Elizabeth Garner

Facial expression is fundamental to a great talk! I use my facial expressions to connect with my audience and bring them along through the talk. My eyes and eyebrows are particularly important as they portray sincerity and passion.

Posture is key when speaking publicly. I ensure my spine is straight, my feet are slightly apart, and my head is held high, but not so high that I come across as arrogant. That posture not only shows confidence but ensures that I am well balanced for the talk.

In my experience, eye contact has been one of the core skills of great speaking. I ensure from the very start of my talks to make eye contact. It immediately draws the audience in to you, and sets the stage for the entire talk. It’s also important to make eye contact not only with people in the front of the room but also to reach audience members further back, as this increases the audience’s engagement.