Table of Contents
Introduction
According to the research from UCLA, visual communication is the most powerful form of communication in a presentation (Kahrs; Bradbury). In a presentation, 55% of people remember non-verbal communication like presenter’s facial expression and body movement; 38% of the audiences remember the voice of the presenter like the volume and voice inflection of the presenter; only 7% of people remember the content (Kahrs; Bradbury). The insight from the research is clear. Non-verbal communication plays a critical role in enhancing a presentation. Yet, most people often overlook the significance of non-verbal communication in their presentation.
A presentation is a form of performance art (Kahrs). To produce good performance art, both verbal and non-verbal communication need to play its part. Therefore, this essay sets out to explore the importance of non-verbal communication in a presentation. A comprehensive overview of non-verbal communication and its impact on a presentation will be critically covered in this essay.
Overview of Nonverbal Communication
What is non-verbal communication? Throughout the years, research has been conducted to study non-verbal communication. However, scholars have failed to come into an agreement on a precise description of non-verbal communication due to its vagueness (Krueger). People from different background interpret non-verbal communication in a different way (Krueger).
127 our experts are availableright now
The widely accepted definition of non-verbal communication refers to all sort of communication without using the spoken language through multiple communication mediums (Krueger). The medium of non-verbal communication includes attire and adornment of an individual, smell, environmental factors, body posture, hand gestures, eye contact and facial expression (Abualsoud Hanani; Krueger; Euson).
Non-verbal communication is crucial because people judge a presenter through non-verbal communication. Audiences frame their first impression of a presenter through non-verbal communication even before the presenter has started to articulate his or her idea (Krueger). While mistakes of verbal communication can be rectified later, it is relatively hard or not possible to fix an impression formed by non-verbal communication in a presentation.
In this essay, the focus on non-verbal communication will only on body language, which including gestures, eye contact, posture, and facial expression.
Body Language
Research demonstrates that over 50% of human interaction is based on body language. Body language is crucial. When there is any contradict between a speaker’s verbal and non-verbal communication, people tend to believe in what they see instead of what they hear (Youssef). People will be certain of a speaker if his or her body language shows earnestness, passion, and genuineness (Youssef). To be effective in a presentation, one’s body language must reinforce and back his or her words and slides.
In the setting of presentation, effective body language is convincing as the audiences can identify with the speaker and correspond with the emotions and feelings of the speaker. When a speaker is confident and unwind, the audiences tell from the speaker’s body language. This can generate a positive outcome because the audiences trust the speaker more. On the other hand, if a speaker is nervous, the audiences can feel the vibes and assume the speaker is not fully prepared (Youssef). Therefore, a speaker should always pay attention to the body language besides the content.
The main components of the body language include gestures, posture, eye contact, and facial expression. The key point of each body language will be discussed in detail as below:
Gestures
Gestures refer to body movements that helps an individual to convey an idea or emotion (Eunson). Gestures are unique as they replicate the speaker’s persona. To ensure the effectiveness of gestures, authenticity is the key. If gestures are being employed properly, they are the most suggestive body language that can ease in boosting verbal words (Youssef).
There are four types of gestures in general: descriptive; emphatic; suggestive and prompting (Youssef). To explain or demonstrate words, individuals can make use of descriptive gesture; to highlight certain words, one can use emphatic gestures such as clenching fist (Youssef). To create a mood, a speaker can use suggestive gestures whereas to call out a response from the audiences, the speaker can use prompting gestures (Youssef).
Hand gestures
To complement verbal communication in a presentation, hand gestures are especially important (Eunson; David Dickson; Weiss). People perceive individuals who use hand gesture in a presentation or a speech more charismatic and energetic in general (Edwards). Excellent use of hand gestures can help the audiences to resonate with a specific idea the presenter tries to convey (Edwards).
