The Powerhouse Performer Series, Part 7: Body Language, Movement, and Stage Presence

The audience listens to your words.

But they also read your body.

Before you say anything, people already start forming an opinion. They look at how you enter the stage. How you stand. How you breathe. Where your hands are. Whether you look comfortable. Whether you look nervous. Whether you look like you want to be there.

That is stage presence.

For me, stage presence is the ability to command the energy of a room and make the audience feel instantly connected to you. It is the invisible magnet that pulls everyone’s attention forward. It transforms a presentation from something people merely watch into something they actively feel.

And often, the most powerful stage presence starts before the first word.

The power of stillness

When someone has strong stage presence, one of the first things I notice is how they control silence and stillness. A great performer does not rush to fill the void.

They step up, plant their feet and hold the audience’s gaze for a moment. They allow the room to feel their presence. 

That short pause tells the audience something important.

I am here.

I am ready.

You can trust me.

It sets the pace of the room.

Many presenters are afraid of silence. They feel they need to start speaking the moment they arrive on stage. But silence can be one of the strongest tools in your toolbox. When used deliberately, silence creates curiosity.

It makes people look up. 

It makes people wonder what is coming next.

It gives you time to breathe.

It gives the audience time to arrive with you.

Strong stage presence is not about showing off, it is about inviting the audience into a shared moment.

Your body must match your voice

Body language is extremely important, and it is often overlooked. People do not only listen to what you say. They also watch how you say it. If your voice and body do not match, the audience will feel it. 

If you say something with confidence but your body is closed, people may not believe you.

If you say something serious while your body looks casual or distracted, they may wonder if you care.

If you are dragging your feet, hiding at the edge of the podium, standing far back in the shadows, or pacing nervously like a tiger in a cage, the audience will notice. And they may ask themselves:

Why should I be in the room with you if you do not fully seem to be in the room with us?

That is why being present matters so much.

Be in the here and now.

Own the stage. Own the moment.

Let the room observe you

I like to move to the front of the stage at the opening. Not too close to the edge, because you do not want people to worry that you might fall off or feel that you are invading their personal space. But far enough forward to create connection.

I observe the room, but I also let the room observe me. In that moment, it is almost like I am silently asking:

Am I worthy of the next thirty minutes of your time?

That may sound dramatic, but it is real. The audience gives you their attention. That is valuable. You need to earn it. Your posture, your stillness, your face, your hands, and your first movement all help answer that question before your words do.

Intentional movement

Movement on stage can be powerful. But it must be intentional.

A performer with strong stage presence does not pace back and forth out of nervous energy. They move to engage different sections of the room. They move to punctuate a specific moment. They move when the story moves.

• Movement should have a reason.
• Move when you transition to a new topic.
• Move when you want to shift energy.
• Move when you ask the audience a question.
• Move when you want to bring people closer.
• Move when you want to create tension.
• Move when you want to release that tension.

But do not move just because your body is nervous. If you know you start pacing when nervous, give yourself a controlled space. Lock yourself to one area of the stage for a while. Or, in the beginning, use a presenter desk or lectern as an anchor if that helps you calm down.

Especially when you are new, being on stage can feel scary.

It can feel like standing there naked.

Everyone is watching you.

Everybody is watching me.

Yes, that reminds me of the song too.

But that feeling gets easier when you learn how to control your movement.

My hands are part of my signature

If you look at photos from my speaking sessions, you will often see my hands up. That is part of my signature. I use my hands to pull people in. 

• I point when the story needs it.
• I touch my heart if the message is personal.
• I tap my head if the story needs that.
• I may put a hand in front of my mouth if the moment calls for it.

My hands are part of how I tell stories. They visually punctuate my words. They help paint the picture. They give rhythm to the message.

But they need to match the energy of the voice. When your hands, voice, and story work together, you project authenticity and confidence.

I am also curious how other presenters experience this. What do they do with their hands? What tips and tricks do they use? That would be a great conversation in the comments under this blog.

Because hands matter more than many people think.

Find a home base for your hands

I always use a kind of home base for my hands. Usually next to my body or slightly in front of me.

But not too low.

Definitely not in front of your genitals. That is too low and creates a defensive posture. Keep your hands above the waist.

Sometimes they can be slightly over each other.

Relaxed.

