Ledgerwood delivers a persuasive presentation with appeals to the listener through natural nonverbal communication, body pose, and suitable intonation in her Ted Talk. She manipulates the audience by staying straight, gentle, smiling, moving around the stage, and having a neutral tone with suitable intonation, making her a credible and confident speaker. The narrator quickly explains her point with the necessary information with soft body language and intonation that engages the audience more.
From the beginning, her pose is exceptionally relaxed, as opposed to being tense and nervous. She never “looks at the floor, cross her arms, or jam them into the pockets,” which signals her anxiety (Walker, 2011, p.176). Additionally, she does not have unintentional moves like “tossing your hair or an article of clothing, twisting your body, swaying, pacing, and fidgeting with your feet” that would make her seem unconfident (Walker, 2011, p.176). Instead, she stands straight and establishes good eye contact with an audience which makes her audience pay attention to her words: “talking directly to the audience is seen as more sincere and more engaging with the audience (Walker, 2011, p.176).”
Her nonverbal communication is open but not premeditated. For example, her arms and hands naturally expand beyond the confines of her body (Ledgerwood, 2018). The idea that human beings instinctively make their movements more open to exhibit force and emotion applies here. Like Ledgerwood, self-assured and assertive people use their bodies and gestures to make themselves appear more significant than they are. People with less power tend to limit their gestures and make their bodies appear smaller than they are. These observations lead us to believe that our bodies are, to some extent, a reflection of our minds. Gestures assist in the development of character and confidence, both of which contribute to the speaker’s credibility.
Frequently flashing a kind smile and using humorous anecdotes draw Ledgerwood and her audience together. A speaker does not use a frustrated tone since she knows it has “the potential to diminish your credibility as well as negatively affect your relationship with your audience (Walker, 2011, p.150).” Her experience in speech delivery is excellent. Unlike “beginning speakers who should first master the ability to stand in one place without displaying other unintentional body movements,” she skillfully moves around the stage and engages with people (Walker, 2011, p.176). These factors also depict her as a credible speaker. Significantly, her vocal delivery enhances her findings by making them more exciting and livelier. It affects her credibility when she intentionally stops after introducing herself as a professional in psychology: “Vocal delivery can also affect your relationship with the audience and your credibility (Walker, 2011, p.174).” The fact that she articulates every word impresses me as a listener and increases my interest. Her tone of voice is calm yet authoritative and engaging to the listeners.
As a result of the observations I made from Ledgerwood’s speech, I have concluded that it is essential to use nonverbal communication tactics while making a speech. I would use them to reduce uneasiness, enhance the delivery of a presentation, and assist me in coming across as more confident to an audience (Chan, 2021). Her speech proved the importance of maintaining tight contact with an audience till the end of a speech. I would personally learn to use more positive visualization, be sympathetic, use humor, and smile like Ledgerwood. Observing how she maintains her credibility and remains sincere with an audience is the best way to learn for every beginning speaker.
References
Chan, C. S. (2021). Helping university students discover their workplace communication needs: An eclectic and interdisciplinary approach to facilitating on-the-job learning of workplace communication. English for Specific Purposes, 64, 55-71.
Ledgerwood, A. (2018) A simple trick to improve positive thinking [Video]. Ted.com. Web.
Walker, R. (2011). Strategic Business Communication for leaders. South-Western Cengage Learning.