THE TOOLKIT
Hand Gestures

In meetings and in conversations, we’re not just there to tell our message. We’re also there to show our message. Communicating with your hands gives off a sense of passion, enthusiasm, importance, and urgency. Using gestures tends to increase your body movement, vocal variation, and facial expressions. Gestures help keep your audience’s attention and strengthen and clarify your points. Another bonus: Using gestures can help you relax and appear more confident.

Here’s some more tips to help maximize your hand gestures–and your message:

• Your gestures should be purposeful.
• If you are standing in front of a room, make gestures above your waist, so they can be seen.
• If you are sitting at a conference table, make gestures above the table, so they can be seen.
• Keep your hands in front of you at waist level in a “steeple” position.
• Keeping your hands in front of you is interpreted as confident, expressive, and friendly.
• When sitting at a table or in a smaller space, use more softball-sized gestures.
• When standing in front of the room with a larger audience, use more basketball-sized gestures.
• Hands held behind your body can give a submissive impression.
• Pointing connotes higher status, but can also intimidate or alienate.
• You can use hand gestures to further visualize the number of items you’re discussing by counting them off.
• Never have anything on your body or clothing that will make noise while you are gesturing.