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3 Tips for Facial Expression in Public Speaking
Have you ever been interviewed by an angry person? Have you ever been to a conference where the speaker looks so sad that he/she sucks all happiness out of the room? Have you ever seen a person smiling so much on the stage that he/she looks like a psychopath? Can you notice that all these people have one thing in common? They lack proper control over their facial expressions.
Public Speaking requires a firm hold on the facial expression by the speaker. A public speaker’s job is not just to speak words. Instead, it is to create an impact on the audience through proper coordination between facial expression, body language, and words.
Right expressions can strike a connection with the audience whereas wrong expressions can confuse the audience. A powerful speech with improper facial expressions can water down into nothing.
Following are some points to consider about facial expression when speaking publicly:
Maintain Eye Contact
"Eyes are the mirror of the soul."
It is essential to maintain consistent eye contact with your audience while speaking. Not maintaining one signifies lack of self-confidence and lack of interest. Eye contact can capture the attention of your audience. It is important that speakers are expressive through their eyes. While some people use this to their advantage, many fail to do so.
Imagine giving an interview where the interviewer won’t look into your eyes while asking questions. He/She is looking everywhere but you. Won’t that put down your confidence in scoring that interview?
Similarly, imagine yourself taking interview of applicants who do not have the confidence to look into your eye while answering about their strengths, weakness, and goals. Will you be hiring such people?
The above two conditions reiterate the importance of eye contact during interviews from both sides.
The importance of eye contact cannot be stressed enough while giving a speech as well. You are supposed to engage all your audience to your words. If you are just standing there looking at your notes time and again, it will not work. It also entails that you don’t only look at the unicorns at the back and deliver your speech to them but span it throughout the place, not skimming the audience but carefully looking right, left and in front to let your audience know that they have your full attention.
Eye contact is not only confined to giving speeches or interviews but to the profession of teaching as well. As much as students are afraid to be in the spotlight of a teacher, it is necessary for them to hold steady eye contact with students not only to let them understand the seriousness of their authority but also to gauge the reaction of the students.
Looking at your audience is not just about gathering their attention. However, it is also about ascertaining the effect of your words on them. It helps you in receiving proper feedback of your words.
Start with a Smile!
"A smile goes a long way."
Nobody likes an angry or a depressed person on stage. A smile always wins the hearts of people. It is an armor that can get you through many battles smoothly.
Have you noticed that when an interviewer interviews you with a pleasant expression, you feel more comfortable than when an interviewer interviews with a grave expression? On the other hand, if you have put on a nervous expression, doesn’t your chance to clear the interview becomes bleak?
While giving a speech, start with a smile. It not only puts you in a good light but also lightens the mood of your audience. A lighthearted environment is created when the speaker smiles and interacts with the audience. Cracking a few jokes in between can also help in creating a friendly and easy space. Even if you are asking a question or listening to an answer from the audience, a small smile on your face indicates that they have your attention.
It is not advisable to always smile and make a fool out of yourself but adopt an easy personality that will make you approachable to people around you.
So practice a smile to wear in front of people. In the end, it is about concealing what you really may be feeling, be it angst, nervousness or disgust. Show the world a sweet smiling face to sell them an idea, product, place or a person as a brand.
Coordinate your Facial Expressions with your words
Have you seen celebrities walking on the red carpet or a businessmen in action? They mask their real emotions and act according to the situation.
Many a times, in Public Speaking, you will have to speak about serious issues that require certain seriousness and authority in your voice. For instance, you cannot keep on smiling while talking about corruption.
Hence, whether it is to put on a smile or to put on a serious face, you have to maintain your facial expressions according to your words.
You may start on a light note with a smile but you cannot continue with it throughout your session. Your face should convey that you understand the importance of the subject.
A good speaker knows how to present himself in different scenarios. Misplaced facial expressions are judged and abhorred in the society.
These are some points about facial expressions that you must keep in mind the next time you face your audience. You can awe them with your confidence, eloquence and charming personality if you feel the words you are speaking.
Written by - Isha Jain
Edited by - Vasudha Sabharwal
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