As a public speaker or business presenter, projecting confidence and engaging your audience are key, and three powerful tools can help you do that: your energy level, your vocal volume, and your gestures.
You might not realize it, but these three elements are all deeply interconnected. Change one, and the others change, too.
When your energy is high, you’ll naturally speak louder and gesture more openly. But, even if your energy feels low, you can create more energy by simply speaking with more volume or by using wider gestures. For example, if you intentionally raise your voice, you’ll find your gestures becoming broader and your energy rising to match. The same works in reverse—start gesturing more expansively, and your voice and energy will naturally follow.
It’s almost impossible to speak loudly and keep your hands still—or to gesture big and speak softly. That’s because our brains link these behaviors together. You do it, but it won’t feel natural.
So next time you’re preparing to speak, remember: you don’t have to wait for the energy to come to you. Use your voice and your body to generate that energy—and your audience will feel it too.