Dance has been my greatest pitch teacher.
When I first started taking Salsa lessons, I was really bad at it.
I’d played soccer in my 20s, so moved like a Jock. I was stiff. I lacked flow and grace. But I loved the music and watching how beautifully other people moved.
I wanted to move like that, so I went to lessons, where you focus on each and every part of your body.
Your hand position, your back position. The position of your upper body, lower body. Legs, feet and head. You see how you inhabit your body and how you move in space.
Having this level of awareness is critical when pitching.
Most people go through life unaware of how their body language impacts the people around them.
For many it’s unimportant. We believe that our words have 90% of the impact, so that’s where we focus our attention.
In reality, words only have a 7% impact.
According to Albert Mehrabian, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at UCLA, 55% is absorbed through body language.
To be effective at the front of the room, you’ve got to be aware of every movement and for that, you must be centred, present.
This can be challenging. There is so much going on in our lives that distract us from the moment.
Breathing techniques can help. They help to pull our energy back into our body.
When you focus on your breathing, you become more aware of the space you inhabit and how you move your body.
You can then make the necessary changes to increase your impact.
