In public speaking your body portrays your true feelings. Body movements and gestures can be valuable tools when employed skilfully.

It is estimated that over 95% of our gestures involve our hands. We like to see people gesture with their hands.

When you are in front of an audience, don’t ever put your hands in your pockets. The hands may go deeper and deeper and deeper. You may have difficulty getting them out and unconsciously start jingling keys and coins.

Your hands should be in a free position so as not to inhibit free action. You can let your hands rest at your sides, lightly on the lectern or in front of you so that you can use them to gesture in support of a specific point.

The movements of the hands should always appear natural and spontaneous, prompted by ideas and feelings and follow the phases of readiness, execution and return position, where they will be free to move when the next impulse to gesture arises, as with the gestures the position of the hands gives meaning. Down facing palms express suppression, secrecy or completion. A palm held upwards suggests that something is wonderful and outwards suggests halting, repulsion.

© Some Don’ts:

There are some positions that don’t look good. Avoid the “critical parent” index finger or talking while clenching the fists.

Hand gestures can have diverse meanings. The American sign for A-OK (thumb and index finger joined in a circle) has an obscene meaning in some South American cultures.

Do not use fingers in grotesque positions – bent or crooked. Avoid unnecessary touching of the hair, face, glasses or clothing. It is a sign that you are still nervous.

“As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say.

I just watch what they do”.

Andrew Carnegie

Dharamjeet Bucktowar