Belly Button Rule - Speaking and Presenting in a virtual context | Coursera (2024)

FAQs

What is the belly button rule in communication? ›

Dubbed 'The Belly Button Rule', it's all to with the fact that our belly is considered to be one of our core 'power zones', apparently. So, if you angle your belly button towards someone as you speak to them, then this signals that we like, admire and trust them. Who knew?

When managing a question-and-answer (Q&A) session, three acceptable practices include asking relevant questions, listening actively to the speaker, and taking notes. These practices encourage a productive environment and ensure communication is clear and effective.

Umbilicus is the clinical term for the belly button. This is a Latin word borrowed into English in the 1600s meaning “navel, middle, center.” The English word navel, believe or not, is related to umbilicus. Unlike other placental mammals, the human umbilicus is prominently seen.

It is a scar, or mark, that remains where your umbilical cord attached you to your mother before you were born. Your navel is technically named the umbilicus and is commonly called the “belly button.” All humans have them.

For effective communication, remember the 5 C's of communication: clear, cohesive, complete, concise, and concrete. Be Clear about your message, be Cohesive by staying on-topic, Complete your idea with supporting content, be Concise by eliminating unnecessary words, be Concrete by using precise words.

Rule #1: Make the Audience the Center of Your Universe

You're not the focus of the event! Get that essential truth into your presentation DNA. Ultimately, every good speaker cares more about the audience than themselves.

The Four P's of Public Speaking

The next four P's are the keys to effective and compelling oral delivery: Projection, Pace, Pitch, and Pauses. By skillfully controlling and varying your voice, you can attract and hold interest, combat monotony, add emphasis, clarify meaning, and convey enthusiasm and conviction.

The Golden Rule of Speaking: Respect Your Audience.

If you're pontificating for more than 20 minutes, you've lost your audience. You can change up how you're interacting with your audience by asking them questions or allowing them to ask you questions, getting them moving, or otherwise shaking up the rhythm of your speech. This will lead to audience engagement.

What are the three golden rules of public speaking? ›

The three rules are know your audience, know your material, and know your passion.

Use short, simple sentences, and concrete language. Try to get as much “light and shade” in your voice as possible, use it to emphasise key words and phrases. Speak at a normally slow rate. As a rule of thumb, a double-spaced page printed in Arial will take about two minutes to deliver orally.

So, next time you're asked to speak at a major event, follow these four steps: assess, brainstorm, structure, and deliver - you'll be ready to impress!

A man will subconsciously position his belly button toward the woman in the room he is most attracted to — even if he's speaking with someone else. (Suss out your competition by checking out which women are pointing their belly buttons at him, since the rule applies to chicks as well!)

The level of your desk should be approximately at your belly button. Your elbows should fall at a 90-degree angle, slightly below the desk surface, when you type. Ideally, your arm should be supported from fingertip to elbow. Chair armrests should be level with your keyboard.

The three-button suit, like others, comes with a simple rule: "sometimes, always, never." This means you should sometimes fasten the top button (if you want to), always fasten the middle button, and never fasten the bottom.

The 2-button jacket has been the international standard for decades, making it the traditional default button stance. It's best when the top button (the only one you should fasten) hits just above your navel. Button placement that looks too low appears dated (as in the early '90's).