Coaching

How you look determines how your message will be received. Studies have shown that anything we say will be 55 per cent judged by our outside. 38 per cent is down to the sound of our voice, and a mere 7 per cent goes to our words.

So how can you achieve a convincing appearance?
Make sure that you accept that you are actually going before your audience. Also, make sure you are as comfortable as possible. Make contact with your audience, and do so before you even start to speak. Look at the people, open up to them, feel them.
Build a bridge between yourself as you stand at the podium and your audience. This is a magical bridge. It will help your messages get across to the people.

The way to build this bridge is through body language, and through what’s known as vibes. Vibes convey feelings and judgments that we often make unconsciously. Your body language speaks louder than your words. Your audience will sense a lot of things even before you start speaking. Your audience will sense

•  whether you are nervous or relaxed,
• whether you are feeling tired or rested,
• whether you are afraid, or
• whether you are looking forward to speaking to them.

Your audience will also sense

• whether you are serious about engaging with them, or
• whether you feel this is just another annoying routine task.

And your audience will sense whether you have anything important to tell them. So your audience will be making a decision about whether it really wants to listen to you, and it will do so long before you first open your mouth to speak.
Sometimes, you will not be speaking directly to an audience, but through a camera. In that case, use the camera as a bridge, as a medium through which you can reach people. Cross this bridge and go directly to the people. Don’t worry too much. Yes, there are rules about how to make your best impression on camera or off, but it’s something you can learn. A media coach will help you.