(Bk Business) Carol Kinsey Goman Ph.D.-The Nonverbal Advantage_ Secrets and Science of Body Language at Work -Berrett-Koehler Publishers (2008)

170 The Nonverbal Advantage
Don’t keep your arms too close to your body. Hands
clasped behind your back make you look like you’re
being arrested; hands clasped in front (the protective
“fig leaf” position) make you look unsure of yourself.
Do take your time making eye contact. Look at individuals
in the audience for at least three to five seconds
to really connect.
Don’t let your gaze sweep the audience too quickly or
get stuck addressing only one part of the room.
Do move around. Human beings are drawn to movement.
Our brains are programmed to pay attention to it.
Don’t move constantly, however. You are most effective
when you combine movement with physical pauses
in which you stand absolutely still and highlight some
key points.
TRY THIS
The next time you are preparing to give a presentation to
any size audience, begin by defining your goal. For example,
you might be trying to close a sale, get your boss to consider
you for a promotion, or motivate your organization to
embrace change. Whatever your objective is, use that as
your framework for choosing supportive body language.
If you want to project authority and control, disregard some
of the rules you’ve just learned. Control and authority can be
underscored by standing behind the lectern, minimizing your
gestures, and making limited eye contact. But if projecting
sincerity, caring, or concern is part of your message, you’ll get
better results by keeping in mind the guidelines I’ve stated.