Barack Obama, the former president of the United States, illustrated this argument well in the State of Union’s speech 2015 (The White House: Office of the Press Secretary). He deliberately delivered his message by ensuring his non-verbal communication is in tune with his speech’s content. To highlight the points throughout his speech, he constantly made use of emphatic gestures with his thumb and index finger. On top of that, he did not miss the opportunity to use his hand to make gestures like a wave to exemplify a scale of objects or a duration (Edwards; The White House: Office of the Press Secretary). By employing these gestures, his audiences are clear about his message.
Another example of the importance of hand gestures in a presentation can be illustrated by the case study of Joe Smith, a TED Talk presenter. People are a visual animal (Kahrs), and non-verbal communication like hand gestures help in providing greater weight for a presentation (Krueger). Joe Smith’s TED Talk on “How to use a paper towel” went viral online (Smith). His TED Talk is relatively short and simple as compared to the normal TED Talk but people remember his talks. This is because he deliberately uses hand gestures (wash hand, shake, and fold paper towel) to add weight to his content (Smith). By doing so, his audiences can easily resonate to his content as he formed an illustration for them by using hand gestures.
From the example illustrates above, it is obvious that hand gestures play a significant role in a presentation. If a presenter wants the audience to get a message clearly, the presenter should not neglect hand gestures when he or she is trying to express ideas. Nonetheless, a presenter should not plan his hand gestures. The hand gestures should be natural and authentic. The more genuine a presenter is, the presenter will receive more trust from the audiences (Weiss).
Eye Contact
Turning now to eye contact. Eye contact carries weight in a presentation. The global corporate communication consultant, Audrey Nelson, claimed that eye contact is the most powerful form of non-verbal communication (Nelson; Huffpost). Nelson’s claim is supported by Stephen Janik and Rodney Wellens’s research, which conducted in the University of Miami, Florida (Nelson; Huffpost).
The research discovered that 43.4% of the attention that human devotes on another human being is given to their eyes (Nelson; Huffpost). We, human beings pay attention to others’ eyes because the eyes are full of emotion (Nelson). The speaker’s eyes either help him to connect with the audiences or to detach the speakers from the audiences (Youssef). Every audience wants to feel like the speaker is talking to him or her. And with eye contact, this can be accomplished (Youssef).
Direct eye contact indicates sincerity in most cultural context while the lack of eye contact is equal to message killer (Youssef). Audiences perceive speakers who do not make eye contact are dishonesty, lack of self-confidence or lack of interest (Youssef). In general, eye contact has a direct impact on the focus and attentiveness of the audiences. If the speakers do not establish eye contact with them, the audience will probably ignore the speakers too (Youssef).
Although eye contacts matter in a presentation, many speakers do not how to establish eye contact with the audiences. Fortunately, there are tips on how to efficiently use eye contact in a presentation. First, a presenter must be familiar with his or her material. A speaker should know his material inside out so that he doesn’t need to stress to recall the order of words and ideas of his presentation (Youssef). Once the speaker has mastered his material, he can freely focus on the audiences and establish eye contact.
Secondly, a speaker can try to build a personal connection with audiences. For every presentation, there will be energizers among the audience in a different corner of the room. The energizers are individuals who are with the speaker, attentive and generally smiling when they agree with the speakers (Youssef). Identify the energizers and dedicate the attention on them by establishing eye contact with each of them. This can help to motivate and encourage the speakers. Apart from that, people around the energizers will assume the speakers are focusing on them (Youssef).
Lastly, the speaker should keep an eye on visual feedback from the audiences (Youssef). Is the mic working? Can the audiences hear the voice? Can the audiences see the slides? A speaker can get much information from the audiences by solely making eye contact with them. By doing so, the speaker can do the necessary adjustment to enhance his presentation (Youssef).
Posture
The level of confidence and power of a speaker are indicated by posture (Patsy McCarthy). The audience judge presenters through posture as well. Bad posture leaves audiences a bad impression and can possibly affect one’s health (Patsy McCarthy). Some bad postures to avoid during a presentation are folded arm, stiff posture, arm pulled behind the back and the “dancer posture” whereby the presenter keep moving from one leg to another (Patsy McCarthy). These postures are either distract the audiences during a presentation or affect the presenter’s breathing, which is bad for health.
