Wikipedia tells us that it’s generally agreed upon that 60 to 70 percent of all meaning is derived from nonverbal behavior. There’s a lot of inherent meaning in things we often consider arbitrary. A good chunk of your presentation’s meaning results from your body language, i.e. posture, facial expressions, eye movements and gestures, so it’s essential to factor those elements into your delivery. Gestures, in particular, help you say more in less time while adding nuance and emphasis to your words. Here are some tips on how to speak effectively with gestures.
Be Aware
A common downfall for presenters is the underuse or overuse of gestures, which results from a simple lack of awareness regarding the importance of these movements. At worst, gestures distract the audience, or make the audience nervous or confused. At best, gestures add emphasis and enthusiasm to a presentation. To find yourself in the latter camp, devote some of your presentation’s planning period to finding appropriate gestures. How can you nuance your talk with your gestures? How can you emphasize important points with gestures? How can you further connect with your audience through gestures?
It can be helpful to record yourself while you practice, so you’re more aware of the movements you’re making while speaking. For most of us, gestures are involuntary, reflexive; they’re always there, but we don’t think about them. Break out of that ignorance for an upcoming presentation. Doing something as simple as practicing in front of a mirror will help you realize how you are using gestures, and then you can tweak and change your movements to better support your presentation.
Let them Work for You
A lot of potential lies in our use of gestures. They are great indicators of our emotions. What does it signify if a presenter is wringing their hands together? He or she is nervous. What if a presenter is clutching the podium? Again, he or she is nervous. These little gestures are important; they reveal a weakness on the part of the presenter, and they distract the audience.
Likewise, gestures can enhance and improve a presentation. The most important takeaway of a presentation should be emphasized with gestures. It should be obvious through your movements what information is very important. Gestures also reveal a presenter’s enthusiasm. An animated presenter looks excited and enthused about the information they’re conveying, and audiences are much more likely to engage with and remember their presentation.
Maximize the Potential
According to The Eloquent Woman blog, psychologist Frances Rauscher conducted a study at Columbia University comparing one group of students who were allowed to use gestures to describe something with a group of students who weren’t allowed to use gestures at all. The students who weren’t able to speak with their hands were less fluent and spoke with many more pauses and stumbles than the group that used their hands. The takeaway: Don’t keep your hands still! You’ll speak better if you use gestures.
In short, don’t underestimate the effectiveness of gestures. Though you don’t often think about them, if they’re used effectively they can help you think through your ideas and then convey them effectively to the audience. Think of your gestures as an extension of the words coming out of your mouth. They should nuance, emphasize, accentuate and highlight. They should create a seamless flow for your presentation, connecting words with emotion, highlighting what’s important and displaying your enthusiasm and energy.
