it out of here! Get it out of here!"...would you still have same positive feelings for speaker way you did just prior to that shameful incident? Of course not.
