USING NON VERBAL CUES WHEN YOU SPEAK

They say a picture tells 1,000 words. A look, an expression, a gesture all have power to convey a full message when you use this power correctly. Studies have shown that more than 50 percent of what a person says is communicated non verbally. So yes, words matter. But how you convey them matters just as much—and actually, more.

1) Posture matters. Don’t fold into yourself when you speak. Use all the space around you. Stand—or sit—up straight, chest out, chin up. That’s how you convey confidence and authority in what you’re saying.
2) Engage. Don’t just ramble off your message like a runaway train in a vacuum. (Also, it’s okay to mix metaphors sometimes because it stops your listener—but more on that in another post: Mix Your Metaphors.) You are speaking with someone or someone(s). Nod, wave, count out numbers on your hands. Put your whole self into the message
3) Move. If possible, get up and walk around while you’re making a point. Especially if the material you have to deliver is a little on the dry side, moving around as you speak will help give your listener more to focus on.
4) Look like you’re listening. When someone asks you a question, use those 42 muscles in your face to express how you feel about their contribution.
5) Write it down. If you’re giving a presentation or even if you’re in a meeting, scratching someone else’s words onto paper while they’re speaking will make them feel valued.

Get more exciting communication tips in Your Self-Sabotage Survival Guide by Karen Berg. Read more here: tinyurl.com/y786t4ax