Do Your Facial Expressions Contradict Your Words?
By Sandy Schroeder
Our facial expressions automatically signal our feelings to the world whether we realize it or not. You may be reaching out with good intentions, but if you are also frowning, the message may lose a lot of its power. If you are smirking, a serious message won’t fly. Whatever you are saying, your eyes, mouth and brows will all say in a flash what you are really thinking and feeling.
Think about what you do when you talk with someone. As you listen to their words, you automatically scan their face and watch their movements. You also listen to the tone of their voice, and pick up clues from their appearance. If everything fits together you may feel comfortable with them. If the facial expressions and words don’t match, you may begin to question what they are saying.
Be Aware of Your Thoughts
Remind yourself of the overall impression you are creating every time you open your mouth. Trying to keep your thoughts consistent with your words can make a big difference. If you are tired, distracted or concerned about something else, your overall impression may be compromised.
To make the strongest possible impact when you are interacting with others in one-on-one talks, or in presentations, focus on what you are thinking and what you are saying. If you have doubts, they may show up In your face.
At the same time be aware of your total impression. You might ask a colleague to critique your presentation, and try these tips from dumblittleman.com.
- Do you speak clearly and loudly enough?
- Do you look directly at your audience?
- Do you avoid distracting gestures?
- Do your clothes reinforce your image?
- Is your hair consistent with your image?
Do your homework – Back up your overall impression with good research support about your message and your audience.
- Know who you are talking to
- Have the best information
- Make sure your statements are accurate and on target
- Read your audience as you speak and adjust accordingly
- Learn a little each time you speak
To polish your presentation, learn from watching others speak. Look for techniques that hold the audience’s attention or lose it. Look for mistakes that add up, such as speaking too quickly or too long. I have watched speakers spark a meeting with their natural enthusiasm, while others simply muddled through and lost their audience in the process.
Make sure you are one of the speakers who scores well every time with the right expressions and the right words.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lincoln, Nebr.