Modern Presentation Techniques: Rhetoric & Body Language

• Module 3 focuses on effective modern presentation techniques and the importance of rhetoric and body language.

Presentation Objectives

• Understand the influence of rhetoric and body language.
• Implement modern presentation techniques.
• Use tools and strategies to maintain audience interest.
• Incorporate humor.
• Utilize engagement parts and props.
• Employ visual, connector, Lessig, storytelling, and Pecha Kucha presentation styles.

Training Content

• Brief history of rhetoric
• Significance and application of body language
• Modern presentation techniques

Rhetoric and Body Language

• Rhetoric is the art of speaking developed after tyranny ended in ancient Greece leading to the possibility of free speech.
• Rhetoric is now both an art and science, aiming to persuade with effective speech.
• Body language includes gestures, posture, and movements like handshakes, sitting positions, arm and leg positions, and eye contact.
• Body language is relatively new field that gained importance with TV and Internet.

Influence of Rhetoric and Body Language

• Throughout history, those who understood the power of rhetoric have used it to persuade others, especially within political contexts.
• Hitler effectively used his tone and body language, while Obama’s success is often associated with his compelling rhetoric.
• Strong rhetorical skills are beneficial in various life aspects, not just politics.
• Body language can signal agreement, competency, intelligence, and sympathy.
• People form lasting impressions in seconds
• In 1960's TV duel between Kennedy and Nixon, Kennedy's relaxed, composed demeanor contrasted with Nixon's tenseness, affecting viewers' preferences.
• In job interviews, presentations, and speeches, nonverbal cues can make or break the delivery.

Charismatic Body Language

• Includes confident gestures, consistent eye contact, and the display of genuine emotions
• Warmth combined with confidence is more effective than arrogance.

Mimicking

• Subtly mirroring gestures often fosters connection.
• People tend to like those with similar body language.
• Tests revealed people start to mirror each others breathing patterns

Thin Slicing

• Refers to drawing quick judgments based on limited information.
• Judgments can be formed on competence, empathy, or mood in under a second.
• Micro-expressions can reveal hidden emotions like sadness.
• A fake smile doesn't reach the eyes.

Smiling

• Smiling should be genuine
• Too much or insincere smiling makes people suspicious.
• There's a balance between being too distant and too eager to please.

Timing And Body Language

• Nonverbal cues are most important at the beginning and end of a presentation.
• Like a band opening with popular song , a presentation should start strong.

Gestures

• Touch can enhance memorability
• Positive touches are better
• Gestures should remain below the belt, avoiding overly aggressive motions in the head or chest area.

Speech

• Slower, deliberate speech, like that of Obama and Merkel, conveys control and confidence.
• Recording yourself can reveal speech patterns.

Ten Commandments of Good Presenting

• Maintain eye contact with the audience.
• Avoid reading notes, staring at the wall, or focusing too much on PowerPoint.
• Eye contact builds trust, competence, and authority.
• Convey appropriate emotions to connect with the audience.
• Authenticity is key to making content understandable and memorable.

Expression Dont's

• Blank emotion

Posture

• Should be open, relaxed, and focused on the audience.
• Being too stiff or slouching can indicate nervousness or disinterest.
• Constant fidgeting is another bad habit.
• Angling towards one side can distance half the audience
• Be central to the audience for a more neutral, balanced approach

Arm Positioning

• Keep arms in neutral at waist level
• Avoid hanging arms, crossed arms, or keeping them above chest level, which can signal discomfort or aggression.

Gestures

• Essential and should support what you say
• Hand movements should be active

Body Movements

• Convey confidence
• Standing with feet shoulder-width apart provides stability without stiffness.
• Balance still moments with some movement.

Congruence

• Body language and content should align.
• Match gestures to the theme's tone
• Match facial expressions to your delivery

Clothing

• Should align with the presentation's intention
• Dress more professional for more enthusiastic performance

The Self

• Embrace your style to deliver an authentic presentation
• Be aware that quick speech is good for some, but not all
• Present without showing anxiety

Don't overestimate the power of body language.

• Focus on content first.

Presentation Delivery

• Record yourself on video, then review the footage in silence to evaluate its effectiveness.
• Those who focus on gesturing, improving delivery, and building vocabularies improve their public speaking.
• Aim for a balanced strategy

Modern Presentation Techniques

• Start and end strongly.
• Good start with engaging hooks and end with impactful closures
• Tailor elements to suit the audience, topic, and context.

Speech Starts

• Starting with the theme
• Asking rhetorical or practical questions
• Presenting a shock
• Introducing a dialogue

Speech End

• In conclusion, don't add new informations
• Instead build audience excitement

Speech Examples

• Don't greet formally
• Instead start straight away and address the topic

Presentation Delivery

• A main body should be well-structured, logical, and contain persuasive arguments, factual statements, and examples.
• Keep audience active and engaged by being informative and entertaining
• Engage the audience by adding conversation between delivery

Audience Retention

• Attention spans often peak within the first 20 minutes, and switch it up
• Aha! experiences, action-oriented tasks like discussions, and well-timed breaks can refresh engagement.

Speaking

• Aim for speaking to different learning styles
• Visual learning benefits from pictures and diagrams

End Notes

• The lecturer must provide a quick summary and highlight key points.
• The speaker needs to use supporting data and relevant content to create a memorable impact
• Finally, the speechs closure should then call to action