You have thirty seconds to live.
No. Just kidding. But really….the life of your presentation does have a drastic and essential thirty seconds – at the beginning – in which to grab the audience’s attention. To hook ‘em – to catch ‘em and reel ‘em in. Because you can’t catch a fish without a hook.
What is a hook?
A hook is your basic "attention getting" device, one that’s used to capture the target’s attention, whether that target is a fish, a music listener, a movie watcher or an audience member listening to, maybe, their third speech of the day.
Which would you say is the best hook in this multiple choice of three?
1) “Today, I want to talk to you all about our internal feedback system. I think that we need to make some changes because … “
2) “Thanks for coming here today. I know that you are all busy and I appreciate you taking the time. My name is James T. Boring and I …”
3) “In 2004, when we first launched our internal feedback system, I never expected that I would now have to stand in front of this group and say …”
One way for presidents and world leaders to assure the public is through their body language. The words are important, but how they stand and gesture can add or detract from their message. Click here to see an example >>
Remember the recent debates between presidential candidates? When they addressed each other – did they face each other, then turn to the audience to give the rest of their message? Did they stand up straight? Gesture appropriately? Where did their eyes go?
You may not be running for President, but whatever you do – at work or at play — your body language – the way you stand, sit and "pose" sometimes has more effect on the message you’re trying to get across than what you’re actually saying, especially with the short attention span most people have today. How do you come across?
It may sound crazy, but stand in front of the mirror and observe your body language. Stand up. Sit down. Pretend you’re talking to a client. To a date. Watch your face, your arms. Are you standing up straight? Arms crossed on your chest? Are you smiling? Start with a good attitude, a pleasant expression and a self-confident posture. Don’t cross your arms or legs. Take up space. Face the person you’re talking to; don’t just give them a shoulder or half a back. Work on maintaining eye contact. Can you really trust or believe someone who won’t look you in the eye?
Next time you see someone you respect, or even someone you don’t, but someone who has an air of authenticity and self-confidence, pay attention to their body language. Then go back to the mirror.
Below, see Patti Wood's body language expertise in action on CBS's Inside Edition show, aired on January 22, 2008. In this segment entitled "Democratic Debate Body Language", the topic of discussion is the nasty and heated fireworks debate between democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama the prior evening covered by CNN. Patti's body language analysis reveals the non-verbal bitter battle of symbolic weapons and gestures used by the two presidential hopefuls.
More on Presidential Posture: Presentation
