Whether you’re delivering a presentation, taking part in a television interview, or presenting online via platforms such as Teams, your body language and voice do a lot of the heavy lifting.
How you look and sound can be just as important as what you say.
Strong on-camera presence builds credibility, keeps your audience engaged and helps your message land with confidence.
Eye contact
In media interviews, eye contact should be made with the interviewer at all times rather than with the camera.
The interviewer will likely look away at points, but you must continue to look at where their eyes would be or, if this is uncomfortable, look between the eyebrows.
This signals confidence, competence and trustworthiness.
On virtual interviews, look directly into the camera on your computer rather than at the screen or the audience.
This takes practice, but it creates the impression of eye contact and speaking to your audience personally.
Posture and stance
Sit or stand upright with relaxed shoulders and your legs planted into the ground. Imagine they are in cement.
This is called grounding and helps with nerves, too.
Good posture conveys confidence and professionalism.
Use of hands
Natural hand gestures can add emphasis and energy to your words, but keep movements controlled – and avoid fidgeting.
Gestures should support your message rather than distract from it.
Volume
Turn the volume all the way.
Speak clearly and at a level that fills the space.
On camera, slightly projecting your voice helps maintain clarity, especially if audio quality varies.
Avoid speaking too softly, as this can reduce impact and come across as lacking confidence.
Tone
Vary your tone to keep your delivery engaging. A monotone voice can make even interesting content seem flat.
Show enthusiasm where appropriate and adjust your tone to match the subject matter.
Pace
When nervous, it’s natural to speed up, but we would urge you to speak as slowly as you can when on camera.
Rushing can make you difficult to understand, and it also makes editing for soundbites more difficult, meaning your best snippet might be lost.
This is where the pause comes in, too – pausing strategically can add emphasis and give your audience time to absorb key points whilst also giving you time to think about what you want to say.
By focusing on these six areas, you’ll project confidence, clarity, and professionalism every time you appear on camera.
Photos in Finding your voice: Turn your public speaking fear into a superpower by Pink Elephant Communications.
Finding your voice: Turn your public speaking fear into a superpower was written by Pink Elephant Communications and edited by Maxine Montgomery.
