17/07/14

Your Body Trumps Your Words

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel commented that his guest, 
rapper and actor, Ice Cube, always appears angry and menacing. Kimmel 
then asked Ice Cube to recite some pleasant, non-threatening phrases 
in an angry tone. Ice Cube read the phrases in a manner and with a 
look that could send you running for cover. Cube’s body, posture, 
eyebrow, scowl and voice worked together to make lavender body 
wash sound like a death threat. Watch Ice Cube’s appearance to see 
what I mean. http://tinyurl.com/mdpfcul

What does this have to do with you? You may spend hours crafting the 
perfect speech, presentation, training, report or even a wedding 
toast. But, if your body and voice don’t match your message won’t be believed. Your body trumps words every time.

Try this. Jog in place for a few seconds. Jog just long enough to 
feel energized. Then, raise your arms above your head in a Rocky 
victory pose. Simultaneously yell out with vigor, “I’m depressed!” 
When I ask audiences to do this, they laugh because it’s impossible to 
feel depressed when you’ve primed your body for energy and victory. Your body just trumped your words.

Your voice is one of the most powerful presentation tools you have. 
Yet, most of us only speak in a three-note range. We’re either loud 
speakers or soft speakers. We’re known for speaking either rapidly or 
at the pace of drying paint. I guarantee that you can broaden your 
vocal range, volume and speed to clarify your message and to keep your 
audience awake.

When you sing a song, you sing all over the scales. You sing high. 
You sing low. You sing quickly. You sing slowly. You sing loudly You sing 
softly. You may sing fluidly or with a staccato beat. You know how to 
use your vocal variety when you sing so I suspect you can use vocal 
variety when you speak.

Try this. Repeat the following sentence, “I love you.” Emphasize a 
different word each time. Say it over again with a question mark at 
the end of each recitation. Say it with great affection. Say it with 
anger. Say it with incredulity.

The words are empty vessels. Your voice and emotion fill them with 
meaning.

Your posture, gestures and facial expression speak louder than words, 
too. If you slump and drag across the stage while you tell your 
audience you’re happy to be with them, they won’t believe you.

Use your face!

Let your message show on your face if you want to be believed. You don’t have to have a rubber face like Jim Carrey to make your message come alive. A deadpan expression can be a great tool if you want to 
show boredom or disinterest. Sustained deadpan will only generate a 
bored and disinterested audience. There has to be a contrast.

The best way to see if you’re using your body and voice to illuminate 
your message is to be video recorded during a presentation. Then comes 
the hard part. You must watch the video. Note if your body is trumping 
your message. Note where you could use your body and voice more 
effectively.

Use your body as a message maker instead of a message masher.

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