Effective Platform Skills Enhance The Message

Your energy on stage can make or break your presentation.

When a speaker comes on the stage with an important message, your ability to receive and retain the message is based on more than just the content of the speech. You have probably heard speakers who have something very important to say however because their platform skills were not effective their message fell on deaf ears. The way a message is shared is as important as the message itself.

Platform skills relate to the visual message – how the speaker looks, the things the speaker does, the way the speaker gives the speech, the body language, and the overall effect and energy the speaker creates on stage. Speaking is a whole body experience. It is not just the words spoken, it is also how the speaker uses all aspects of their body to relay their message. Here are some platform skills to look for.

Eye Contact. Everyone in the audience should feel that the speaker is speaking directly to them. In the course of the presentation, the speaker should look each person in the eye. Even if the crowd is large the speaker can make each person feel as if he/she is speaking directly to each one by focusing on each section, at eye level, and scanning each person in that section. Creating strong eye contact builds rapport with the audience.

Facial Expressions. Faces speak volumes. Good speakers use their best facial features to enhance their message. They may raise or lower their eyebrows, look startled, happy, sad or joyful and/or give expression to their eyes by widening or narrowing them. Smiles are an important part of facial expressions, they are contagious. Speakers should smile often and show that they are enjoying what they are doing. Even if it is a serious topic a smile is warranted in parts of the presentation. Watch the next speaker you come in contact with and see how they use their facial expressions to enhance their message. Good speakers change their facial expressions to compliment their message.

Hands. I have seen speakers who are very nervous with their hands. They may position them behind their back or leave them at their sides. A good speaker will use their hands naturally to emphasize the message. If holding a microphone they will move the microphone naturally from one hand to the other. Hands assist the speaker to promote the flow of energy. Therefore the hands should naturally follow the message. When the hands become stiff and look unnatural, the rhythm of the speech is broken. Look for speakers whose use of hands support the message shared.

Body movement. When the speaker is behind a podium it can be difficult to move around, especially if the microphone is stationary. Speakers create more energy when they move around. This doesn’t mean nervous walking. Instead, they should move in relationship to what they are saying. Sometimes this might mean moving quickly from one side of the speaking area to another, and other times it might mean moving more slowly, to cause effect. Other times it means standing still. Standing still is very effective to illustrate something important, especially when it is preceded by walking. The important thing to remember is that body movements should be consistent with the content of the speech.

Style. Speakers should have their own original style. People are known by their style. The more original the speaker’s style, the greater the chances of the audience remembering the speaker and the speaker’s message. The speaker’s personality should come alive on the stage. The sum total of the speaker’s platform skills represents the speaker’s style. It should be original and not an imitation of another speaker.