Visible signs of anxiety that appear when a person addresses an audience.
A speaker grips the lectern, breathes shallowly and rushes the opening lines. The nerves show most in the first minute, before the rhythm of the talk takes hold.
These signs reflect the pressure of exposure and usually ease as the speaker settles. Watch whether the tension fades after the opening, since most speakers steady once they find their feet.
Some confident speakers also look tense at first, so allow time before judging. Early nerves are common even among the practised, so do not write off a speaker on the first line.
Clusters of nervous behaviour that commonly appear under the pressure of being assessed.
ExploreSmall reactions that leak satisfaction or discomfort during bargaining.
ExploreGroups of cues that may accompany dishonesty, such as inconsistency and pacifying behaviour.
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