Body and Presence

Year 9 Power of Speech • Fundamentals • Body

The body speaks before the first sentence. How you stand, where you look and what you do with your hands shape how the audience hears you. The aim is not to perform confidence; it is to remove distractions so the words can do their work.

Stance and balance

Stand with your feet roughly hip-width apart, weight evenly distributed. Let the knees be soft rather than locked. Keep the spine long but not rigid, and let the shoulders rest down. This stance gives you balance, breath and a stable base for gesture.

Habit	What it communicates	Adjustment
Rocking or swaying	Nerves or restlessness.	Plant the feet; shift weight only for a purpose.
Locked knees	Tension and instability.	Soften the knees; breathe.
Hiding behind a podium	Distance or fear.	Use the podium for notes, not as a shield.
Standing too still	Rigidity or coldness.	Use small, deliberate movements.
Pacing	Anxiety or uncontrollable energy.	Move to mark sections, then stop.

Gesture

Gesture should support meaning, not decorate it. A gesture that arrives after the word feels late; a gesture that repeats on every sentence becomes noise. Keep the hands visible and relaxed, and let them move from the body rather than flapping from the wrist.

Gesture	Meaning	Use it when
Open palm	Offering, including, explaining.	Inviting the audience into an idea.
Counting on fingers	Structure and sequence.	Listing two or three points.
Horizontal sweep	Comparison or scale.	Contrasting two ideas.
Point	Emphasis or direction.	Directing attention to a specific thing.
Clasped hands	Restraint or formality.	A solemn or formal moment.
Stillness	Confidence and weight.	A key line or a pause.

A useful rule: gesture before or with the stressed word, not after it. If you say “three reasons” and then hold up three fingers, the gesture is late. If you hold up three fingers as you say it, the body and voice agree.

Eye contact

Eye contact builds connection and gives you feedback. It does not mean staring at one person. Divide the room into three or four zones and let your gaze rest in each zone for a phrase or two. In a large room, look at people in the back row as well as the front.

Hold eye contact for a phrase, not a fraction of a second.
Move between zones rather than sweeping mechanically.
Soften the gaze if staring feels intense.
Notice confusion or agreement and adjust.
Adapt for cultural norms and for students who find eye contact uncomfortable.

Movement

Movement can mark a new section, close distance with the audience or draw attention to a visual aid. It can also distract. Move with a purpose and then settle. Avoid pacing simply because you are nervous.

Movement	Effect	Caution
Step forward	Increases intimacy or emphasis.	Do not invade personal space.
Step back	Creates distance or reflection.	Can look like retreat.
Move to a new position	Signals a new section.	Rehearse the move so it is not random.
Turn to a screen	Directs attention to a visual.	Do not speak to the screen.
Remain still	Adds weight to a key point.	Do not freeze for the whole speech.

Face and expression

The face is part of the voice. A neutral expression can read as cold or uncertain; a permanent smile can read as insincere. Let the face follow the meaning of the words. If you are describing something surprising, let the face register surprise. If you are speaking about something serious, allow seriousness.

Some speakers have a “resting performance face” that looks stern or blank. Record a rehearsal and check whether your face matches your words. Ask a trusted listener what they see at the key moments.

Presence

Presence is hard to define but easy to notice. It is the quality of being fully in the room: attentive, grounded and purposeful. It is not extroversion. A quiet speaker can have strong presence if they are clearly thinking about the audience and the words.

Arrive in the space before you speak.
Take one breath and look at the audience before starting.
Stand still for the first sentence.
Let the audience settle rather than talking over them.
Finish the last sentence and hold still for a moment.

Activity: freeze-frame

In groups of three, one person speaks for thirty seconds.
At a signal, the speaker freezes mid-gesture.
The group describes what the body is communicating.
Repeat with a different intention: welcoming, warning, explaining.
Discuss which gestures helped and which distracted.

Stillness is a skill. Many speakers move constantly to release nervous energy. Try standing still for one whole sentence and letting the words carry the emphasis. The effect can be surprisingly powerful.

Common errors

Rocking or swaying. It draws attention away from the words.
Over-gesturing. Constant movement becomes noise.
Staring at one person. It can make the rest of the audience feel excluded.
Looking at the ceiling or notes. The audience loses connection.
Hiding the hands. Visible hands build trust.
Forcing a smile. Let expression follow meaning.

Next, study clarity and articulation to make the words as strong as the body. The structure and signposting page shows how movement can mark the parts of a speech.