Following two are, by far, the most expressive non-verbal cues in any audience. 1) EXPRESSIVE EYES It is universally accepted, and every speaker worth her/his salt knows it, that the eyes are a gateway to a person's feelings. Age-old phrases like "Shifty-eyes", "Rolling of eyeballs" etc are ample proof of gauging a person's interest or understanding. The speaker can easily perceive his audience's reaction by making eye contact across the room 2) BODY LANGUAGE This is the second vital non-verbal cue. A receptive audience would generally be still with minimal body movements. A few persons in the audience, spread across the room, making superfluous body movements should tell the speaker that there is an issue that needs his urgent attention.

While in general Nodding and head shaking generally expresses agreement and disagreements, there are also other factors at play. E.g. a lot of Indian (including myself) shake our head even when we agree to something or trying to understand things in detail. Always keep cultural nuisances in mind when gauging audience engagement through nodding and head shaking etc.

I refer to it a "Bobble head effect" an almost involuntary signal that can be missed if you are waiting for your chance to speak, rather than being totally engaged with the client. Generally, it is accompanied by specific eye movements that demonstrate reflection or other emotions.

RESPECT THE LAG! All of the above is true, but one thing exists that everyone seems to overlook. I call it the “lag.” Original, I know. Here is the idea - there is always a lag between what the speaker says and when the audience processes it. It ranges from .5 to 2 full seconds and is indicated by body language (nodding or whatever). What we often do as speakers is move right through the lag and run roughshod over the audience as they are attempting to process your last idea. RESPECT THE LAG! Give people time to digest what you said before moving on. In my experience the lag exists in every speech context and speaking opportunity. If you give people time to process then the listening experience becomes more enjoyable for them.

Whenever I am assessing what my audience is thinking while I’m speaking, I like to walk around. I speak to individuals inside of groups and engage with them, much like I do in small groups. I like asking questions to make sure that they are understanding and following my story. If members of the audience show the “glassy eye” look, then I know I need to shift.

As a speaker, making eye contact has two benefits. It helps you relax and connect with the audience and draws the audience to you. Imagine you are in a large audience, and the person everyone has come to hear is looking at and talking directly to you, even if only for a few seconds. The more you do that the stronger the audience connection. Even with those you didn't make eye contact with because they notice you connecting with the audience as a whole.

Attention. Attention, as currency, is scare People carefully decide when to spend it. When my audience "pays me" with their attention, (without side comments, I mean eye-balls following in every direction with full attention) then I know my message resonates. It becomes my responsibility (an obligation) to reward their attention with value — Not value for money, But value for their attention.

The importance of eye contact and gaze cannot be undermined as it not only keeps the discussion engaging, it also helps with understanding who is really listening and actually connecting with what you're saying

In order to keep the attention of the audience in a world, when it takes seconds to lose it, I speak in small bites. Recent research shows that adults need time to assimilate key lessons learned and make sense of how they will use those in their personal and professional life. This is why I also use silence to make sure that they understand and are able to take in the information I’ve just given.

Eye contact is one of the important criteria while connecting with the audience. It helps me to understand the connect such as their interest in my speech or if they are disconnect or I'm boring them. This helps in getting them engaged and connected.It creates a bond and also we can understand their reciprocation towards our speech

Look for raised eyebrows as an indicator that you've either said something controversial and shocking to them, or provided some insightful breakthrough.

I often change my pace and switch the tone of voice to alert the audience of a change of topic coming up. The pause is an incredible tool to use here. When I see the audience squirm around on their seats, I know it's too uncomfortable and I bring in some humour to lighten the mood. It's important to read the audience to keep them engaged.

Emotions are the most essential part of our entire experience. A powerful and impactful speaker will evoke emotions within the audience and take them on a connected journey together. I want to also acknowledge that many people have "cut off" their emotions, but to have a presenter be able to pull out and tap into the empathy space...THAT is what becomes memorable. We get to create this. How do you know? Our own body can mirror and feel our audience as we present. Speaking is a full mindful experience.

I look at 2 things. Body posture, (arms crossed or open) sitting forward or leaned back. The other observation is eye contact. Visual focus. If the audience is interested, they will keep making eye contact with the speaker. If they are staring into space or focused on something other than me, I like to make a joke or do something random to recapture their attention.

These are the clues to tone it down or ramp it up. The facial expressions allow you to gauge how they are processing the information and make adjustments live. Often I see empathy and compassion, tears, and appreciation of being understood. It’s the expression that reveals to me who has lost someone, who may have attempted suicide, who is thinking about it and which ones have someone they are worried about. And then those who may be experiencing an “aha” moment. Talking in the faces of my audience is a sincere privilege and a window into their souls that I will forever be grateful for.

My favorite cue was shared with me many years ago after I hosted a workshop about getting out of your comfort zone with my city’s Women’s Leadership Network. I asked my dear friend Tammy Copenhaver, who was sitting at the back, if she thought it went well and she said: “I lost track of the number of times people picked up their pens in your 40 minute presentation!”

I love looking out into the crowd and seeing someone shift or sit up at something I’ve said. Even if it’s in disagreement or refute. It means that I have their attention and that they are processing the message in real time.

Postures help me in understanding audiences attentiveness towards my presence. Sometimes it helps us to modulate the conversation based on the posture changes in the audience. Ex: A relaxed or stiff sitting posture helps us understanding their attention levels and concentration they are putting on us .

