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Build confidence in sharing your ideas out loud through body language and voice control.
What if you could make everyone in a room stop and listen to your ideas just by how you stood? It’s not magic—it’s the science of public speaking!
Before you say a single word, your body is already talking! To look confident, use the Speaker’s Stance. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart—imagine your legs are heavy anchors holding you steady. Keep your shoulders back and your hands out of your pockets. For eye contact, don't just stare at the floor or one person. Use the Z-Scan: start at the back-left corner of the room, move your eyes to the back-right, then down to the front-left, and finally the front-right. This makes everyone feel included in your 'visual net.' Even if you feel nervous, standing tall tells your brain that you are in control.
Follow these steps to practice your visual reach: 1. Find four objects in your room (e.g., a lamp, a chair, a window, and a door). 2. Stand in your 'Anchor' stance. 3. Speak one sentence of your speech while looking at the first object. 4. Move your eyes to the next object for the second sentence. 5. Repeat until you have 'connected' with all four corners of the room.
Quick Check
Why is the 'Speaker’s Stance' compared to an anchor?
Answer
Because it keeps you steady and prevents you from swaying or looking nervous.
Your voice has a 'remote control' with two main buttons: Volume and Pace. If you speak too softly, your audience will tune out. If you speak too fast, they’ll get lost. Aim for a volume that reaches the very back wall of the room. For pace, remember that nervous speakers often go times faster than normal! To fix this, use purposeful pauses. A 2-second pause after a big idea gives your audience time to think. Think of your voice like a car: you want to drive at a steady speed, not a 100mph race, so people can see the scenery (your ideas).
Practice controlling your 'Vocal Remote' with this drill: 1. Say the alphabet at a level 1 (a whisper). 2. Say the next five letters at a level 5 (normal talking voice). 3. Say the final letters at a level 8 (presentation voice, projecting to the back of a gym). 4. Try to keep your speed exactly the same at every volume level.
Quick Check
What is a common mistake nervous speakers make regarding their pace?
Answer
They speak too fast, often twice as fast as their normal speaking speed.
When we get nervous, our bodies have extra energy. This energy often turns into Fidget Monsters: habits like hair-twirling, pocket-jangling, or swaying. Instead of trying to freeze perfectly still, turn that energy into purposeful gestures. Use your hands to show size (big vs. small) or to count points (first, second, third). If you find yourself saying 'um' or 'like'—which are called filler words—simply replace them with silence. A silent pause sounds like you are thinking deeply, while an 'um' sounds like you are lost.
This is a tough one! 1. Pick a simple topic like 'My Favorite Food.' 2. Set a timer for 60 seconds. 3. Speak about the topic without using any filler words (um, uh, like, so). 4. If you feel an 'um' coming, close your mouth and wait 1 second before continuing.
Where should your feet be during the 'Speaker’s Stance'?
What is the best way to handle a 'filler word' like 'um'?
The 'Z-Scan' means you should only look at the people in the very center of the room.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain the 'Z-Scan' and 'Speaker's Stance' to a family member or friend without looking at your notes.
Practice Activity
Record yourself speaking for 1 minute on your phone. Watch it back to spot any 'Fidget Monsters' you didn't know you had!