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Make body language your superpower
Matt Levy, Colin Bailie, Jeong Joon Ha and Jennifer Rosenfeld - Stanford Graduate School of Business
A Stanford student presentation on nonverbal communication and presenting with presence. Use it to reflect on posture, gesture and audience engagement, without assuming that a single gesture reveals what someone thinks.
Key takeaways
- Notice whether your posture and gestures support the message you want to give.
- Consider how your physical presence changes the audience's experience of a presentation.
- Interpret body language in context, not as a universal code for reading people.
Reflect on it
- What do I notice about my gestures when I present?
- What could I practise before my next presentation?
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Body language matters when you present, but it is not a secret code for reading minds. This Stanford Graduate School of Business student presentation explores how nonverbal communication contributes to presence and audience engagement.
What to look for in the video
Watch how posture and gesture support a spoken message. Consider what helps an audience stay engaged, and what might distract them. These are prompts for practice, not rules that every person must follow.
Applying it at work
Before a presentation, rehearse a short section and notice what your hands and posture are doing. Ask a trusted colleague what made the message clearer. Choose one adjustment to try rather than attempting to change everything at once.
Culture, disability, neurodivergence and individual comfort can all affect nonverbal communication. Do not use eye contact or a particular gesture as a test of honesty, confidence or competence.
Read alongside the talk
Explore communication styles or compare this presentation with Amy Cuddy's talk on body language, including its research caveats.
Turn it into CPD
Watch the video, use the reflection questions and record one change you will practise in your free Passport.
Add this to your CPD log
Sign in to save what you've read - we'll create a free CPD log for you.