It is a good idea to periodically ask a group of people to observe your preaching and give feedback in the areas mentioned in the previous post.  There is another way.  I do think it is good to involve others sometimes, but you cannot do that all the time.  One thing that is relatively easy to do (in many places), but is generally neglected, is to record the message on video.

Obviously in some churches there may be nobody with a camcorder of any kind, in which case this post is irrelevant.  But it is increasingly common for people to have camcorders of some kind.  Simply set up the camera in an inconspicuous location and record the message.  It can be at the back or in a pew (to get the perspective of a listener).

Record the message, then when you are on your own, watch it.  This way you can observe yourself.  It could be a painful experience, but it is truly no pain, no gain.  You may find that you have a repeated gesture or a verbal pause.  You may find that the feedback from others is actually true!

I am convinced that if some preachers would just see themselves once, they would make significant changes as a result.  A lack of movement will send you to sleep while watching, or too much movement may make you seasick.  Those elbows locked into your hips do make you look like a T-Rex.  That gesture does look like a werewolf in the Thriller video.  Who injected anaesthesia in your left arm?  Did you know your eyelids flutter when you’re making an important point?  Did you know your thumbs look so huge from the congregation’s perspective?  Did you know you said “umm” every four seconds for the first five minutes?  Did you know you often don’t complete the sentence?  Did you know . . . well, you will once you watch the video!