Module 3/4 26 min
Confident delivery & handling questions
Step 1 / 4·Voice and body language
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Use voice and body language to be more persuasive
- Manage nerves with concrete techniques
- Handle difficult questions and unexpected situations
Learn ~7 min
Voice and body language
Know the non-verbal factors that drive persuasiveness.
With identical content, two presenters can land completely differently — the difference is delivery. The three easiest things to improve: PACE, PAUSES and EYE CONTACT.
Nervous people speak about 1.5× faster than normal and never dare to stop. But the PAUSE is the most powerful tool there is: pausing two seconds after an important point lets it land; pausing before a key line makes people lean in.
Fixing common habits
| Habit | How the audience reads it | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking fast with no pauses | Tense, hard to follow | Deliberately pause 2 seconds after each main point |
| Staring at slides/laptop | Disconnected | Look at each section of the room for 3–5 seconds |
| Standing frozen, arms crossed | Lacking confidence | Open posture, use hands to emphasise points |
| Constant 'um' and 'ah' | Underprepared | Replace each 'um' with a short silence |
Key takeaway: Measured pace, deliberate pauses, eye contact by section, and an open posture.