MOVEMENT

The key to being a dynamic speaker is movement — of all different types. Even the dictionary definition of the word “dynamic” refers to motion!

https://www.wordnik.com/words/dynamic

Here’s a rhyme to guide you on various kinds of “movement” to communicate more effectively.

Move your hands,

Move your face,

Move your body

Through your space.

Move your voice

Throughout its range;

Just don’t make it

Sound too strange!

Body Language

Mimes demonstrate just how much meaning can be conveyed non-verbally. Matching body language with hand gestures and facial expressions creates powerful IMACT — even without words!

If you stand static and stiff, your audience will be no more “moved” than your motionless body. At the other extreme, pacing back-and-forth like a caged animal will make your audience just as anxious to excape! The DynamiCoach “Step and Stop” method helps you strike the right balance between motion and stability. You’ll learn to use your performance space to maximum advantage.

Hand Gestures

An analysis of TED talks found a direct correlation between the use of hand gestures and the number of views. The most popular speakers used almost twice as many gestures as the least-viewed!

Waist-up shot of joyful carefree attractive male with curly hair in grey t-shirt, raising palms high in jazz hands gesture, smiling broadly, being in playful mood while having fun over gray wall

But be careful! There can be “too much of a good thing” when it comes to hand gestures. Avoid pointless, constant use of hand movements — known as “jazz hands” (for legendary jazz dance choreographer Bob Fosse). This can make you appear nervous and unfocused, and can be distracting and downright annoying to your audience.

Vocal Variety

“Movement” includes your voice, which is literally a “wind instrument” in a very real sense! How you use the elements of vocal variety (pitch, tone, speed, rhythm, volume, etc.) affect how your words are perceived. 50-year-old research shows that the visual and vocal elements of non-verbal communication can actually cancel-out and overpower your intended meaning, if there is inconsistency between what you say and how you say it.

In the DynamiCoach Program, you’ll learn:

The varoius categories of hand gestures
When & how to gesture
Techniques for combining movement with eye contact to maintain engagement with your entire audience
How to master the many elements of “vocal variety”