During presentations, consultations as well as other professional meetings, body language plays a role that is at least as important as what we are expressing with words. But whereas we pay considerable attention to other people’s body language, we often tend to forget about it when it comes to ourselves. This is partially because we would have to deal with ourselves a little more closely than we would like, risking that we could discover we are idealizing ourselves. This discovery can be unpleasant, but it can be very important as well. All speakers should be actively interested in the possible negative aspects of their body language and they should work on correcting them. Professor Charalambos Vlachoutsicos of the Athens University of Economics and Business advises on the Harvard Business Review website to ask oneself the following questions in advance:
When did you last eat?
If you haven’t eaten anything in the past few hours, eat something. Also visit the toilet. Do not drink coffee just before your presentation. That way your body language won’t let you down with undesirable effects in front of others.
Do you have unresolved disputes with any of the people you’re meeting?
If yes, the others will be able to tell based on your looks, grimaces, body position and gestures. It’s important for you to be aware of this in advance and to be careful of your non-verbal gestures so that any disputes from the past do not impact your meeting.
Are you prepared sufficiently?
If you are not prepared, you will focus only on the content of your words and you will not be able to control your body language. The mistakes that you usually do not make will suddenly be amplified. So if you are unable to prepare, try rescheduling the meeting. If this is impossible, remain as quiet as possible and prepare better next time.
Are you angry for some reason?
If yes, then calm down first and only then speak. Emotional reactions will not help you, even if you are right.
Then keep the following two key questions in mind during the meeting itself:
Are you restless?
If you’re rocking your chair, drumming on the table with your fingers, doodling or playing with your phone, the others will perceive it as a clear signal that you are not interested in them. The same thing will happen if you talk to the window or wall instead of to the people.
Do you interrupt others?
It’s OK to interrupt occasionally, but if it happens too often, the others will get the feeling that you don’t want to listen to them. As soon as they see that you’re diminishing their arguments, they’ll withdraw and take offense.
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