Facial expressions matter when presenting, here’s why

Nicole Lowenbraun

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Nicole Lowenbraun

About 8 years ago, while visiting my parents in New Jersey for the weekend, I got bored enough to peruse my mother’s Prevention magazine. Actress Amy Brenneman of ABC’s “Private Practice” was being interviewed on her beauty secrets. Boring.

As an executive speaker coach, what did interest me were her comments on Botox. She boldly admitted having tried it and said she probably wouldn’t do it again. Why? “I’ve experimented … but Botox kind of freaked me out because I couldn’t move my face. Isn’t it my job to make facial expressions?”

Yes, Amy, yes, it is.

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6 key concepts on facial expressions in communication

Whether on camera, onstage presenting, or communicating in a meeting, your facial expressions send messages that are just as important as the content itself. They give you the chance to enhance your point, distract from it, or confuse the heck out of your audience.

Here are 6 key concepts to keep in mind when it comes to facial expressions in communication.

1. You need sincere facial expressions

The fact of the matter is: Facial expressions in nonverbal communication help. A flat affect, just like a monotone voice, will be interpreted as a lack of passion, whether the message is positive or negative.

But using facial expressions creates dynamism. They give the impression that you stand behind your ideas and believe in them.

Recent research shows that when you use your face, specifically the little lines around your eyes (known as Duchenne markers) you’re perceived as conveying more intense and sincere emotions (ie: more sincere facial expressions).

Person removing a mask from their faces, you need sincere facial expressions

2. Your facial expressions must match your content

If you say, “I’m so excited about these new initiatives!” your face better tell the same story.

I worked with a senior HR executive at a tech company a few years back. She exuded warmth and I got the sense she really cared about her employees.

When it came time to fire an employee however, she wasn’t happy about it. The directive came from the top down and she disagreed with the decision. To soften the blow, she thought it would be a good idea to deliver the news with a smile, “We’re letting you go.” It was not received well.

The woman being forced out responded with, “F you and your smile.” Yikes. While well-intentioned, my client’s facial expression didn’t match the content and was interpreted as belittling and condescending.

3. It’s okay to smile at work

Of course, when the content allows and it’s appropriate, smiling is wonderful. A favorite facial expression in nonverbal communication, I’ve worked with too many people who fear smiling will rob them of their authority in the workplace. Smiling doesn’t make you look weak — it makes you look approachable. And NOT smiling can be interpreted as cold.

Happy, angry, sad faces, facial expressions in nonverbal communication

4. Pay attention to your audience’s facial expressions

Your audience’s facial expressions are just as important to pay attention to as your own facial expression during a presentation.

If you took Public Speaking 101, you were probably taught to “scan the room.” Guess what? It’s not a great strategy for building meaningful connections, and it prevents you from reading the faces of your audience members.

How do you know if they’re smiling and nodding in agreement with your point or if they’re giving you a skeptical reaction? Reading faces ensures that you can respond appropriately.

Try saying:

  • “I’m so glad to see you all agree,” or
  • “You might be questioning my methods and I understand why. Let me tell you why this is the best way to go.”

If you’re scanning the room, you won’t be able to read and adjust on the fly to the audience’s needs.

Side note: When nerves kick in, we tend to focus our attention on the people who are smiling and nodding. While it’s great that you notice facial expressions (it means you’re paying attention and attempting to empathize with your audience), know that some people are just … smilers and nodders.

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You still need to speak to the skeptics in the room. In fact, a successful presentation should speak to both skeptics and optimists, something we talk about in our change communications workshop, Illuminate™.

Oh, also, “Resting bitch face” (RBF) — scientists say it’s a real thing. I had a former colleague who was passionate, loud, and dynamic on stage. While delivering a speech, he was thrown off by a scowling guy in the front row. Much to my colleague’s surprise, Scowling Guy approached him post-speech to say how much he loved the talk and to pepper him with questions. How could this be? Simple. Scowling Guy had RBF. He didn’t disagree or disapprove. He just looked that way.

There are people in your audience whose facial expressions will appear cold, skeptical, and even nasty. While you certainly need to read the audience’s faces, take their reactions with a grain of salt.

If you need to confirm the meaning behind their facial expressions, just ask:

  • “I’m sensing some concern, what questions do you have?”
  • Or “Please let me know if we’re not all in agreement on this.”

5. Facial expressions on video are extremely important

Person's face in a laptop, facial expressions on video are extremely important

When communicating remotely on camera, note that the only tools you have to sound convincing and sincere are your voice and your facial expressions.

Your audience can’t see your entire body, they don’t have direct in-person eye contact to form a connection, and they can rarely see gestures because of the small, allotted space. This means that facial expressions can go a long way in persuading your audience.

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6. Practice facial expressions in front of a mirror

Not sure what your face is doing when you’re speaking? Try practicing in front of a mirror. As a coach, I don’t always recommend using mirrors. They can be distracting, and it’s important that you FEEL yourself using good public speaking techniques in order to solidify them as your new normal.

In real life, you won’t get that immediate feedback. But until you are able to internalize your facial expressions, a mirror is a great tool. You have to see what your face is doing in order to make necessary changes. I suggest practicing while on a conference call and having a real conversation while no one can see you.

You have important ideas to convey. Don’t allow your facial expressions to diminish your message. Use them as a tool to solidify your point. And perhaps avoid the botulism injections.

The easy way to nail your facial expressions in communication

We get it. There’s a lot that goes into facial expressions when public speaking. You already have to worry about your presentation structure and making sure your audience is engaged. Why not get expert help to take the hard, guesswork out of your next big-stage moment? Hire an executive speaker coach today and get individualized help on all things from RBF to monotone facial expressions in your presentation.

And if your big-stage moment is actually … more medium-stage, you can still get public speaking help! Sign up for our next group public speaking workshop, Captivate™. There in a small group setting, you can practice your presentation delivery skills to make sure you take the stage with confidence and poise.

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In-line illustrations by Ash Oat.

This article was originally published on August 5, 2020. It has been updated in August 2024 for relevancy.

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