Why body language is important in public speaking?

Hi, there! Thank you for reaching out to us at Better Help. My name is Stacey Shine, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I read over your question and am hopeful that I can help you out.

You asked the question of body language is important in public speaking. The answer to this question is for sure a yes! Body language can say so much more than words can. Body language can lead to trust or lead to someone being skeptical of what words are being sad. Body language can add emphasis to what you are trying to communicate.  Think about eye contact. If someone is avoiding eye contact, that is typically considered a sign of lying or being untrustworthy. If someone has great eye contact, it can help someone feel reassured. It can make them feel like they are being heard. I think the same thing goes for something as simple as crossing your arms. Crossed arms can make you feel like someone is closed off and not hearing as much. Body language can sometimes be hard because it can truly mean that a person does not know what their body language is portraying, which can mix signals at times. So, it is important not to emphasize body language if you do not know the person much. When it comes to public speaking, it is often the case that the person is not known by many, so that that body language can be even more important. Things such as leaning in, having an open posture, and using your hands can all help add emphasis to whatever you are speaking about. If a question is asked, it is important to look directly at the person and show signs of listening, such as nodding your head. Those can all help when it comes to public speaking.

I hope this was helpful! If you are looking for more pointers on body language, I will do some research on what some positive body language movements can help and specifically in the area of public speaking. Best of luck to you!