10 body language hacks to project leadership presence on video

10 body language hacks to project leadership presence on video10 body language hacks to project leadership presence on videoYou may be a senior-level executive, an innovative entrepreneur, or a respected expert in your field - but when you are on camera, do you know how to project leadership presence?Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraSylvia Gorajekis a Video Strategist and Executive Producer helping Fortune 500 and Silicon Valley tech startups narrate their stories with impact. I was honored to add my expertise in body language and leadership presence to her expertise in interviewing and producing video commercials. Here are our ten hacks to project leadership presence on video1. Sylvia GorajekKeep laser-focused eye contactWhether youre looking into the camera or at an interviewer, by no means let your eyes wander. While in general its OK to occasionally look around, its a defini te no-no for leaders. You have to be sharp in delivering your message. The more you keep your eyes focused, the more youll appear principal, knowledgeable and confident. This will also keep viewers attention.2. Carol Kinsey GomanDress for successIt takes less than seven seconds for people to make judgments about your confidence, competence, professional status, and warmth. While a face-to-face meeting gives you added opportunities to project presence - by the way you enter the meeting room, shake hands, etc. - on video, that first impression is made the moment people view you on the screen. So be sure your grooming and wardrobe send the right message.3. GorajekTake 5 deep breathsThe silent breathing technique is a secret weapon of all on-camera hosts and presenters. Taking 5 deep breaths right before you hear Action not only helps your body relax and your mind focus, but also straightens your posture and projects an impression of confidence and integrity.4. GomanDeepen your voiceT he quality of your voice can be a deciding factor in how you are perceived. Speakers with higher-pitched voices are judged to be less empathic, less powerful and more nervous than speakers with lower pitched voices. While relaxing your body (especially releasing tension from your shoulders, chest, and jaw) will deepen your voice, here is another quick and easy tip Before you go on camera, put your lips together and say Um hum, um hum, um hum. Doing so drops your voice into its optimal lower pitch.5. GorajekStraighten your posturePeople make judgments based on someones posture more than on their actual role or title. While sitting comfortably or even a little slouched doesnt do harm in real-life situations, you have to maintain good posture in front of a camera. Pay attention to how celebrities sit on a TV show, and youll notice that they keep their backs straight throughout the whole show. This is neither comfortable nor does it feel natural, but it does wonders on camera.6. GomanKe ep your head straightSquaring your shoulders and keeping your head straight, with your ears in line with your shoulders, makes your look sure of yourself. When you tilt your head, you look more tentative.The only time head tilts are perceived as positive body language cues is when you are listening to someone else speaking.7. GorajekUse the right gesturesUsing gestures, in general, is definitely advised as it adds energy to the video. But not all gestures work to your advantage. For example, you dont want to have your hands anywhere near your face, since that projects a sense of uncertainty. Making wider arm movements do not look too esthetical on camera either. Keep your elbows comfortable and in line with your shoulders youll appear self-assured and collected.8. GomanShow your palmsKeeping your movements relaxed, using open arm gestures, and showing the palms of your hands - the ultimate see, I have nothing to hide gesture - are silent signals of credibility and candor. Individ uals with open gestures are perceived more positively and are more persuasive than those with closed gestures. Hands hidden by crossing arms or held too close to the body make you look resistant or insecure.9. Gorajek Smile, but not too muchIf your expression is neutral or too serious, you will come off as sad, uninterested or, worse yet, upset. If your message is positive, you should always add a smile to what youre saying so that you project good energy and keep the audience attracted to your message. Dont overdo it, though. The camera will give your smile a boost, and you dont want to be viewed as naive or inauthentic.10. GomanPay attention to prosodyVocal prosody is the nonverbal aspect of speech. Its concerned withhowyou say what you say. Youll be more compelling if vary your tone, volume, intensity, inflection, and rate of speech. Above all, avoid a monotone delivery that makes you sound stilted or bored. Remember, too, that theres nothing that kills credibility faster than le tting your voice rise of the end of a sentence. When making a declarative statement, be sure to use the authoritative arc in which your voice starts at one note, rises in pitch through the sentence, and drops back down at the end.Applying these hacks will help any executive, expert or entrepreneur leverage their credibility in a video presentation. Regardless of title or industry, we should all be mindful of how to project leadership presence on camera.Carol Kinsey Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D. is an international keynote speaker andleadership presence coach. Shes the author of Body Language for Leaders(her LinkedIn Learnings video course that has had over 2 million views. For more information, visithttps//CarolKinseyGoman.com.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people