The Mirror Effect: Why Presenters Need to Master It
From Dance Choreography to Public Speaking: The Power of Reflection in Presentations
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Have you ever choreographed a dance for children or adults, expecting them to replicate your every move? Or perhaps you've been on the receiving end, trying to emulate a dance routine someone performed in front of you?
If you've been observant, you might have noticed a fascinating phenomenon: we naturally mirror the actions of the person in front of us. It's as if we have an innate drive to reflect movements, gestures, and expressions, much like a mirror.
Dance instructors encounter this often. When a dance teacher raises their left hand, the students, seeing the mirror image, instinctively raise their right. This is also why the image is mirrored when you switch to selfie mode on your phone. Use a standard camera, and suddenly, the non-inverted image seems... odd.
Mirror Skills in Presentations
The world of dance isn't the only place where the mirror effect comes into play. It holds immense value in public speaking and presentations, too.
Imagine you're illustrating a point by drawing an imaginary graph in the air. To make sense to your audience, the graph's progression should be from left to right, as we read from left to right in the Western world (switch if you're in a country writing from right to left ;)).
If you're drawing it from your perspective, starting from left to right, then the audience will be looking at it inverted! In essence, as a presenter, you must gesture oppositely to create the correct mirror image for your audience.
This mirroring isn't just about left and right; it's about understanding your audience's perspective and adjusting your actions to ensure clarity and understanding.
Training Your Mirror Skills
If you've taken dance classes, you might have noticed how challenging it can be to switch a choreography's lateralization. The more you've ingrained a routine one way, the harder it becomes to mirror it.
The same holds true for public speaking. To be an effective presenter, mastering your mirror skills is crucial. Whether it's practicing in front of an actual mirror or recording yourself to grasp what the audience sees, the goal is to ensure your gestures align with the audience's perception.
⚠️ Pro tip ⚠️
Some webcams come with a mirroring feature. It's essential to be aware of your webcam settings, ensuring you're projecting the right image or adjusting your gestures accordingly.
Conclusion: Reflect to Connect
Mirror skills are more than a neat trick; they're a powerful tool for connecting with your audience. Whether in dance or public speaking, mastering the mirror effect ensures you resonate with your audience, creating memorable, impactful presentations.
Now, I'd love to hear from you. Have you ever noticed the mirror effect in your presentations or daily interactions? How do you ensure you're always putting your best foot (or hand) forward? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
One of the take aways of a training i did about presence is start from right when showing something. At the beginning i was mindful about it and now after years its natural - but i now do it from right also when not facing someone so its the other way around i get mindful about it - as this is the 5% of cases i still keep the "start from right" approach as the majority of time i present in front of people:)