Whenever I work with business leaders on their presentation skills, inevitably the question comes up: “What do I do with my hands?”
One reason the question has such prominence is that not knowing what to do can make us feel self-conscious. And if you’re at all worried about what the audience is thinking about you or your hands, then you’re not 100% focused on giving a powerful presentation.
Given how important gestures are to the impact of a presentation, it’s frankly surprising that speaking and presentation coaches so rarely describe — in a detailed way — which actual gestures are most effective, i.e., recognizable and support your message. This article aims to bridge this gap.
Start with a strong stance
People tend to go to one extreme or the other when it comes to hand gestures: we may be too “verbose” with our hands or too closed off and stiff. Hand motions need to be congruent with what you’re saying as the physical expression of your verbal message.
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