SHARON KEANE, DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
LISA JOY OGLESBEE, ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES, CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
SARAH BAECHLE, ASSISTANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
Stage Presence: Drawing in Your Audience
Workshop Objectives
● Recognize the ways that physical presence affect communication
● Learn to use non-verbal communication to your advantage
● Develop a good relationship with your audience● Learn how to clearly communicate complicated
ideas through imagery.
Nonverbal Communication Defined
Nonverbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages without using words, either spoken or written.
Why are Nonverbal Communication Skills Important?
● Up to 75% of all meaning comes from nonverbal cues● Modes of nonverbal communication
● Your skill can increase clarity, rapport & trust● Indicates your interest level, listening skills,
confidence
Cues, Expectations & Inferences: The Nonverbal Process
● Cue○ We observe others’ nonverbal signals or cues (sight, sound,
touch, taste, or smell)
● Expectation○ We compare the cue to our expectation(s) based upon our
previous experience
● Inference○ We infer meaning
Example: Good Morning
Nonverbal Truisms/Principles
1. Nonverbal Communication occurs in a context
2. Nonverbal behaviors are usually packaged
3. Nonverbal behavior always communicates
4. Nonverbal behavior is governed by rules
5. Nonverbal behavior is highly believable
Types of Nonverbal Communication
● General Appearance and Dress○ Sends signals (culture, respect for audience, positive image,
financial status, confidence)○ Recommend: Dress slightly better than others in room
● Facial Expressions○ First impressions; responsible for significant amount of
nonverbal communication○ Recommend: Be aware audience relies on to augment meaning
● Body Movements/Posture○ Claim your space through stance, movement○ Recommend: Avoid defensive postures
Types of Nonverbal Communication
●Gestures○ Neutral, Open, Defined and Strong (NODS)○ Recommend: Be sensitive to different cultures
● Eye Contact (e.g., looking, staring, blinking)○ Communicates interest, attraction, hostility○ Recommend: Direct, steady, but not staring
● Space (Physical, Personal)○ Personal space differs on situation, culture, and relationship○ Recommend: Factor in cultural expectations, situation, personality characteristics
and level of familiarity
● Paralinguistics○ Is non-language vocal communication & includes tone, loudness, inflection, and
pace○ Recommend: Be deliberate in your tone to be sure it’s consistent with your message
Best Practices for Strong Nonverbal Communication
1. Consider the context of a situation2. Use good eye contact
○ Recommended intervals of 4 to 5 seconds
3. Concentrate on your tone of voice4. Use body language to support spoken words5. Learn how to manage stress6. Be emotionally aware
3MT Rules
Judging Criteria● Engagement & Communication● Did the oration make the audience want to know more?● Was the presenter careful not to trivialise or generalise their
research?● Did the presenter convey enthusiasm for their research?● Did the presenter capture and maintain their audience's
attention?● Did the speaker have sufficient stage presence, eye contact and
vocal range; maintain a steady pace, and have a confidence stance?
● Did the PowerPoint slide enhance the presentation - was it clear, legible, and concise?
3MT Video Review - Nonverbals
1. 2014 UQ Winner
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
● You are the most important visual to your audience so pay attention to how you look and sound
● Find your physical expressiveness
● Nonverbal communication is culturally based so follow the rules of your society and understand/appreciate the rules of other societies
● Awareness, Presence & Practice
O.P.E.N. U.P.
Koegel’s formula for exceptional presenting:
● O- Organized● P- Passionate● E- Engaging● N- Natural● U- Understand● P- Practice
OPEN UP
Resources
● Articles:○ http://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships/nonverbal-
communication.htm○ http://psychology.about.
com/od/nonverbalcommunication/a/nonverbaltypes.htm● Books:
○ The Truth About Confident Presenting by James O’Rourke
○ Nonverbal Communication by Albert Mehrabian
○ The Exceptional Presenter by Timothy J. Koegel
● Videos:○ https://www.ted.
com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAd_ScIl0Yw
Lisa Joy Oglesbee, M.A.
English for Academic PurposesCenter for the Study of Languages and Cultures
Drawing In Your Audience:Audience Rapport and Accommodation
What is Rapport?
Rapport With Your Audience
What does this look like in an academic or technical presentation?
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/learner/rapport
Rapport With Your Audience
Why is Rapport Important?
