Page 304 - Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals

distracted when laser points move in a wild or circular manner repeatedly on the screen. Presenters often feel
awkward with their hands hanging loosely at their sides. Perhaps if they could see themselves on videotape in
this posture, they would realize that it is natural looking, but even more important, they would probably see
that one tends not to stay in that position. If hands hang loosely at the presenter’s sides, eventually the hands
begin to rise and gesture spontaneously to emphasize important points.

It is risky to begin a presentation holding a pen, paperclip, rubber band, or other instrument not directly
related to the presentation. Unconsciously, the fingers begin to play with the instrument, and the audience
becomes fascinated with watching to see what the speaker will do. Presenters need to train themselves to keep
their faces animated, using a variety of facial expressions. For many of the same reasons expressed earlier, it is
important that speakers use all the communication vehicles available to them to maintain the audience’s
attention. Facial expression is itself a communication vehicle. When it is lively, animated, expressive, and
changing regularly while the speaker reacts to the feedback coming toward him or her from the audience, it
enhances the verbal message and allows the audience to go on unconsciously inferring the speaker’s audience-
centeredness. This is easier for some people to do than for others; however, everyone can improve. Because it
is not easy for a speaker to “act” expressive, it does not mean that this person cannot grow considerably in the
ability to look expressive.10–13

Eye contact is a vehicle of communication. Use eye contact to see everyone and respond to the nonverbal
feedback. When speakers have the opportunity to present themselves and their ideas to an audience, they want
the audience to understand them, to believe them, and to follow their recommendations. A speaker has the
best chance of being successful in achieving these goals when able to interpret the audience’s ongoing
reactions. Presentation speaking is often considered a one-way form of communication in which the speaker
talks at the audience as they listen. Effective speaking is actually a two-way situation in which audience and
speaker communicate with one another constantly and simultaneously.9

Facial expressions are important. Presenters must remember to smile and look as if they are enjoying the
experience of sharing information. Smiling can be rehearsed and may feel phony, but it needs to be built into
the design of the presentation. Speakers do not need to be constantly grinning, but they do need to maintain
an expression of interest and engagement with their audience. The easiest way to convey these impressions is
by smiling naturally and often during the presentation. Unfortunately, it is not easy to smile when one is
unsure of the material. All the preceding techniques can be implemented only after the speaker has sufficiently
mastered the content and has consciously, through rehearsal, developed skills.

Professional Appearance

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