Hands Up! Three gestures you are using and how they are hurting your presentation

Are your hand gestures working for you or against you? Roughly half of your communication comes through via body language. A large part of that is what you do with your hands. Of course your stance, your movements and facial expressions all play a role in how you come across and these topics will be covered in later posts. However, in this article, I want to focus on a high-return aspect of body language – your hands.

Your hands can be a powerhouse or a power drain of persuasion. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between what is called “talking with your hands” and the level of influence you can exert. In short, using your hands effectively in a presentation can engender trust, communicate confidence, indicate inclusion and even moderate the mood.

In this article, we will go over three of the common misuses of hand gestures and why they hurt your message. I will also suggest alternatives to use instead to boost your effectiveness. These are based on scientific studies in signalling and non-verbal communication. Ready? Let us begin.

1. Pointing

In a study, researchers had a presenter deliver a speech. In one instance, the presenter pointed A LOT. In the other, the presenter used an alternative hand gesture to place emphasis. The results were that the audience to which the presenter pointed a lot described the presenter as being aggressive or condescending. And as you might guess, this was not the case with the audience in which the presenter did not point.

It is important to note that the experimenters were careful to control specifically for the presenters gestures so that they could isolate the effects. But why does pointing affect us negatively?

Pointing creates the feeling of being told. This feeling might be a relic from our childhood when our parents or teachers often used pointing gestures to correct or scold us. We naturally do not appreciate anything resembling this as adults. Pointing may also offend the audience as the gesture visually resembles being beaten or assaulted by the speaker especially when pointing is done in a thrusting or hammering motion.

What to do instead – Tips don’t lie

Barack Obama demonstrating an alternative to pointing for emphasis

Take a cue from the master persuaders—successful politicians. When you want to make a “point”, don’t.

Instead use a variation I call the tip-touch gesture. You bring the tip of your usual pointing finger (forefinger for most – I hope) to the tip of your thumb. Demonstrated by Barack Obama in the portrait on this page.

In this speech, Obama was speaking at a university in Cairo, Egypt and was calling for harmony between the United States and Muslim nations. Certainly not the kind of message where you want to be beating the audience over the head with your forefinger. His hand gesture is a nice way to make your point without pointing at the audience and appearing aggressive.

Anthony Sanni - The closed flower

You may also bring all the tips of your fingers together for an even more subtle version. I call this the closed flower.

Exceptions: Sometimes you do want to point. I recommend pointing when you are talking about an enemy or an adverse situation you are set to defeat. You can certainly point (and point hard) when you talk about “kicking cancer to the curb” or “showing doubt the way out” or “proving the naysayers wrong”.

You will notice that in all these cases you are pointing as you address something or someone else, not your audience. This is the key. The aggression is directed away from the audience to a mutual enemy.

That is not only acceptable, it is very skillful.

2. Hiding

Hiding your hands either by putting them in your pocket, clasping them behind your back or tucking them into folded arms can signal to your audience that you are not trustworthy.

From an evolutionary perspective, the hands are very significant in creating accord or agreement. Till this day, a handshake is a signal for agreement and trust. On the other hand (I couldn't resist the pun), the hands were and still are used to wield weapons and to inflict harm.

Imagine you were living thousands of years ago in ancient times. You are walking down an unknown path through the woods when you encounter an outsider to your tribe—a stranger. It would be important - probably critical - to quickly assess the individual as friend or foe. Open exposed hands with no weapons signals openness and friendship. A person with their hands behind their back could be hiding a weapon. In those days, you would do well to be wary.

And though a lot has changed socially since then, not much has changed in us biologically. You will often speak to strangers and they might be wary of you. This is the psychological root of how hidden hands can communicate dubiousness and lead the audience to respond with suspicion. Here's what to do.

What to do instead - Seeing is believing

This one is easy – simply show the audience your hands more – especially your palms. Use open gestures as you communicate. Open gestures signal to the audience “It’s ok. You can relax. You can trust me”. Mark Bowden, author of the book “Winning Body Language” demonstrates this here

Exceptions: An exception to this is when you are telling a story. If your story includes a less than noble character, then taking on some closed-body and hidden hand physicality as you portray that character can add a subtle but powerful effect.At a very advanced level, another exception can be when a speaker intentionally starts out a talk with relatively closed gestures and then opens up more and more over time. The intent is to warm up to your audience on a subconscious level. I do not recommend this as I am a proponent of speakers aiming to spark instant rapport with the audience whenever possible.

 

3. Fidgeting

In effective persuasive speaking, you are either gesturing with purpose or you are refraining from gesturing with purpose.

There is no in-between.

Fidgeting means using your hands in a way that does not serve a purpose. This includes fiddling with your fingers, drumming your hands on the lectern, fixing your tie, blouse, belt or some other piece part of your outfit.

In short, anything you do with your hands that is not purposeful.

Fidgeting is so distracting, it made it onto my top twelve distracting speaker habits.

Fidgeting also makes you come across as unsure and lacking confidence. From here, it is a mere hop and skip in your audience’s mind to you being uncredible.

I find we tend to fidget more when we do not purposefully use our hands in gesturing. However, there is such a thing as over-gesturing.

You would look very strange indeed if you continued to gesture while, for instance, an audience member was asking a question.

At times when you are not gesturing, it is helpful to have a few go-to stances that keep you comfortable without hurting your presentation.

Good resting hand position example by the late Steve Jobs

What to do instead – Assume the position

Choose a good “resting position” for your body and hands. This is the position you would go to when you are not gesturing.

With time and practice, this will become a habit and will continue to work for you without conscious effort.Steve Jobs demonstrates a good option for what you could do with your hands.

Mr. Jobs was an expert persuader whose keynotes at Apple have become iconic in their power to inspire and motivate employees and customers resulting in amazingly successful product launches. His methods are worthy of study and emulation.

A few guidelines for your resting hand gestures (these assume you remain standing)

Here are a few guidelines to help you choose a suitable resting hand position for you. Try different options and see what works best.

• Your body should remain fairly open and visible. For this reason, a position such as arms crossed across the chest is not ideal. Keeping your body open communicates openness and confidence – you know, the good stuff.

• Where possible your palms (or at least your hands) should be visible.

• You should appear relaxed and comfortable. Therefore holding your hands too far from your body in a way that strains your shoulders is probably not a good idea. Besides, it looks weird.

Weird resting hand position

In closing, remember that, like in day-to-day life, your hands are an invaluable tool for successful persuasive speaking.

Use them well and they will serve you well. Oh and lastly, be sure to moisturize. It's good for the skin :)

Till the next article, speak with skill!