Most of us have switched to working primarily online since March, and the initial excitement of virtual happy hours is long gone.
When having a video conference, keep in mind that you are talking to a group of individuals who are sitting at home alone at their computers. They have every temptation and opportunity to multitask.
Charismatic leaders bring out our best and make us excel. Research shows that those following charismatic leaders perform better, find their work more meaningful, and have more trust in their l...
Speak slowly. Visualize the slow, emphatic tone of a judge delivering a verdict.
Pause. Those who show confidence often pause for a second or two between sentences.
Drop intonation. Lowering the tone of your voice at the end of a sentence sounds confident. You can even lower your intonation midsentence.
Check your breathing. Try not to breathe through your mouth as it can make you sound breathless and anxious. Instead, inhale and exhale through your nose.
Smile. Smiling projects more warmth in your voice. It's even worth doing when on the phone.
Body language refers to the nonverbal signals that we use to communicate. According to experts, these nonverbal signals make up a huge part of daily communication. From our facial expressions to our body movements, the things we don't say can still convey volumes of information.
Pursed lips: an indicator of distaste, disapproval, or distrust.
Lip biting: signals people are worried, anxious, or stressed.
Covering the mouth: used when people want to hide an emotional reaction.
Turned up or down: When the mouth is slightly turned up, it might mean that the person is feeling happy or optimistic. A slightly down-turned mouth can be an indicator of sadness/ disapproval.
A clenched fist indicates anger in some situations or solidarity in others.
A thumbs up and thumbs down: gestures of approval and disapproval.
The "okay" gesture: "okay" or "all right." In some parts of Europe, the same signal is used to imply you are nothing. In some South American countries, the symbol is actually a vulgar gesture.
The V sign: peace or victory in some countries. In the UK and Australia, the symbol takes on an offensive meaning when the back of the hand is facing outward.
This post is part of TED's "How to Be a Better Human" series, each of which contains a piece of helpful advice from people in the TED community; browse through all the posts here.
Match your gestures to your words. We are visual creatures, and any movement used in the right way in this direction will spark the attention of your audience. Just try not to abuse this rule.