In Powerful Presenting you want to build rapport with individuals and groups at an accelerated pace that demonstrates a professional attitude with consistent success. Matching breathing patterns is the subliminal and effective approach in achieving this goal.

Matching a persons breathing, both from the position of where they breathe and the rhythm in which they breathe is the closest we can get to understanding their mental attitudes. Breathing is one of the most direct and profound ways we have of turning our chemical and biological state to affect our neurology. Breathing at different rates involves most of our body - accessing our muscle groups and changing the chemical composition in our blood.

You will be aware that if you feel nervous before a presentation, breathing deeply and rhythmically will calm you down, it does so by changing the chemical composition in your blood, and once you have calmed down your mind becomes clear. The opposite is also true.

The application that we are concerned with is how matching a persons breathing pattern miraculously evokes strong connections and emotions of trust. During question time this ability becomes essential to maintain deep rapport, especially when the call arises to fearlessly engage with another over a point in question.

As a Powerful Presenter pay attention to how a person is breathing, are they:

• Breathing high and shallow.

• Even breathing in the diaphragm or the whole chest, often prolonged with an exhale.

• Deep, full, very low and slow.