Public Speaking Body Language And Story Structure

Story, surprising stat, provocative question, or a quick demo. Avoid 'Today I'll talk about X' openings.

Setup → Conflict → Resolution. Audience cares about the conflict; the resolution is your point.

Group ideas in threes — easier to remember and rhetorically pleasing (Life, Liberty, Pursuit of Happiness).

One idea per slide. Big text. Few words. Image > bullets. If audience is reading the slide they aren't listening.

Hold contact with one person for one full sentence, then move to another. Avoid 'lighthouse' sweeping or staring at the back wall.

Box breathing (4-4-4-4), power pose for 2 minutes, walk briskly, sip water. Nerves are normal; reframe as excitement.

Feet shoulder-width, weight balanced, shoulders down and back, hands visible (gesturing or relaxed at sides). Avoid arms crossed or pockets.

Pace (slow for emphasis), pitch (higher for energy, lower for authority), pauses (silence is a tool).

Give the audience time to process and you time to breathe. 1-2 seconds feels long to you, normal to them.

Pause. Repeat to confirm. Answer concisely. If you don't know: 'I don't know — but here's how I'd find out.'

Record yourself and count. Practice replacing fillers with a beat of silence. Slow down overall pace.

Hook (1m) → One main point (6m) → Call to action / takeaway (1m) → Q&A buffer (2m).