It fosters a cooperative environment
It opens pathways for communication
It increases comfort and improves learning potential
Rapport With Your Audience
1. Talk to people before your presentation begins.Introduce yourselfShake handsSmile!
http://www.wittcom.com/build_rapport_with_your_audience.htm
Rapport With Your Audience
2. Have your audience's best interests at heart.Serve, don’t sell.
http://www.wittcom.com/build_rapport_with_your_audience.htm
Rapport With Your Audience
3. Establish eye contact.Hold someone’s gaze for 2-5 seconds, and then move to someone else.
http://www.wittcom.com/build_rapport_with_your_audience.htm
Rapport With Your Audience
4. Speak simply and with conviction.Have a conversation with your audience.
Speak a little louder than usual.
http://www.wittcom.com/build_rapport_with_your_audience.htm
Rapport With Your Audience
5. Dress appropriately.Dress a little more formally than your audience in order to establish your credibility and authority.
http://www.wittcom.com/build_rapport_with_your_audience.htm
Rapport With Your Audience
6. Avoid using humor or language that might be offensive.Avoid language or topics best left in the "bathroom, barroom, or bedroom.”
Avoid stereotypes of all sorts.
http://www.wittcom.com/build_rapport_with_your_audience.htm
Rapport With Your Audience
7. Tell stories to engage their imaginations.
http://www.wittcom.com/build_rapport_with_your_audience.htm
Rapport With Your Audience
No Apologies: There is no such thing as boring content, only boring
presenters and boring presentation plans.
There are two ways we are at risk for apologizing for what we present: 1. Actually apologizing
– e.g., “I’m sorry this is so boring.”2. Assuming and/or recognizing something will be boring.
– e.g., “Guys, I know this is dull. Let’s just get through it.”
Lemov, Doug. Teach Like a Champion, 2010, pg.51-56
Rapport With Your Audience
No Apologies: There is no such thing as boring content, only boring
presenters and boring presentation plans.
Alternatives to Apology: ● “This material is great because it’s really challenging!”● “This can really help you succeed.” ● “A lot of people are afraid of this stuff, so after you’ve
mastered it, you’ll know more than most people.”
Lemov, Doug. Teach Like a Champion, 2010, pg.51-56
Questions to ask yourself: ● Whom am I addressing?● What do I want them to know, believe, or do?● How can I present the information in a way that
will best convey my ideas?
Accommodating Your Audience
http://www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/sites/usm.edu.gulfcoast/files/groups/learning-commons/pdf/audience_adaptation_web.pdf
Psychographic Factors
Attitudes
Beliefs/Values
Knowledge
Loyalties
Lifestyle
Accommodating Your Audience
http://www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/sites/usm.edu.gulfcoast/files/groups/learning-commons/pdf/audience_adaptation_web.pdf
Socioeconomic Factors
Age
Marital Status
Education
Occupation
Religion
Gender
Accommodating Your Audience
http://www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/sites/usm.edu.gulfcoast/files/groups/learning-commons/pdf/audience_adaptation_web.pdf
Environmental Factors
Size of Group
Time of Day
Stage/Platform
Seating Arrangement
Occasion
Accommodating Your Audience
http://www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/sites/usm.edu.gulfcoast/files/groups/learning-commons/pdf/audience_adaptation_web.pdf
Learn from Leonard and Sheldon
What did Leonard do wrong in accommodating the audience?
What did Sheldon do wrong in accommodating the audience?
Accommodating Your Audience
● Talk to your audience, not at them
● Project enthusiasm
● Never apologize for the content
● Tailor your speech to the audience
Putting It All Together
What makes for a compelling slide?
● Which of these images or slides catches your eye? ○ Which do you find appealing?
● How much can you tell about the content of the talk?
● Which makes you want to learn more?
Tips for Creating Compelling Slides
Keep things:● Simple● Graphic/visual● Legible● Clear● ‘Single’
You may want to include: • Your name
• Your title or research question• Your contact details
What makes an image compelling?
Questions to consider:● What seems to be important? ● Where is your eye drawn? ● What thoughts or emotions does the image invite? ● What seems to be the central idea or claim?
Jot down notes about the image:
• What seems to be important?
• Where is your eye drawn?
• What thoughts or emotions does the image invite?
• What seems to be the central idea or claim?
https://vimeo.com/139534737
Jot down notes about the image:
Now that you know a bit more about the context for the image, how do you understand the central idea or claim of the image?
To what extent does this context help us fill in the logic/meaning of the image?
How should/can the slide relate to your talk?
● A case study, analogy, or example of your evidence
Via: http://blogs.bath.ac.uk/csct/2015/we-live-in-world-of-waste/
How should/can the slide relate to your talk?
● An overview of your argument or approach to the topic
How should/can the slide relate to your talk?
● Framing the larger intellectual intervention of your research
Whichever approach you take…
● Don’t rely on the slide to make the presentation for you.
● Use it to attract interest, but not reproduce or compete with your talk.
● Choose one ‘hero’ image, diagram, or example to illustrate your presentation.
● Let the slide suggest wider scope than you can cover in your 3 minutes.
Bianca Santos, Virginia Institute of Marine Science2015 Winner