Charlotte and I facilitated a Speaker Bootcamp this week for a great company whose employees were ready and willing to learn. When we reached the section on hand gestures, one participant asked, “Does a speaker have to use hand gestures?” Our answer: Only on the days of the week that end in Y.
If you want to connect with and leave a lasting impression on your audience, gestures are one leg of a three-legged stool. Without them, the impact of your words and your voice will be diminished. Great speakers communicate visually as well as verbally.
When we asked the participant to elaborate on her question, she explained that she always felt awkward using her hands and therefore felt that her gestures detracted from her presentation. She is not alone. And for that reason, I thought it would be worthwhile to share the coaching we provided during the workshop:
- Find a comfortable base position for your hands near your belt line. This is the ideal spot for resting hands because it is neither too close to your chest (which can signal fear) nor too close to your, well, crotch, which can signal defensiveness.
- While in the base position, try not to grip your hands too tightly. White knuckles are a dead giveaway for nervousness.
- Visualize the gesturing “box” which is just outside and above your shoulders and no lower than your hips. Keep your gestures in this box when you are standing up to speak.
- If you are sitting – for example, as a member of a panel presentation – don’t rest your elbows on the table while you gesture. Sit tall in your chair with your forearms off the table when you are speaking. When you are waiting your turn to speak, it is fine to rest your arms, but be mindful of your posture so you don’t slouch.
- Don’t bounce your hands when gesturing. Your goal is to enhance your words, not detract from them. Bouncing hands only worked for Mussolini.
Finally, keep one important thing in mind: your energy has to go somewhere. Whether it’s nervous energy or positive energy, using your hands effectively will channel that energy to the right place. Otherwise, it’s going to ooze out in your stance and you will rock and roll in your feet, hips and knees. Your audience will wonder if you need to use the restroom.
So, yes, Virginia, always use your hands when you speak.
– Barbara