How can you read the audience's nonverbal cues?

Public speaking is not only about what you say, but also how you say it. Your body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and gestures can convey a lot of information to your audience, and influence how they perceive and respond to your message.

In this article, you will learn how to read the nonverbal cues of your listeners and adjust your delivery accordingly, to make your speech more engaging, persuasive, and effective.

1 Why nonverbal communication matters

Nonverbal communication is the process of sending and receiving messages without words, through body movements, facial expressions, eye contact, voice, and gestures. It can complement, contradict, or reinforce your verbal communication, and affect how your audience feels, thinks, and acts. According to some studies, nonverbal communication accounts for more than half of the impact of your message, while words only account for 7%. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the nonverbal signals you send and receive, and use them to your advantage.

Add your perspective

Elaine Williams

Showing litigators and entrepreneurs how to be charismatic speakers with vocal power & presence so that they easily persuade and influence every audience every time.
Report contribution
You always want to be "reading the room". Professional speakers do this intuitively from being in front of audiences for years and years. If someone is new to speaking, practice actually looking at audience members and noticing: are they leaning in? Are they at the edge of their seats? Or are they slouched back? Are their arms and legs crossed which is a sign that they are closed off? Or are they neutral. How's the energy of the room: sleepy, exhausted or wired?

Like
Megan L Reilly

Keynote speaker, entrepreneur, champion for moms and top 12 podcast host
Report contribution
I use nonverbal communication as a chance to learn and adapt on the go. Whether speaking in stage, in a zoom meeting or running a conference, non-verbal cues help confirm our approach or show the need for adaptation. Non-verbal cues give us real-time valuable data.

Like
Breanna Riddell

Content Writer, Speaker, Project Manager, Developer
Report contribution
The phrase "fall on deaf ears" directly correlates to an immature understanding of nonverbal communication. If a speaker is unable to capture the attention of his/her audience, what is said, even if it's profound and life-shattering, means nothing. Sure, nonverbal cues can be seen in behaviors or bodily movements, but more than anything, an impacted audience will naturally give and receive energy in a room. If a space "feels dead," more than likely it is.

Like

2 How to read the audience's nonverbal cues

The audience's nonverbal cues can give you valuable feedback on how they are reacting to your speech, and what they need from you. For example, if they are nodding, smiling, leaning forward, and making eye contact, they are likely interested, attentive, and agreeable. If they are frowning, crossing their arms, looking away, or yawning, they are likely bored, confused, or skeptical. To read the audience's nonverbal cues, you need to observe them carefully, and look for patterns, clusters, and changes in their behavior. You also need to consider the context, culture, and individual differences that may affect their nonverbal communication.

Add your perspective

Elaine Williams

Showing litigators and entrepreneurs how to be charismatic speakers with vocal power & presence so that they easily persuade and influence every audience every time.
Report contribution
And knowing that the time of day can really affect what's happening in the audience. The spot after lunch is usually very challenging because that's when many people get sleepy after a big lunch. Also, the last spot of the day, especially if people have been sitting all day, can be challenging because often people are getting restless and are ready for happy hour or to get home to their families.

Like
Carolyn Day

Communicator • Advocate • Coach • Trainer •Creative
Report contribution
Often overlooked is the idea that their nonverbal feedback can give you important insight into how to adjust your future presentations so they are even more successful.

Like

3 How to adjust your delivery accordingly

Once you have read the audience's nonverbal cues, you need to adjust your delivery accordingly, to match their expectations, needs, and emotions. For example, if you notice that they are bored or confused, you may need to simplify your language, use more examples, stories, or humor, or ask them questions to involve them. If you notice that they are skeptical or resistant, you may need to provide more evidence, logic, or testimonials, or address their objections or concerns. If you notice that they are interested or agreeable, you may need to reinforce your main points, call them to action, or thank them for their attention. The key is to be flexible, responsive, and empathetic, and to use your nonverbal communication to support your verbal communication.

Add your perspective

Lyssa Leigh Jackson

Program Manager @LinkedIn | 📗 Learning Leader & Experience Designer | 💚 Be Brand You Podcast Host | ✳️ Learning’s 30 Under 30
Report contribution
Adjusting your speech delivery based on audience cues requires mastery of your content. In the best-case scenario, you would know two to three ways to approach each of the main points of your talk. Interpreting nonverbal cues is cultivated with practice and experimentation with different audiences. With experience, you can anticipate and plan based on factors you may know ahead of your talks like the size of the audience or any commonalities attendees share like industry, region, or other cultural contexts.

Like

4 How to improve your nonverbal communication skills

To become a more effective and confident public speaker, improving your nonverbal communication skills is essential. To do this, practice your speech in front of a mirror, a camera, or a friend, and pay attention to your posture, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and voice. Make sure to avoid any distracting or negative nonverbal behaviors, such as slouching, fidgeting, touching your face, looking down, or speaking too fast or too softly. Additionally, watch and learn from other public speakers, especially those who are skilled, experienced, or influential. Notice how they use their nonverbal communication to enhance their message, connect with their audience, and create an impact. Try to emulate their positive nonverbal behaviors, such as standing tall, using open and expressive gestures, smiling, making eye contact, and varying their tone and volume. Finally, seek feedback from others, such as your friends, colleagues, or mentors, and ask them to evaluate your nonverbal communication, and give you constructive suggestions on how to improve it. Be open to their opinions, and appreciate their insights. You can also record yourself and watch your performance, and identify your strengths and weaknesses, and work on them. By doing this, you can become a more effective and confident public speaker.

Add your perspective

5 How to use nonverbal communication to your advantage

Nonverbal communication can be a powerful asset when it comes to achieving your public speaking goals, whether they are to inform, persuade, inspire, or entertain your audience. To make the most of it, you can use nonverbal communication to establish rapport and trust with your listeners by greeting them warmly, smiling, making eye contact, and using appropriate gestures and facial expressions. This will help you create a positive first impression and build a relationship with your audience. Additionally, you can use nonverbal communication to emphasize and clarify your message by aligning your body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and voice with your words. This will help you avoid any confusion, contradiction, or misunderstanding, and make your message more clear, consistent, and credible. Finally, you can use nonverbal communication to engage and persuade your audience by showing enthusiasm, passion, and confidence, and using gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and voice to convey your emotions, values, and beliefs. This will help you capture their attention, interest, and curiosity, and influence their attitudes, opinions, and actions.

Add your perspective

Load more contributions

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

Add your perspective

How can you read the audience's nonverbal cues?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Why nonverbal communication matters

2 How to read the audience's nonverbal cues

3 How to adjust your delivery accordingly

4 How to improve your nonverbal communication skills

5 How to use nonverbal communication to your advantage

6 Here’s what else to consider

Public Speaking

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

More articles on Public Speaking

More relevant reading

How can you read the audience's nonverbal cues?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Why nonverbal communication matters

2 How to read the audience's nonverbal cues

3 How to adjust your delivery accordingly

4 How to improve your nonverbal communication skills

5 How to use nonverbal communication to your advantage

6 Here’s what else to consider

Public Speaking

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

Explore Other Skills