The other day I was asked to join a couple of author friends at a speaking gig in East Texas. My first concern should have been what to say? But I worried more about what to wear? Call me shallow, but the reality is:?Fifty-five percent of communication is accomplished by our appearance. I knew speaking at an afternoon?tea was an opportunity to promote my books and the various workshops I offer. Winning the trust of these ladies was my goal. To captivate my audience, I needed more than quality verbal content. I needed pleasing non-verbal visuals. Here are the things I took into consideration when choosing my wardrobe:
Speakers get thrown onto all kinds of stages. Stacked chairs were a first for me.
Audience Assessment ? Who was I talking to? I knew I would be speaking to older, conservative women who love any excuse to break out the fine china. Most likely their once-a-month meeting was a chance for them to ?gussie up? a bit. I wanted my audience to know that I respected them enough to dress up for them. I wore heels ? and my feet still haven?t forgiven me.
Comfort ? Which brings us to comfort. Shoes should be comfortable. More than likely I would be standing for the presentation. I needed shoes that could take me to the stage without noise, allow me to shift my weight, and facilitate moving about the stage without tripping. A couple of years ago,?I wore a pair of new heels on a highly waxed wooden floor and nearly landed on my backside. Memorable, but not my most graceful entry. I do like to wear a bit of a heel because the elevation straightens my spine and makes me feel taller and more confident. Feeling confident allows me to forget about me and?authentically concentrate on the message.
Color affects my mood and a dynamic color sets an energetic and positive tone for the audience. Rich greens or vibrant blues pop against almost any backdrop and help your body stand out. I ?don?t have to be a flashing neon sign, but I don?t?want to revert to black because it makes me look thinner. If the stage is dark, I run the risk of my body disappearing. You may think that is a good thing. But if your body goes away, this leaves only your face to transmit non-verbal clues. From a distance, the audience would miss 55% of my communication. As an aside, blue is always a good choice for the harsh lighting of a TV studio.
Smile ? Finally, the most important thing to wear is a confident smile on my face.
We?ll talk?more about what to wear and what not to wear. I?d be interested in hearing?about your public speaking?wardrobe malfunctions.
Source: http://lynnegentry.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/dress-for-speaking-success/
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