When I walk into a room to speak, I don’t waste time with fluff. I hit the audience with hard truths—truths I learned firsthand after spending decades with the FBI, picking up the pieces for cybercrime victims who never thought it would happen to them. I keep it real, raw, and interactive because this isn’t theory—it’s about protecting yourself before it’s too late. Cybercriminals don’t care who you are or how much money you have. That’s why I created Stealth Family and the Cybersecure Mindset—to keep 1 million people safe. The question is: Are you ready, or will you be the next victim?

I have noticed lately that men and women do different things that detract from their command of the stage. Men shove, and I mean shove, their hands in their pockets. When men are particularly nervous or need reassurance, they make a fist and shove their hands in their pockets. Women tend to cross their legs at the calf or ankle. It is a weird phenomenon that makes it seem like they are trying to make themselves smaller. It certainly isn't the most stable stance, you basically are teetering on one foot. I have seen this when women are behind a lectern or standing with a mic in the middle of the stage. Stand tall and take up space to show confidence.

Approach the stage with a composed demeanor and maintain a pleasant smile. As you walk towards the center, turn your head in all directions to quickly assess the surrounding area. This will help you identify areas where you may need to direct your eye contact for an extended period. Take a brief pause to quickly scan the crowd. By now, you should have a good understanding of the audience’s demographics and interests. Begin your speech with a relatable, practical, and culturally relevant story that will resonate with the audience.

Para impor respeito com a linguagem corporal, procuro manter uma postura ereta e confiante, fazendo contato visual com a audiência e evitando gestos excessivos. Utilizaria uma postura aberta e gestos controlados para transmitir segurança, e falar com uma voz firme e clara, garantindo que a presença seja notada sem precisar levantar a voz. A confiança na linguagem corporal ajuda a criar um ambiente de respeito e atenção.

I find that a confident walk to the spot you will be speaking from, a pause once there, a breath and glance around the audience works well. All done within seconds to avoid and awkwardness.

One thing I find helpful is having adequate and relevant information about the subject matter, speak with clarity, not very confusing but with confidence. Engage the audience by asking questions and names to match the subject matter with real life experiences. Avoid being so fast because in order to attract high level attention, when people follow your flow, with gestures, it plants confidence in you. Lastly is a smile, but not laughter. Smile as you match words with hand movements

Know that Respect is faster obtained, if it is first offered. On stage, be calm and confident, yet with the impression of being approachable. Your focus must be on your audience; not you or your topic; they are all there to hear what you have to say. Be prepared enough to speak while looking at them; not your notes. Reading, verses speaking, tells everyone that you were ill-prepared; thus reflecting that you apparently didn’t care enough about them or their time to be otherwise. If you move from the podium, walk slowly, and make it to both sides of the stage; with your gaze spanning to every person. End with a memorable statement or quote that reflects your topic. Then thank everyone for coming, wishing each a safe journey home.

Body language speaks volumes without saying a word. Taking steps to create an aura of confidence can be controlled by dressing well, making eye contact, having good posture and using your facial expressions to convey messages. However, when you believe in yourself and feel confident it many times manifests outwardly in how you naturally carry yourself. Regardless, many times your body language is read by your audience's subconscious without necessarily thinking about it. You can set yourself up for success by understanding this and commanding the respect of the room through non verbal communication.