Visible.

Available.

Do not put your fingers together in that strange pyramid shape, as if you are planning to take over the world. I cannot remember the cartoon name, but you know the creepy older guy with the pyramid fingers and the strange smile before trying to conquer everything.

That is not the energy you want on stage. Or if the story is like that you should definitely use it 😈 but then it is deliberate! 

Also, do not keep your hands in your pockets while presenting. It can signal that you are nervous, unprepared, too casual, or not ready to let the audience in. There are exceptions. If there are two presenters on stage and it is not my turn, I may put one hand in my pocket and go into pause mode. That can help the audience shift focus to the active presenter.

But when it is my moment to speak, my hands are part of the connection.

Use your hands to make the message visible

To make your message stick, use your hands to paint the picture of what you are saying. An open palm creates trust. Gesture with your palms facing up or slightly toward the audience. This signals honesty, openness, and invitation.

Counting on your fingers creates clarity. If you are listing three points, show one, two, three with your hand. It gives the audience a visual anchor.

Showing scale helps comparison. Use your hands wide apart for big concepts and close together for small details. Move one hand higher and one hand lower to show contrast between two options.

The give and take gesture helps create connection. Extend one or both hands toward the audience when asking a question or delivering a major insight, almost as if you are physically handing them the idea.

But be careful with counting.

I sometimes see people hold up three fingers and then count down in a way that leaves the middle finger as number one.

Or, to say it differently, they accidentally show the audience the middle finger. That is probably not the message you intended to send. 😉

Open body language invites people in

Open body language matters.

1. Chest open.
2. Shoulders relaxed.
3. Hands visible.
4. Palms open.
5. Face engaged.
6. Body facing the audience.

This makes you look approachable and confident. 

Closed body language does the opposite.

1. Crossed arms.
2. Hands behind the back.
3. Hands in pockets.
4. A locked posture.
5. A closed face.

All of that can push people away.

And remember, the audience may not consciously analyze it. They may not think, “His arms are crossed, therefore I feel emotionally disconnected from the content.”

But they will feel something. 

They may feel distance.

They may feel tension.

They may feel that you are not fully open.

On stage, feeling matters.

Standing strong

A strong starting position begins with posture. Straighten your back. Relax your body as much as possible. Plant your feet. Do not hide in the shadows. Do not stand all the way at the back of the stage and do not block the screen if the screen is low.

If needed, stay in one of the corners, but come forward enough to connect. Reach out to the audience. Let them feel that you are there with them. 

Some people can stand still for thirty minutes and still completely drag the audience into the story. Movement is not always required. So do not move because someone told you presenters should move.

Look at yourself. Figure out what fits you. Your stage presence should match who you are.

Movement can change energy

I use movement to build tension, drag people in, push people out for a second before pulling them back in again.

To create a change in energy, a fast movement can create a burst of energy. A slow movement can create tension or intimacy. Turning toward the audience and opening up can release energy back into the room.

If part of the story is worrying, your body and face should show that worry.

If part of the story is exciting, your body should carry that excitement.

The audience feels it when all the elements match.

Voice.

Pace.

Movement.

Face.

Hands.

Silence.

All of it works together. That is where stage presence becomes rhythm.

Eye contact creates connection

Eye contact is important, but it needs to feel natural. If possible, I try to make eye contact with many people in the room. Fast, but real. I move from left to right, front to back, up and down.

If I am addressing the whole audience, I look across the whole room.

If I am highlighting someone or responding to a specific person, I look directly at that person.

Think about a normal meeting.

Sometimes you speak to the whole team.

Sometimes you speak to one person.

A presentation is the same, just bigger.

Especially as a beginner, look for friendly faces. Talking to them can help build confidence. A nod, a smile, a thumbs up, or a warm expression can give you energy.

After a session, I sometimes even go to specific people and thank them personally. Maybe they gave me a nod at the right time. Maybe they smiled. Maybe they helped me feel the room.

Those small signals matter.

When the lights are your only audience

On a big main stage, eye contact can be difficult. Sometimes the only thing you see is bright light. You know there are people behind it, but you cannot really see them. In that case, remember this:

Behind those lights are real people watching you.

You can imagine the lights as a mirror.

Or think about someone you like and speak as if you are speaking to them in that moment.

