6 rules for using gestures in presentations
Audiences like speakers who talk with their hands, but not every gesture is a good one. Follow these tips to ensure your hand movements are enhancing—not sabotaging—your speech.
Research shows that audiences view presenters who gesture as more effective and competent than those who keep their hands still.
Consider this: According to The Washington Post, the least-watched TED talks have an average of 124,000 views and include an average of 272 gestures. The top-ranked TED talks, however, have an average of 7.4 million views and 465 gestures.
Why do gestures affect speakers’ effectiveness?
Studies show that our hand movements constitute a second language. They add information that’s absent from our words.
How can you ensure your gestures add the appropriate information to your spoken message? Check out the tips below:
1. Be natural.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
