It was so interesting. When an audience member questioned the speaker, he stopped and listened. Then, he turned his back to the questioner, walked as far back on the stage – and as far away from the question as he could get – finally turned back around, crossed his arms in front of his chest and then attempted to answer. What was up with that? It wasn’t like the questioner had a weapon, but by the presenter’s non-verbal response, you knew she lobbed something.
Gestures speak.
Here are 9 ideas to consider to be certain you’re “saying” what you want:
Be real. Don’t add a gesture for the sake of the gesture. Ever.
Leave it. Leave your hair alone, your glasses alone, your notes flat on the table and not rolled up in a cone that you slap into your hand. Don’t play. Don’t distract. Just leave it.
Stand and deliver. When you have an important point, walk to a place where everyone can see you, stop, and deliver your message. Know where you’ll say your main points so you don’t have to scramble to get there.
See them. If you can’t see the people you’re talking to, you’re pretty much talking to yourself. If you’re presenting and walking with your back to your listeners, or while writing and facing a flip chart or white/black board, or while reading your notes, your gestures telegraph a message to your listeners. You aren’t paying attention to them so they’re likely to return the favor.
It’s not ping-pong. Avoid walking back forth back forth back forth. Vary your walking pattern by walking into the audience on your right (or toward that edge of the stage), then honor the people on your left, by walking toward them.
Linger shortly. Let your eyes make contact with a listener just long enough to let that person know that you see him. If you stare at someone while presenting, it’s creepy.
Move away from movement. If someone gets up, move purposefully away from them. No matter how compelling your message is, your listener’s will be distracted by unexpected movement. Keep them with you by surprising with movement of your own.
Nod yes when you mean yes. For some weird reason, some people shake their head in a no pattern, as they say yes. Don’t be weird.
Don’t play Hide and Seek. If you hide a body part (arms across chest, hands in fig leaf position, arm across chest holding other arm, steepeling fingers in front of you, standing behind a lectern, front table, straddling a chair with its back between you and them), your audience tries to seek the truth. Keep yourself open and vulnerable. They’ll like you better.
Presenting powerfully requires a focus on all the messages sent. Help your listeners/buyers/audience/students feel comfortable by aligning your message and your movements.
What gestures make you crazy when you watch a presenter? Blog with me.
Sue, great post. My speaking skills blog is http://www.AuthenticityRules.com, so obviously you captured my attention with your first point “Be Real.” I would also add the point of making your energy level match your message – i.e. if you are saying you are excited about something, your face, pace and space should all match that enthusiasm. Thanks for the post!
[...] Sue Says: 9 Gestures that mean a lot — Don’t let your gestures derail what you’re [...]
I love this post, Sue. Speakers make a lot of gestures that come across as false and stagey, because they believe that’s what they’re “supposed” to do. “Be real” is my favorite advice!
Rhett, Lee and Lisa,
Thanks so much for adding new ideas and confirming mine. Isn’t it amazing that we have to actually remind people to be themselves?! I think that it’s a self-esteem issue (see today’s post). People compare themselves to entertainers and other expert speakers, then think they come up short and have to pretend to be someone else. I’m so happy we’re on the same page! Sue
Sue,
Thanks for the post!
I always tell presenters that they need to use broader gestures since they draw the eye and project dynamism. Further, it is important to develop a vocabulary of gestures since they are both an effective and efficient way to communicate.
Nonetheless, you are right: a gesture must be used for a reason.
Here is a great article on the subject: “Albert Mehrabian, a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at UCLA, is well-known for his publications on the relative importance of verbal and nonverbal messages. His findings on inconsistent messages of feelings and attitudes have been quoted throughout communication seminars worldwide, and have also become known as the 7%-38%-55% Rule.
According to Mehrabian, these three elements account differently for our liking for the person who puts forward the message: words account for 7%, tone of voice accounts for 38%, and body language accounts for 55%.” More can be found at: wikipedia
Thanks!
Hi Terry and thanks for your comment. I was told that I needed to use broader gestures too when speaking in front of very large groups because on the Imagnification, small gestures can’t be seen or look foolish. I think of it as making myself larger than I (at 5′2″). The important thing for me is that even if those gestures are bigger, they’re still real; I just start with my hands closer to my face than my middle.
That Mehrabian study was conducted in the early 1960’s. Also, because I have a Masters Degree in Counseling (that I thankfully received way more than a decade after this revolutionary study), we discussed its implications at length. It’s important to note that Mehrabian’s reserach involved very small groups, usually just one-on-one speakers – not a presentation/workshop/training session/classroom. I agree that we still watch the body for the “truth” and when it feels in any way phoney, or out of alignment with the words, we believe the body. That’s why security people watch our left hand (movements in that hand tend to show nerves, etc) and women who flirt always show the vulnerable wrist area. But that’s another whole post!
[...] Hershkowitz-Coore presents Presentation Mastery: 9 Gestures that mean a lot posted at SpeakerSue Says…, saying, “No one ever knows what to do with their hands. Eye [...]
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