A good presenter should be able to demonstrate confidence and relax power in a presentation. Learning how to relax and adjust bad posture before conducting a presentation is crucial. Speakers can employ Alexandra Technique to learn about posture and body awareness (Patsy McCarthy). By learning how to free the body and relax, speakers can have a good posture for presentation, which can help in improvising a presentation.
Facial Expression
Charles Darwin, the expert of facial expressions, presumed facial expressions are the same all over the world (Connolly). A human can uncover other human beings’ emotions by studying his facial expression (Connolly). For this reason, in the setting of a presentation, the presenter’s facial expressions reveal a lot of messages (Patsy McCarthy). Audiences are constantly observing and interpreting the facial expression of the presenter as the facial expression can mirror a presenter’s emotions, feelings, and attitudes (Youssef). A good presenter is confident, friendly and sincere.
When a presenter shows expressions like biting or clicking the lips, frowning or tightening the jaws, the audience will perceive the speaker is nervous and not friendly (Youssef). As a result, the audiences will be less responsive and interested in the speaker’s message. That’s why it is important for a speaker to learn how to control facial expressions and get rid of expressions that are not appropriate on his face. To minimize the worry about a presentation, practice and relax is the key. As a speaker, one should be confident in his message and just allow his face to show his good beliefs, feelings, and attitudes (Youssef).
Conclusion
To sum up, the importance of non-verbal communication in a presentation has been discussed in this essay. A thorough overview of non-verbal communication and its impact on a presentation have been critically covered in this essay.
Just like what the famous saying of Peter F. Drucker indicated “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said” (Ethos3). Non-verbal communication like body languages, gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions play a significant role in a presentation. When a speaker presents on stage in front of audiences, non-verbal communications of the presenter shares some sort of cue between the presenters and the audiences (Ethos3). Effective usage of non-verbal communication can enhance credibility, clarity and add interest to a presentation (Ethos3). To be a good presenter, all speakers should be sensitive to body language and learn how to relax and control non-verbal communication (Ethos3).
References
- Abualsoud Hanani, Mohammad Al-Amleh, Waseem Bazbus, Saleem Salameh. ‘Automatic Estimation of Presentation Skills Using Speech, Slides and Gestures.’ Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Ed. Rodmonga Potapova, Iosif Mporas Alexey Karpov. Springer, 2017. 182-191.
- Bradbury, Andrew. Successful Presentation Skills . London: Kogan Page Publishers, 2006.
- Connolly, Alyson. Public Speaking Skills For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons, 2018.
- David Dickson, Owen Hargie. Skilled interpersonal communication: research, theory, and practice. London: Routledge, n.d.
- Edwards, Vanessa Van. Body Language of Leaders: President Obama. 24 February 2015. 10 May 2019.
- Ethos3. The Importance of Non-Verbal Communication. 2019. 30 May 2019.
- Eunson, Baden Ian. ‘Non-Verbal Communication.’ Communicating in the 21st Century. John Wiley & Sons, 2012. 254-282.
- HuffPost. Bill Clinton Has A Superpower, And Mastering It Can Make You Successful Beyond Belief. 8 August 2013. 30 May 2019.
- Kahrs, Till K. Enhancing Your Presentation Skills. USA: iUniverse, 2000.
- Krueger, Juliane. Nonverbal communication. Germany: GRIN Verlag, 2008.
- Nelson, Audrey. The Politics of Eye Contact: A Gender Perspective. 5 September 2010. 30 May 2019.
- Patsy McCarthy, Caroline Hatcher. Presentation Skills: The Essential Guide for Students. Australia: SAGE, 2002.
- Smith, Joe. TED. March 2012. Video. 30 May 2019.
- The White House: Office of the Press Secretary. Remarks by the President in the state of the Union Address | January 20, 2015. 20 January 2015. Video. 25 May 2019.
- Weiss, Michael. Presentation Skills: Educate, Inspire and Engage Your Audience. New York: Business Expert Press, 2015.
- Youssef, Inas Mohamed Abou. Communication Skills. Cairo: CAPSCU, 2005.
