Gestures, the hand and arm movements you make while speaking, reinforce your words and convey, non-verbally, your feelings. Gestures help both you and your audience relax, comprehend and remember your content. If you feel confident while speaking, you will most likely gesture naturally, with few distracting gestures.
In this article, learn the top 4 tips for gesturing, some gestures to enhance your presentation, and some gestures to avoid.
Top 4 Tips for Getting Comfortable with Gesturing:
- Pick one or two gestures to work on or to eliminate to start. Learning to speak with confidence is like learning to drive a car with confidence. I remember when I was learning to drive. My first attempts in a parking lot seemed overwhelming. Gas pedal. Brake pedal. Steering. Avoiding parked cars. Signaling. I had to go slow and work incrementally on skills.
- Practice your content, imagining you are talking to a friend. Most people gesture naturally in conversation. While you may want to do a few specific gestures, avoid theatrical scripting.
- Keep most of your gestures in the gesture “sweet spot,” the area from the top of your chest to the bottom of your waist. But avoid “T-Rex” arms. If you leave your arms in front of you for an extended time with your elbows bent at 90 degrees, you look a little like a Tyrannosaurs Rex dinosaur with its ineffective, puny arms. If you are at a loss as to what to do with your hands, just drop them to your sides for a few moments.
- Video yourself practicing or giving a presentation. You may observe gestures you didn’t even know you were doing (I’ll never forget the feeling of dismay when I watched myself hitch up my pants 4 times in a 7-minute presentation. I didn’t know I was doing it. I bought a belt before my next presentation!).
Gestures to Enhance Your Message:
- Descriptive gestures:
- Hands spread apart to show size, or using one hand, palm down to indicate size.
- Using fingers to indicate something small, or a part of something else
- Hands moving to depict shape, or a flow of movement
- Pointing to show a location or position such as up or down (but don’t point at people)
- Raised hand to indicate “stop”
- Using fingers to indicate a count or list of 5 or fewer items, such as three fingers for the number 3.
- Comparison between 2 things, using one hand, cupped and palm up, on one side of your body, and the other hand in the same position on the other side of your body. For example, when comparing cats (right hand goes to right side of the body, cupped and palm up, which is now your “cat” gesture) and dogs (left hand goes to the left side of the body, cupped and palm up, which is now your “dog” gesture) . . . Then when you refer to cats again you make the “cat” gesture on the right and when you refer to dogs again you make the “dog” gesture on the left)
- Indicate “coming together.” Open, cupped fingers on each hand, moving toward each other to indicate “coming together.” For example, “I help experts shape their content into engaging presentations.” As I say “experts” I move one hand to one side of my body, palm up, fingers open. Then as I say “content” I raise the other hand similarly. Finally, as I say “into engaging presentations,” I bring my hands together.
- Emphatic (Emotional) gestures:
- The closed, pumping fist to express anger (or excitement, depending on your words and facial expressions).
- Hands apart, palms facing audience to show openness
- The “Heart” gesture, using one or both hands, drawing them toward your upper chest (or even touching your upper chest), palms facing in, to indicate that something really matters.
- Prompting gestures (encouraging the audience to respond):
- Raising your hand when you ask a question of the audience, while asking them to raise their hands (“Raise your hand if you . . .)
- Extending one hand forward, palm up to encourage the audience members to respond (you are indicating that you are giving them a turn to speak)
Want more ideas? Check out Wikipeida’s List of Gestures
Gestures to Avoid:
- Crossed arms = defensive, disagreeing
- Fig leaf (hands crossed in front) = feeling inadequate, needing protection
- Hands behind back or in pockets = nervous, not knowing where to put hands (also very annoying when jingling coins or keys)
- Wringing or washing your hands = nervousness
- Touching your clothes, your jewelry, your glasses, your hair, or your face.
- Playing with a pen or remote. Generally, it is better to not have anything in your hands.
- Pointing your finger at people = accusing, domineering. An open gesture-alternative to finger pointing: gesture toward the audience with one hand, palm up.
- Excessive steepling (when you tap the tips of your fingers together). Too much steepling can make you look arrogant. It’s OK in small doses and can make you seem wise and thoughtful.
- Overly animated “jazz hands”
- Repetitive gestures, such as chopping or slicing the air.
- Whole-body repetitive mannerisms, such as swaying or pacing
- Gestures that may be offensive in other cultures. My suggestions here are for American audiences. If you are speaking cross-culturally, do your homework. Link to article on Gestures to Avoid in Cross-Cultural Business.
Learn how gestures can be YOUR secret memory booster!
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