This tip is at the same time the easiest and most difficult thing to do. Smile. There is something engaging about a smile. It draws people in. It lowers defenses. Think about it, when you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation with another person one of the quickest ways to diffuse tension is to flash a smile. However, if the smile is forced or unnatural it can backfire on you. And that’s the challenge for you as a speaker.

Mastering the ability to smile throughout a presentation without coming across as disingenuous or creepy takes practice. For those with a natural smile it can be easier but for those who don’t typically smile there is work to be done. Joel Osteen is someone whose face just seems to be fixed in a perpetual smile. Some find that a little creepy (I’m one of them) but there’s no denying that he does draw you in. Millions of followers around the world attest to that.

So how do you develop a natural smile when you’re presenting? In the beginning you’ll need to build in reminders. If you use notes actually write ‘smile’ at regular places in your notes. Obviously put your notes to smile in appropriate spots or you’re just working against yourself. If you don’t use notes then memorize the places where you want to smile. This is much like the tip I gave about memorizing your pauses and silences.

In order to assure your smile is as natural as possible, link the smile to an amusing or touching thought. This can be a thought you share with the audience as part of your presentation or one that is private but linked to what you just shared. For example, I might be talking about addressing the epidemic of fatherless children in inner city neighborhoods. I can share specifically about my son and his wife who have intentionally moved into an inner city neighborhood and built relationships there with fatherless children. Or I can talk in general about the epidemic while thinking about what my son and his wife are doing. Either way, thinking of them makes me smile. That smile is natural and much more likely to engage the audience.

For some…perhaps many…it won’t be easy at first. But commit yourself to practice and you’ll get better at it.