Three indicators that you either have an audience or are losing an audience are folded arms, on their phones checking emails/texts, or taking pictures of slides. If their arms are folded they are following along closely (often because they want to see where you're going with a point to see if they really agree or possibly disagree). If they are checking email/texts it is often a sign that you're losing them either by taking too long to get to points, saying things they don't agree with, or are speaking in a style that isn't engaging. If they are taking pictures of your slides, it means they value what you're saying, generally agree with you, and want to remember it for future implementation.

Are you familiar with the signs of a disengaged audience? It's like watching a room full of people slouching down and scanning their surroundings. You can practically feel their attention slipping away. Sure, there might be one or two who are genuinely interested, but when you notice that more than a few people are restless, it's a clear indication that you've lost them. It's time to reel them back in and captivate their interest again!

I don’t give my audience a link to a traditional survey any more. The conference can do that. I ask my audience members to write one thing they learned on an index card as a gift to me. It helps me take a piece of them and their stories with me. And when I reach a point afterwards that feels like an emotional crash, I pull out those cards and read them. And they fill me back up. So admittedly this was a self care step I needed. They have helped me sort out what is important and get rid of that which is not. I save every card.

Engaging your panelist and audience as if you're having a regular conversation with friends, encourages participation, and feedback while lightening the mood of the attendees.

The use of voice and feedback is a sixth nonverbal clue. Vocal cues reveal the volume, pitch, rate of speech, and overall sound of your audience. Listening to the applause, laughing, quiet, or questions from your audience is a great way to gauge their reaction to your message. These indicators may help you gauge the reception, comprehension, and applicability of your message, as well as gauge how engaged your audience is. You may use vocal inflections to drive home arguments or provide questions designed to elicit responses to encourage participation.

Arms Crossed.. Ask them to please uncross their arms to allow for room in the conversation, typically the men in the rooms are the first ones to cross their arms.:{ Always lead with your arms open, giving them the cue they will be fine!

Una gran herramienta que me ha resultado bastante útil al estar frente una audiencia, sin importar el motivo como puede ser una conferencia, presentación de proyecto, pitch de ventas es a través de preguntas cortas mantener su atención y resolviendo dudas durante el transcurso. De esta manera puedes ir interpretando los puntos que tienen más interés para ellos o si algo no está siendo de su agrado, aparte puedes ir relacionado la conversación con lo que ellos vayan comentando para mantener siempre el foco en ti y el objetivo inicial.

Beyond proximity in space, there is proximity in heart. Do you love the audience? In my experience, I do. I love them enough to deliver value that would change their lives. I respect them not to waste their time. I am always preparing for what I might share, say, or present — always. When I learn something new that can potentially impact a life, I ask how can I share this with anyone. So I approach every presentation with that passion and the audience can tell that this fellow cares about us. They willingly pay me, With their attention.

Avoid barriers between you and your audience - never hide behind the lectern when speaking. Get mic'd up so you can walk around and get close to your audience, they'll appreciate you making the effort to connect with them.

I like to walk while speaking. As speaker it helps me be more confident and let's me own that place while the session is on . People resonate to speaker more once they are involved in any physical activity .

Seeking ways for contributions, and receiving that through active listening and warmth even if the speaker doesn't agree. Consciously inviting the debate and not being defensive of the contribution offers safety and therefore greater interaction. It's always about how they feel. The power of smiles, pausing and the confidence to dig deeper by presenting authentically.

If a setting allows the audience to move around, some will move nearer to the stage when they feel connected, related, or comfortable with the speaker. Such a gesture indicates high agreement.

Always lean in when you are sharing, ask the audience who in the room is willing to be a hero? I have also found that fear is the opposite of grace, so lead with grace, tell them they will be fine!

Too often I hear speaking "experts" say "When someone does 'x', it means 'y'." But that's like saying when someone uses the word "all", it means "all" ALL the time. It's simply not true. If I say I ate all of the ice cream, do I mean all that is in existence? (I surely hope not!) More likely, I mean all of that carton, or maybe all that was in the freezer. How does one know what I mean? Simply put, CONTEXT! Just as the context of my words informs their intent, so does the context of non-verbal cues. Before assuming someone is disinterested because their arms are folded, assess the temperature of the room. Before presuming that you have agreement because of a head nod, ensure someone else has not said something. Context is key :)

The stillness in the room. This happens when your speech invoke your audience to reflect on their own life and experience. If your speech is crafted and delivered keeping the primary focus on audience, asking the right questions, infusing empathy into it, incorporating the right amount of pauses, you will see them not just getting motivated, but planning their new future in that stillness, right in front of you.

Ask them simple questions. Demand specific responses. Make true (or false) assertions, and ask them to validate them (to agree or disagree). You can have a beautiful conversation with 1, 10, 1000 and 10,000. In my experience, that conversation feeling draws the audience in. They don't feel you are talking at them. They feel you are talking with them. I treat the audience (no matter the size) as though I am having a conversation with 1 person. It always works.

Feel the vibe in the room. As connections grow stronger, an electric energy starts to hum. It's not just about what people do, it's about how the room feels. When your energy is soaring, you'll lift the room up with you, ensuring that your audience stays captivated and engaged.