Movement can also help you move in and out of spotlights, but this is where you need to coordinate with the technical crew. Especially if cameras are capturing you. Often there will be tape on the floor showing where you need to stay. Honor that. The camera team needs you in the right place.

But also tell the crew upfront that you are a mover.

I always do that. If they know, they can prepare for it.

The tech crew can help you shine, but only if you let them know how you work.

Facial expression is more powerful than you think

Your face matters a lot. I like to think about it this way:

The slides are the map. Your voice is the engine. But your face and presence are the reasons the audience trusts the driver.

Or in another way:

Your presence wins their trust for 50 percent. Your voice drives their focus for 30 percent. Your slides anchor their memory for 20 percent.

Of course, those numbers are not scientific. But the feeling behind them is true.

Your face helps the audience understand how to feel.

If you are curious, show curiosity.

If something is funny, smile.

If something is serious, let that seriousness show.

If something surprised you, show surprise.

If you appreciate the audience, let them see it.

But do not fake it, fake does not cut it. The audience will see through it. Real emotion creates connection.

Common body language mistakes

There are several body language mistakes I see often.

1. Standing behind the lectern the whole time.
2. Reading from the screen.
3. Turning your back to the audience while speaking.
4. Hands in pockets.
5. Crossed arms.
6. Pacing too much.
7. Looking only at one person.
8. Looking only at the screen.
9. Playing with the clicker.
10. Fiddling with a lanyard, microphone, ring, glasses, or clothing.
11. Standing too far away from the audience.
12. Blocking the screen.
13. Holding the clicker with white knuckles.

Nervous energy often escapes through the fingers. That is why people fidget. They touch their face. They adjust their glasses. They play with rings. They fix their clothes. They grip the clicker too tightly.

If you feel that happening, try this:

Drop your hands completely to your sides. Take a deep breath. Let them hang loosely for one sentence.

It resets your body language almost instantly.

Microphones and small details

Body language also depends on the equipment.

• Will you have a clicker?
• A handheld microphone?
• A headset?
• A lavalier?

If you use a handheld microphone, treat it almost like you are eating an ice cream. Keep it close. Almost lick it. Do not let it drop too low. Move it toward and away from your mouth like a singer would.

If you have a headset or lavalier microphone, that is different. Your hands are freer, but there are other things to watch.

One pro tip: If you have a headset microphone or a lavalier mic and a lanyard around your neck, remove the lanyard before being mic’d up.

It can interfere with the microphone, but it also llooks less professional. Your name will be on the first slide. You do not need the lanyard on stage. Also, photographers will like it when you remove it. Ask them why. 🤔

Do not talk to the screen

One mistake I see often is presenters turning around and reading the slides behind them. When you do that, the audience is no longer seeing your face. They are looking at your back.

Or, more specifically, at your ass.

Think about what that signals.

It breaks connection.

If you need to look at the screen, do it intentionally.

Stop speaking, lLook at the screen and check what you need.

Turn back to the audience.

Then speak again.

That way, you do not lose them.

If there is a confidence monitor in front of you, use it. If there is no monitor, you may need to glance back sometimes, but do not talk to the screen.

Talk to the people.

The screen is not your audience.

Confidence versus arrogance

Confidence and arrogance are close together. Body language can accidentally push you to the wrong side. A tilted chin can make you look like you are looking down your nose at the audience. Crossed arms can make you look closed or detached. Hands behind your back can make you look distant or superior.

A raised eyebrow with a smirk can look cynical, mocking, or dismissive. Pointing aggressively can feel like you are lecturing or reprimanding people. 

Moving slowly across the stage with an expressionless face can make you look cold or even predatory.

You may not intend any of this.

But the audience may perceive it that way.

To stay confident but approachable, keep your chin level. Stand tall, but do not look down on people.

Use open palms. They signal honesty, safety, and invitation.

Smile when it is real.

Use both eyebrows and a small smile when making eye contact. That little micro expression says, “I am friendly, and I am happy to connect with you.”

True confidence is internal.

It comes from focusing on how you can deliver value to the audience.

Arrogance is external.

It comes from worrying about how smart, important, or impressive you look.

When your main goal is to help the room understand, your body language naturally becomes warmer.

That is where you find commanding authority without becoming unreachable.

