Stage Presence

Stage presence refers to the ability of the speaker to acquire and keep the audience's attention through his or her presentation style. When in front of an audience, the speaker's poise, posture, gestures, and movements can significantly add to or take away from the presentation. The goal is to control these aspects of delivery so they reinforce the message rather than distract the audience.

Poise and Posture

The poise and posture of the speaker are one of the first indicators of the speaker's confidence and comfort in front of the audience. Even before a speaker begins to speak, the audience forms an impression of the speaker standing in front of them. If the speaker adequately maintains a calm approach and presents a comfortable appearance, the audience will also be comfortable. Speakers' facial expressions can also help them remain comfortable and relax the audience. A sincere smile to the audience will put both the speaker and the audience at comfort.


A speaker's posture also sends a message to the audience about his or her level of confidence. Stand tall and straight, and avoid slouching. Feet should be planted about shoulder-width apart and weight distributed evenly on both feet. Proper posture will not only illustrate confidence to the audience, but also discourage undesirable nervous movements such as pacing and fidgeting.

Gestures and Movement

Gestures and movements, like many other nonverbal communications, can either tremendously reinforce and clarify the speech, or distract the audience from the message. When people get nervous, they tend to use a variety of movements to release their nervous energy. These nervous mannerisms include, but are not limited to: playing with an object, pacing, shifting weight, swaying, leaning, crossing legs, or moving arms unnaturally. However, these tendencies can be eliminated with a little effort.

In order to eliminate nervous habits, the speaker must first identify any tendencies that may be exhibited. The best way to do this is by videotaping a practice delivery and analyzing the tape. It often helps to have someone else assist with the tape analysis since speakers tend to focus more on how they sound than on their mannerisms. After any tendencies have been highlighted, the speaker should study the video footage to affirm those nervous habits and to see how they distract from the presentation. Speakers often do not recognize many of these habits when they present, even if others mention them. Once any nervous habits have been identified, make a plan for eliminating them. For example, if playing with a ring or a watch, simply remove object before speaking.

Another way to eliminate nervous movements is to plan to expel some of the nervous energy in ways that reinforce the speech and add to the effectiveness of its delivery. For example, moving across the stage provides an opportunity to eliminate energy and to capitalize on that energy. However, when moving, move with a purpose.

Movement can also be used to emphasize an important phrase. When the speaker gets to that phrase or idea, moving closer to the audience or using a gesture is an effective way to draw attention to the importance of the idea. Likewise, movement can help make a transition. For example, the speaker may move from center stage to stage right as a transition between the introduction to the first main point, then move again when transitioning to the next point, and so on. This physical movement provides a nonverbal cue to the audience to help them follow the transition. It also provides an easy way for the speaker to remember when to move.

Another benefit of movement is that it helps to engage the audience. They pay more attention, especially if the speaker is moving towards them. As speakers learn to read the audience's feedback, they can use movement to respond. For example, if the speaker notices someone daydreaming or a few people whispering, the speaker can move towards those people to recapture their attention and eliminate the distraction. However, one of the most important factors of movement is that it looks natural. Movement that looks rehearsed takes away from the speech; unnatural movements do not help the speaker feel more at ease. Also, care should be taken to not go overboard. Pacing and overuse of gestures and movements distracts from the presentation.

ANKITA
PGDM-1ST SEM