Nonverbal Communication and Body Language Flashcards
7 cards from real Presentation Skills Training practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Nonverbal Communication and Body Language flashcards as text
What does maintaining consistent eye contact with your audience primarily communicate?
Answer: Confidence and credibility
Consistent eye contact signals confidence and builds credibility, making the audience feel valued and directly engaged.
Which type of gesture visually illustrates or reinforces what is being said, rather than substituting for words?
Answer: Illustrator
Illustrators are gestures that visually reinforce or complement spoken content, helping the audience picture what the presenter describes.
What is 'proxemics' as it relates to presentations?
Answer: The management of physical space and distance between presenter and audience
Proxemics refers to how physical space is used in communication, including the distance a presenter maintains from the audience to convey comfort or authority.
What does a genuine (Duchenne) smile communicate to an audience?
Answer: Warmth, approachability, and authenticity
A genuine Duchenne smile — involving both the mouth and eyes — conveys warmth and authenticity, building rapport and trust with the audience.
What does crossing your arms typically signal to an audience during a presentation?
Answer: Defensiveness or a closed-off attitude
Crossed arms are a closed body language signal often interpreted as defensiveness, discomfort, or an unwillingness to engage with the audience.
Which foot position best projects confidence and stability when presenting?
Answer: Feet shoulder-width apart with weight evenly distributed
Standing with feet shoulder-width apart and weight evenly distributed creates a grounded, stable posture that projects confidence to the audience.
According to commonly cited research on communication impact, what percentage of a message's effect typically comes from nonverbal cues?
Answer: Over 50%
Research on communication consistently shows that nonverbal factors — body language, facial expression, tone — account for more than half of a presentation's overall perceived impact.