Sometimes you just have to over-egg to taste the pudding
Be yourself, just a little bit more!
Life can confuse. Someone tells you to be yourself when presenting, then tells you to act it out!
Let me explain.
There’s fakin’ it. Then there’s emphasis. Faking a feeling, a movement or an expression is often false simply because it’s trying to be someone else. When you’re presenting, it’s best to stand out from the crowd. The only way you’re going to do that is to be unique. Because there’s only one you.
But sometimes your own movements, although fine to you, won’t be particularly visible to other people. Don’t just take my word for it. Try it on someone you trust – a friend or colleague. Or video it. You’ll see what I mean.
That’s when you’ll need to stretch it out a bit, exaggerate it.
Look to the past for inspiration
Remember those childhood presenters? Larger than life. And that’s because they exaggerated who they were for their audience. They weren’t trying to be someone else – just them, but bigger.
So next time you’re in front of an audience, however big or small, jump around a bit, rotate those arms, stretch those facial muscles. Get into the part.
Of playing you.
Photo by Alexandre St-Louis on Unsplash
Thanks to The Projects for use of their beautiful sitting room.