The Eyes Have It

Darting or downcast eyes suggest nervousness or evasiveness. To shine in any media interview or presentation you must master eye contact. We connect through the eyes and eye contact is a powerful way to create a relationship with the audience.

For a satellite broadcast look directly into the camera. Steady your gaze. Excessive blinking will make you look nervous.

For all other media interviews look at the host and let the camera person worry about the angles.

When speaking on a panel, look out at the audience rather than the speaker. You'll want to identify body language signals before it's your turn to speak.

When speaking to a live audience break down the large group into sections with your eyes. Than speak directly to one person at a time in each section. That will create a relationship with your audience, you'll look focused and confident to the group, and you'll start to lose your nervousness when you talk to only one person at a time.
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It's All in the Hands

Your presentation doesn't begin with your opening remarks. It begins with your handshake. The handshake can be the basis for getting a job or making a sale. How you shake hands says something about you.
The ideal handshake is a firm clasp with the thumbs meeting web to web. It's the same for men and women. The handshake is definitely an equal opportunity communication. However, there are some aberrations or dysfunctional handshakes.
Bone Crusher
The vice grip or bone crusher grabs your hand with so much pressure your fingers hurt-especially if you're wearing a ring. This is often a sign of dominance and aggression.
Jelly Fish
The limp handshake can be anything from a full handshake without any pressure to a three finger contact. Sometimes the palm is clammy as well. This signals weakness and lack of confidence. When I worked on Wall Street the manager of a trading desk told me he never hired a man with a weak handshake.
The Shoulder Grab
The person shakes your right hand and with the left hand either touches the shoulder or forearm. This is a gesture of familiarity and should not be used in business unless it's between friends.
The Non-Shaker
A person who avoids a handshake will not extend a hand or will withdraw it quickly.
People who recoil from shaking hands often fear germs. This lack of social contact communicates coldness and makes the person less attractive.

Your handshake is your first impression. Make it a positive presentation.

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