Theme: The role of body language and gestures in presentation

3. Facial Expressions
Facial expressions are another important part of body language. As you can see from the man's expression here, he's clearly happy and excited about something. (Image source: Envato Elements)
Facial expressions help us convey our emotions to others or mask them when we feel uncertain about the person we’re talking to. That’s why using facial expressions during a presentation is crucial.
When it comes to facial expressions, keep in mind that anyone can recognize the 7 universal emotions (as described in research into facial expressions from Dr. Paul Ekman). Given that fear is one of those emotions and also the emotion that can crop up during your presentation, it’s important to conquer your fear instead of letting it get the better of you. Practice your speech and practice giving your presentation in front of a familiar audience first. Once you feel confident about your speech and performance, it’s less likely that fear will show up when the time comes for the official presentation.
4. Hand Gestures
According to a study by Vanessa Van Edwards, lead investigator for Science of People, hand gestures are one of the five key patterns of all successful TED talks. In other words, the more you gesture with your hands, the better the likelihood of your presentation being a stellar success.
Use your hands to communicate different points in your presentation. The most effective way to do this is to use your fingers to count the points you’re explaining.
5. Body Posture
Posture is another important part of body language. It's important not to slouch when you give your presentation. (Image source: Envato Elements)
The way you hold yourself matters. As covered in one of the earlier tips, poor posture such as slouching will give your audience the impression that you’re not confident in your topic or yourself. If your back is tense, they'll sense your tension and wonder what’s causing it.
Remind yourself to relax throughout your presentation and to straighten up if your start to slouch. Not only will this give you the chance to improve your posture, but it'll also allow your audience to take in the points you’ve just covered.