|
Judging by
the Presidential Height Index, Candidate Joe Lieberman
probably shouldn’t start picking out his White House furniture
just yet. At 5-feet 8-inches tall, Lieberman is fully four
inches shorter than the average Commander-in-Chief over the
last 40 years.
Indeed,
height often translates into that intangible quality we call
“Leadership Presence.” How else do you explain our last 10
presidents (6’0” on average) being two inches taller than the
average American male (5’10’)?
But Joe and
the rest of us should not give up on commanding the attention
of listeners. Here are some tips for commanding listeners’
attention during a presentation, even if you’re not as tall as
Honest Abe (6’4”).
-
Speak with passion: Far more
important than height in commanding attention is voice
energy. The people that keep audiences riveted are the ones
whose voice conveys a sense of excitement and purpose about
their topic. Speak with passion and no one will notice your
height.
-
Make big gestures: Even if you’re small, you can make yourself
look bigger by making big gestures. Reach way out with your
hands and hold them through a thought.
-
Walk around:
Walking as you speak makes you look confident. It’s a
very “Presidential” move.
-
Stand up straight: You can make yourself look taller simply by
throwing your shoulders back. Lead with the chest. That
will make you keep your shoulders back and head up.
So if you’re
not tall, don’t worry. You can still command attention like a
Commander-in-Chief. And remember, James Madison was only
5’4”.
At
Speechworks we help our clients learn how to give
presentations that connect with the audience. If you’re
interested in becoming a great communicator give us a call at
404-266-0888 or check out our website at
www.speechworks.net |
