Basics of body language and audience eye-contact

Communication in front of a live audience requires both non-verbal and verbal speech. When communicating to your audience, you must remember that half of the impact you have on the audience results from body language (non-verbal). According to Pursaga (2020), a large proportion of your message results from thoughts and the way you speak, and a minuscule percentage of the impact is due to your story’s content. This assertion tells that while you need excellent content for your pitch, it must be accompanied by excellent delivery to reach your audience. Appropriate body language is vital; the presenter must engage the feet, the hands, and the face. Your legs should be planted like trees on the earth for physical stability. It is pure physics; your two feet closely glued to one another will give you steadiness and firmness in your body, which means credibility in your story. You can move around during your presentation; it is recommended that you carry it but within the right place. Take significant steps, as opposed to tall and shifty ones, as they bring down the power of your story.

Hands and arms are essential in your story, and they help you underline your message and emphasize. So, hiding them behind your back or in your pocket creates a commanding posture that offers less respect to your listeners. u00a0Allow your hands to hang loosely in front of your body, barely touching one another, and create movements, which are large and clear enough for your audience to watch. Use hand movements from that position to illustrate your point dynamics to your story (Hale et al., 2017). Stand in an open space and try to stay away from anything you can hide behind. Avoid cross arms as they form a barrier between you and your audience. Also, you might want to avoid holding objects that might cause distraction like a ballpoint to minimize chances of fumbling or fidgeting.

Your eyes are your connectors, and they connect you to your audience. So, do not look away or down. u00a0A listener will read these actions or signs of nervousness and insecurity, so try to smile with your eyes are relaxed. A friendly face will help your message to stick to the general rule. Make your posture as open as possible.

Emmanuel Addo
Founder

Emmanuel Addo is the founder of the Young Global Leaders Network, an international non-governmental organization registered in six (6) countries namely, Ghana, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan and has a membership strength of over 15,000 young black professionals, students, graduates, and aspiring leaders.

The organization also operates in 25 other African countries. Emmanuel also doubles as the chief convener and founder of the Young African Leaders Summit, one of the largest continental youth summits in Africa.  

Currently works at Kingston University as a Business Engagement Team Member in their Partnerships and Engagement Department. 

He characterizes energy, integrity, result-oriented, and ground-breaking service in each detail of strategic management, change management, stakeholder management, and leadership acquaintances.
Emmanuel owns a core background in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Ghana.

Leveraging his experience as a youth activist and a dynamic young man, Emmanuel founded the Young Global Leaders Network, a youth organization that comprises young diplomats, young politicians, and aspiring politicians, business/entrepreneurial business leaders with the aim of championing a mutual agenda for the African youth and promoting youth participation in governance as well as promoting entrepreneurial culture.
Emmanuel nurtures an environment of teamwork and has expertise in data collection and analysis as well as both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Emmanuel worked as an Associate Lecturer at the London College of Advanced Management where he delivered a wide range of business management courses that involved principles of marketing, leadership, operation management, and research methods. Emmanuel has always maintained high teaching and learning standards to ensure that his students’ stand out in academic achievements and successful progression. As a stout believer and passionate key player in volunteering; Emmanuel creates quality time to giving back gladly to his community what he has learned and to educate individuals with free consultancy on career development. He is a leader anyone would love to look up to and with great integrity, commitment, and passion to make the world a better place.
Emmanuel worked as Qualifications Manager at the Open University in the UK.

Emmanuel is also the founder of Kickstart Innovation Hub Ltd, the entrepreneurial hub of Young Global Leaders Network.