Onstage In Las Vegas
a few weeks ago, senior executives of a software company were welcoming the audience to their annual user conference. Presenting on a big stage with a spotlight shining in your face is very different from sitting at your desk in front of your computer screen. Talking into a sea of invisible faces in a darkened theater is very different from seeing names in neat squares on your screen.

It Was My Job
to coach several of these executives’ speeches. How did they need to look? How did they need to sound? What were their key messages? And what the heck do you do with your hands?

Needless To Say
they felt out of their comfort zones. We had a fairly bumpy tech rehearsal, but after adjustments were made, lights shifted, teleprompters moved, talking points revised, body language addressed and stage directions given, everyone found their groove. I’m happy to say each of these speakers knocked it out of the park. Yaaay!

Being On A Stage
feels strange for most of us. It’s not our natural habitat. Although it was more routine in the “before times” for company conferences, meetings, symposia and summits, we have all fallen out of practice. And practice, aka rehearsal time, is really what it takes.

Three Body Language Techniques
made a huge difference for the speakers I worked with. In fact, the power of this fine-tuning was so dramatic that they received enthusiastic and glowing audience reviews. If you’re going live, give these three techniques a try…they work!

Move And Plant
When you have nothing but space around you, it’s very seductive to want to move around. Moving is great, and so is stopping! The key is to move with purpose and go somewhere, but then to plant and be still once you’re there. Think 1/3 moving, and 2/3 standing still. Best times to move: at the ends of sentences, transitioning to the next idea or bullet point. Best times to plant: when delivering strategic points you want the audience to focus on.

Arms Down
Believe it or not, it’s really hard to simply stand on a stage with our arms down by our sides. It feels awkward and weird. It looks powerful and confident, the absolute opposite of how you’re feeling. Our defensiveness typically makes us want to shield the front of our body (an ancient, primal response). By standing with your arms down by your sides, you communicate comfort and control.

Beware: Velcro Elbows
Gestures are awesome; they make you look alive and engaged. But a stage is a big space and your gestures need to match that space and fill it. Velcro elbows is the position where your upper arms, from shoulder to elbow, are held tightly (Velcro’d) to the sides of your body. This minimizes the whole impact of your gesture.

When you unstick your elbows, lifting your arms up and away from your body, it feels terrific. Whether you’re spreading arms wide or extending them forward towards your audience, your increased wingspan creates a bigger opportunity to connect.

As We All Adjust
to being bigger than our computer screens, out in the world and in front of live audiences, we need to consciously bring our bodies along with us. Our physical selves are always communicating. Let’s make sure the message is the right one. 

You’ve got this. You’re on. It’s showtime!

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