Tag: TED Talks

What Your Body Language Is Saying When You Present

When you’re presenting, your audience starts “listening” to you before you speak — through your body language.

The way you stand, move, and make eye contact can make your message more powerful — or more forgettable.

👁️ 1. Eye Contact = Connection

Look at your audience — not your slides or notes.
In small rooms, try the “triangle method”:
👀 Look left, right, centre — and repeat.

In online presentations, look into the camera, not your own image.

Cultural note:
In some cultures (e.g. Japan), extended eye contact can feel aggressive. Adjust based on your context.

🧍 2. Posture = Confidence

Stand tall. Shoulders back. Feet shoulder-width apart.
Avoid swaying, slouching, or crossing your arms.

Tip: Practise in front of a mirror or on video — posture makes a bigger impression than you think.

✋ 3. Gestures = Emphasis

Use your hands to highlight key ideas — but don’t wave them constantly.

  • Open palms = honesty
  • Pointing = too aggressive (in some cultures)
  • Repetitive gestures = distracting

Watch:
👉 Amy Cuddy – Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are
Cuddy explains how body language affects not just others — but you.

🧠 4. Facial Expressions = Emotion

A smile adds warmth. Raised eyebrows show surprise.
Let your face match your message — or the audience won’t trust you.

Tip: Practise reading your face in a short video recording.

✨ Final Thought

Body language doesn’t replace what you say — it reinforces it.
Be aware of how you come across, and you’ll build trust without saying a word.

What Makes a Presentation Memorable? And How You Can Apply Those Secrets Yourself

We’ve all sat through presentations that felt like a slow drip of PowerPoint slides. And yet, once in a while, someone stands up and speaks — and something clicks. You’re hooked. You remember it. You repeat it to a friend later.

So, what’s the difference?
Why do some presentations stay with us, while others vanish the moment we leave the room?

In my experience teaching presentation skills, the most memorable talks share five key ingredients — and you can learn to use all of them.

🎯 1. A Clear Message — Not Just Information

Memorable presentations don’t just dump data or list bullet points. They have a core message — something the audience can take away and repeat in one sentence.

If you can’t summarise your message in a sentence, your audience won’t either.

Watch:
👉 Simon Sinek – Start with Why
Sinek doesn’t talk about marketing theory — he delivers one big idea: “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”

🎭 2. Storytelling and Emotion

Facts fade, but stories stick. A good presentation draws you in with a story you care about, something that makes you feel — whether it’s laughter, surprise, or empathy.

Watch:
👉 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – The Danger of a Single Story
She doesn’t just make a point — she tells powerful, personal stories that bring it to life.

😄 3. Personality and Authenticity

People don’t remember perfect delivery — they remember realness. A memorable speaker is human, open, and often a little vulnerable.

Watch:
👉 Brené Brown – The Power of Vulnerability
Brown’s humour and honesty are what make her talk unforgettable.

⏸️ 4. Pauses, Timing, and Presence

How you say something can be more powerful than what you say. Pacing, pauses, and silence create drama and help your audience absorb key points.

Watch:
👉 Julian Treasure – How to Speak so That People Want to Listen
Treasure uses rhythm, voice, and pause like a musical performance.

A pause lets your message land. Rushing robs it of power.

🖼️ 5. Simple, Visual Support

The best presentations don’t rely on slides — but when they’re used, they’re visual, clean, and memorable.

Watch:
👉 Hans Rosling – The Best Stats You’ve Ever Seen
He transforms dry data into visual storytelling with energy and impact.

💡 Takeaway: You Can Learn This

Being memorable isn’t about talent or luck — it’s about intention and practice. You can:

✔ Structure your message
✔ Tell stories
✔ Be yourself
✔ Use silence
✔ Support your ideas with visuals

Want to get better at presenting? Choose one of the TED Talks above and watch how these techniques come to life — then try using one of them in your next presentation.

Let me know what you think — and if you’d like more tips, reflections, or real examples, follow along here on the blog.

Cheers,
Lee