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Movement Tutorial
Effective movement is one of the most challenging aspects of presenting. Many presenters stand in one spot, between their laptop and screen, and move only to change slides. Perhaps even more distracting are those presenters who pace about the room, moving tirelessly but with no purpose.
Moving deliberately during a presentation builds your credibility, and energizes your presentation style. Many presenters like to move because it is an effective way to dissipate their nervous energy. Effective movement is a key differentiator between good and great presenters.
How:
- Take at least 4-5 steps and stop in the neutral posture, then make eye contact.
- Stay in one place for a thought, then move to another spot, and return to neutral posture.
- Use changing slides to your advantage. Stop talking when you are ready to change slides, move to your laptop, advance the slides, then move to a new position.
- Move away from your laptop when discussing the slides.
- Use the space available in the room.
- If you move into the audience, turn around and stop talking while you return to the front of the room.
Why:
- Creates energy for the audience.
- Helps you direct nervous energy.
- Maintains focus on you.
Practice Ideas:
- Put Post-Its© notes on the floor in three different places, about 5 feet away from each other. Practice moving from Post-Its© to Post-Its© while talking. Remember to stop, regain neutral posture, and make eye contact when you stop at each Post-It©.
- Try presenting while pacing. Note what it does to your presentation style. Does it calm you down or make you more anxious?
- Try presenting while standing perfectly still in neutral posture. How is this experience?
Watch Out For:
- Getting too far into the audience, and not knowing how to get out.
- Losing your neutral posture when you stop moving.
- Moving without ever stopping.
- Letting the screen and your laptop dictate where you will move.
- Hovering near your laptop.