Assume the Position

Speaking with Power and Presence

By Lynn Grasberg

Want to increase your confidence and credibility when you're speaking to groups of people? Here are 5 things you can do INSTEAD of worrying about what your audience will think about you (always a waste of time). By putting your attention on these simple physical actions, you can take control of your own mindset to be playful, powerful, poised, and ready for WHATEVER happens. Just follow the simple steps of this toes-to-nose warm-up procedure.

The Preliminary (Mental) Part

Look at your audience before you start speaking, and think, "You're really gonna love this!"  Try it. You'll notice that if you're thinking these words, they put a twinkle in your eye and a lilt in your voice. They help you remember that you're here to share something wonderful and valuable. That "something" is YOUR presence and what you are going to say. (Thanks to Jeffrey Bihr, one of my teachers at the Drama Studio of London, who taught me this cornerstone of acting . . . and professional speaking.)

The 5- Step Checklist

1. Stance (Toes).  Establish your foundation.

When you're standing in front of a group, your feet are your foundation.  To speak with power, you must be in touch with the ground beneath your feet. Here's the trick: wiggle your toes! It's your secret joke, hidden by your shoes. This is a great way to derail any nervousness  ­– it gives you something to do with all that energy AND it helps you feel the support of the ground.

2. Posture (Knees). Stand with strength and flexibility.

Are your knees locked? (Probably, if you're feeling tense.) You can immediately increase the confidence of your stance and effortlessly improve your posture if you put a little bounce in your knees.  Just flex them and move up and down a bit. Notice that your lower back releases when you unlock your knees. Releasing the lower back helps prevent chronic back pain and lets you breathe more fully.

3.  Breath (Belly Button). Support your voice.

When you speak, your breath IS your voice. (Try speaking without letting out any air!)  If you are breathing fully (instead of taking shallow little scared breaths), you will notice that you move your belly button. OUT as you fill with air like a big balloon, IN as you empty for the next breath. Breathing fully allows your voice to be resonant and powerful.

4. Presence (Heart).  Connect with your audience.

Presence actually is an extension of posture. If you're focused on feeling bad, (the "victim" position), you tend to constrict your chest, look down and hunch your shoulders. INSTEAD, imagine that there is a sun in the center of your chest (your heart) and that you can shine it on your audience. Notice how this makes you stand up, take up space, and connect to other people in a relaxed and powerful way.

5. Focus (Nose).  Concentrate the group's attention.

Your nose is very powerful! Point it at specific members of the audience and make eye contact. When you are focused onstage, so is your audience. They pay attention to what you do, especially if your eyes are open and twinkling with that basic thought, "You're really gonna love this. I have something GREAT to share with you!"

Remember, when you're speaking in front of a group, you are in a position of leadership.  You set the tone for the group. It helps to mentally and physically "assume the position" of a leader who enjoys speaking with power and presence.  So use your body to focus your speaking and your audience. Remember this 5-point checklist: Toes, Knees, Belly Button, Heart, Nose.

Now, go get 'em and have a great time!