Face-to-face communication includes the words you say and, more importantly, the way you say them. Eye-contact, gesture and posture can all add to the impact of your talk.
We give clues about what we are thinking by the way we sit or stand. That doesnât mean that everyone who sits upright is interested or that everyone who slumps is bored. But paying attention to posture can help us communicate a message more clearly.
Posture is usually interpreted at a subconscious level. Here are some examples of posture with some generally accepted meanings:
Posture
Meaning
Leaning slightly towards a speaker
Suggests interest in a topic
Tilting head to one side
Suggests you are listening
Standing with both feet on the ground
Suggests confidence
Standing with weight on one foot
Suggests uncertainty
Posture
Leaning slightly towards a speaker
Meaning
Suggests interest in a topic
Posture
Tilting head to one side
Meaning
Suggests you are listening
Posture
Standing with both feet on the ground
Meaning
Suggests confidence
Posture
Standing with weight on one foot
Meaning
Suggests uncertainty
You can use your own posture to your advantage when you are in a discussion or giving a presentation. Show that you are interested and engaged with a speaker by leaning slightly towards them and tilting your head to one side. Feel the difference yourself, for example, when you fold your arms and sit back in your chair.
To appear more confident when delivering a speech or presentation:
plant your feet firmly on the ground, about hip distance apart
roll your shoulders back
keep your chin up
keep your arms relaxed and by your side, unless you are making specific gestures
Even if you donât feel confident on the inside, this posture will go some way to convincing your audience that you know what youâre talking about.