Perception is everything, can your stance at BNI improve your 60 second presentation?

Have you ever thought about how you stand and deliver when you are speaking at BNI?

Perception is everything, can your stance at BNI improve your 60 second presentation?

Robyn Hewetson, BNI Wine Country member and speech expert says that many people stand with their feet close together with a closed gesture, and that this can lead to a tight or tense voice where your words are held or restrained.

How about all of you stand up now and follow these steps we gathered from Robyn. By changing your stance, you can improve your speech pattern:

1. Stand in front of a full-length mirror (at home that is, at BNI just stand up)
2. Find your lead foot
3. Put your lead foot slightly in front of your other foot
4. Keep your arms open and relaxed
5. Make sure you have space in front and behind you
6. Speak naturally at an even pace (not too quickly)

This stance will ensure your voice comes through your body and out into the room.

Here are Robyn’s 4 top tips for making 60 second presentations more memorable.

• STANCE: Standing correctly is a key part of being able to project your voice. Don’t lean on the table when you speak and ensure you maintain a good stance.
• BREATH: Think about your breathing as you speak. Speak as you breath out and think as you breath in. Don’t hold your breath or restrict the airflow as you speak.
• GESTURE: Don’t hold your hands together, it will restrict your voice. Gesture loosely and allow your voice to travel across the space.
• TIME: Present at a pace where the words you speak have time to travel across the space to your listeners. People need the time to take words in and relate to them. Don’t speak rapidly without breathing; your listeners will stop listening.

Many of us are guilty of trying to squeeze in too many words before the 60 seconds buzzer goes off. But have members been listening?

The ear needs time to digest what is heard, especially when the goal is to make people remember what is heard. Speak at a natural pace so people have time to listen and remember your message and give you the ideal referral.