To Be Convincing, Look Convincing

When you deliver a business presentation, convincing your audience that the recommendations you’re delivering are good ones can be tough, especially if your recommendations are unpopular. However, if you provide hard supporting evidence and a logical, coherent structure, your audience will follow your presentation effortlessly and understand the validity of your conclusions.

Content and structure are the your first steps towards planning a convincing presentation. Your next step -- during your delivery -- is to look convincing.

To do this, pay attention to your body language. When you present, your audience is listening to what you say, but they’re also watching what you do. What you say and what you do, therefore, must both deliver the same message simultaneously.

What can you do with your body language to appear more convincing? Here are three helpful ideas.

First, make eye contact. Eye contact is engaging. Your willingness to look your audience in the eye as you speak signals that you’re sincere and that your information is important. Engage everyone. Allow your eyes to bounce around the room so everyone feels included. Find the key decision makers in the audience so that when you come to your point, you can make direct eye contact with them.

Second, stand up straight. Posture counts. Slouching is what you do when you relax. When you want to be convincing, however, looking alert and on your toes is essential. A confident posture indicates that you are prepared to defend your point of view. Leaning forward slightly as you present your key points reinforces this even more.

Third, manage your gestures. Enhance your message with your hands. Simple gestures, such as pointing to your slides, counting and indicating numbers, and accenting main ideas all show that you are in control. When your hands have nothing to say, keep them still. Holding a pen in your hand helps, as this feels natural and comfortable.

To be convincing, you must look convincing. Correct eye contact, posture and gestures will help convince your audience that your recommendations are the right ones.