Toastmasters: Nonverbal Communication and Delivery

 Fortunately or unfortunately, many people associate public speaking with delivery. As someone who has taught public speaking for 43 years in colleges, I resist that association. Public speaking is about so, so much more. However, if someone doesn’t conquer the “nonverbals”, he/she just isn’t going to get very far as a speaker.

Conquering them, though, is not so simple. We’re talking about controlling several parts of the body reacting to social, intellectual, and emotional stress.

We’re talking eyes—looking directly at people at the same time you are trying to create full sentences. We’re talking posture—legs, knees, back, feet—and moving around. We’re talking hand gestures—yes, please use them. And then a voice that is fluid, loud, energetic, varied, and expressive. 

No manual or set of directions is going to give you good delivery. Only practice, critique, practice, feedback, a few tips, more practice, more critique, recording yourself as much as possible.

But . . .

Here are some pointers.

 Eye Contact: Nothing substitutes for looking people in the eye. Do not focus on walls or over heads. You can only look at one person at a time. Talk to that person for five to ten seconds, then move on to another.

 Be sure to include everyone—back, front, sides, close, far.

 Posture: Your lectern and furniture are not part of your skeletal system. The lectern is not there to hide behind or hold you up. Walk around in order to minimize distance from the audience, but not to dispel nervous energy.

Gestures: Yes. If someone told you not to use them, delete that from your hard drive.

Voice: Loud, slow, and clear trump dramatic but inaudible, varied but too soft. We all talk faster than we realize as beginning speakers. Focus on that first. We are often judged by our voice quality, as if voice was a sign of character. Voice control equates to self control in many persons’ thinking.