Want to know how to speak on video with more confidence and ease? Our tendency is to lean in on video but that can make it hard to feel confident and think on your feet. I recommend you lean back instead.

I’m an executive communication coach helping folks improve spontaneous speaking skills. When I work with people in-person, I almost always recommend leaning back around a conference room table. Most people feel the need to lean in to show that you’re listening and engaged, or to try get a word in. This tendency is amplified on video because we’re missing tons of non-verbal feedback and seeking validation more than usual.

The problem is that leaning in constricts our ability to breathe and signals to your body to feel less confident.

When you lean back, you feel more confident because taking up space increases your testosterone. Leaning back releases tension in your body and helps you speak with less effort. It helps you access your breath and your ideas, which helps you think on your feet. It also creates space for others to participate in the conversation.

Here’s the trick: In addition to feeling more expansive, you also need to appear expansive on the screen. The goal is to take up 3/4 of the space of the screen, so if you lean back too much, you may come off as distracted, unavailable or disinterested. Instead, put a sturdy pillow behind your lower back to prop you forward, and then lean back. This will help you feel more confident and appear more expansive to your audience.

For more videos about extemporaneous speaking on video, visit @presentvoices.co on Instagram.