Gestures and what to do with your hands are always a concern – even with some not-so-new presenters.
There is a lot of advice out there from the gurus and experts about gestures but one of the best I have seen was a few years back from Kelly Decker at Decker Communications.
It was simple: “Go big and then go home.”
A reason first, then an explanation.
Many presenters are reluctant to gesture. And when they do, they are reluctant to gesture broadly – even if they are in front of a larger group in a larger room. Many glue their elbows to their sides and look like a flailing T-rex. Or they cover their you-know and look weak and unsure.
To be sure, there is a lot to unpack about gestures, different kinds, how to use them, how to practice them, how to make them appropriate and how to discover your comfortable style.
Kelly’s admonition, “Go big and then go home” suggests using a broad, arms-stretched-out movement followed by letting your arms go down to your sides.
This accomplishes a number of things:
- At the right time, this can add a wide, inclusive emphasis to your words.
- Dropping your arms to your sides after makes the broad gesture more powerful by contrast.
- The combination avoids the elbows Velcroed to the speaker’s sides effect that is so common
- It makes your gestures look intentional, but casual. And it avoids the wild, arm waving that some presenters resort to in an attempt to put a gesture to every word or phrase.
There’s a bunch more about gestures and other “stage skills” as speaker people like to call them. How to practice and get comfortable. How to avoid that horrible thing you do with your nose.
All that in my new course. Find out more: https://ready2speak.com/course
Tom
p.s. There is no risk. If you watch the videos, use the worksheets and put in the practice you will get better. Much better. Now be honest, if it’s not for you, well heck, why would I want to keep your money? Just let me know in 30 days and you will get it all back. But I trust you. Be honest.