Co-presenting and shared energy

Body language becomes even more interesting when you present with someone else. Sometimes you have a co-presenter and the connection is immediate.

It can be because of experience.

It can be because you trust each other.

It can be because you worked together before.

And sometimes, very rarely, it is just there.

That magical connection you build right before going on stage.

I had that with Lau(d)ra Vet. We were asked to do an opening keynote together, and we had never met in person before. We only had thirty minutes through a screen to sync.

We were both a bit crazy.

Loose cannons, maybe.

But we trusted each other.

So we showed fireworks and went off script fast during the presentation.

Those moments are rare gems.

They are scary.

But they also feed on energy, give energy back, and reach for the stars while dragging the crowd in.

That is magic.

But it only works when both presenters are aware of each other, the room, and the flow. When it is not your turn, your body language should support the active presenter. You can go into pause mode. You do not need to compete for attention every second.

A strong co-presenter knows when to step in. And when to step back.

Different rooms need different movement

Different rooms require different stage behavior.

A theater stage usually gives you more freedom. Even people on the top row can see you if you move a bit toward the back. You can use the width and depth of the stage more.

In a flat room setup, stay more forward. Otherwise, people at the back may feel distant or may not even notice you properly. You lose connection fast in a flat room if you hide too far back.

In a small breakout room, movement should be smaller and more precise. Too much movement can feel overwhelming.

In a panel, you need to know when you are active and when you are supporting. Your posture still matters, even when you are not speaking.

In a roundtable, the energy is more conversational. You may not need big gestures, but you still need presence.

In a room with no stage, you may be able to walk through the room if the story allows it. But always think about whether people can still see you and hear you.

In virtual or hybrid sessions, body language becomes smaller but still important. Your face, shoulders, eyes, and voice carry more weight. The camera becomes the audience. Look into it. Do not only look at your own slides or notes.

And in all cases, consult the technical crew.

They know the room. They know the cameras. They know the lighting. They know where you can and cannot go.

Feedback that changed me

I received useful feedback early on about not talking to the screen.

1. Turn.
2. Look.
3. Turn back.
4. Speak up.

Use facial expression when you want to highlight something.

1. Talk faster when needed.
2. Talk slower when needed.
3. Pause when needed.

That feedback helped me understand that presenting is rhythm.

It is not just words. It is movement, silence, voice, timing, and presence working together. The most powerful tool is often not another slide.

It is a pause.

A look.

A step forward.

A smile.

A moment of stillness.

How beginners can improve stage presence

If you are new, start simple. Watch recordings of yourself. Yes, it can band will be painful. Do it anyway if you want to grow. As a tip watch once with sound , then watch without sound.

When you remove the audio, you see your body language much more clearly.

• Are you pacing?
• Are you hiding?
• Are you fidgeting?
• Are your hands too low?
• Are you looking at the audience?
• Are you talking to the screen?

Then watch presenters you enjoy.

Do not copy their personality, but study what they do.

• How do they stand?
• When do they move?
• How do they use their hands?
• How do they pause?
• How do they look at people?

Try small things, see what feels natural. Keep what fits. Drop what does not. Practice in small rooms and above all ask for feedback. And remember, stage presence is not something you either have or do not have.

You can develop it.

You can train it.

You can sharpen it.

The key lesson

If there is one thing I want you to remember from this part, it is this:

Before the audience believes your words, they read your body.

They see how you walk on stage.
They see if you are present.
They see if you are hiding.
They see if your hands invite them in or push them away.
They see if your face matches the story you are telling.

And they feel all of that before they even fully process your first sentence.

So do not treat body language as something extra. It is part of the story.

Your posture tells the audience if you are ready.
Your hands help paint the picture.
Your movement changes the energy.
Your eyes create connection.
Your face shows whether the moment is real.
And your silence can sometimes say more than another slide ever could.

For me, stage presence is not about looking perfect or acting important. It is about being fully there with the audience.

Stand with intention.
Move with purpose.
Use your hands to pull people in.
Look at people when you can.
Smile when it is real.
Pause when the moment needs it.

And if you are nervous, that is okay. Everyone is watching, yes, but most people are not waiting for you to fail. They are waiting for you to take them with you.

So take the stage. Not by showing off. But by opening up, being present, and letting your body support the story you came to tell.