Have you ever watched Asian dancers from India, Indonesia, Japan, or Thailand? They have these exotic dance routines where the story behind the dance is beautifully and eloquently expressed through the movement of limbs backed up by facial expressions. You may have also seen people communicate through graceful hand movements and expressions. These dances and sign languages can be mesmerizing to watch because they create such clear images.
Most of us, especially those who are high on auditory learning, are not so proficient with using our hands. In reality, hand gestures are very powerful and
effective visuals. Imagine the impact of hitting your fist into an open palm when insisting upon a point. Imagine the effect of placing your right hand on your heart while talking about personal things, and imagine the honesty expressed when you spread open both your palms towards your audience. With appropriate gestures, you can increase impact and enhance connectivity with the audience.Here are some pointers on how to keep your gestures natural, effective and in sync with your words:
• Start with hands loosely held over your belly-button area, prayer style.
• Visualize your head and your body down to your waist level enclosed in an imaginary frame like a photograph. Work your gestures from within that framework. Any gestures that go out of the frame will appear loud and sometimes impolite.
• Do not point your index finger at the audience. No! You are not Uncle Sam that says, “I want you” with a scowl on his face and his index finger pointing! Instead use an open, upward facing palm.
• Let your hand movements be in sync with your words. When you say “big” raise your hands high. When you say “small” lower your hands with palms facing downwards.
• When you want to convey excitement rub your hands together or close them into a grip, lean forward slightly and emote expressions.
All through managing your body language, your facial expression and your hand gestures do remember that mind and body are one linked system. What you feel and think in your mind will show through your body and actions and what you do with your body and movements will have an effect on your mind. Therefore, think and practice rhythm and grace during all public speaking interactions.
Beyond these suggestions, another very powerful thing I can tell you about hands and hand gestures is that, while speaking, focus so much more on the message and the audience that you become less and less conscious of making hand gestures. Because we communicate as a single mind-body linked system, our hand movements, inadvertently, represent our thoughts and many a times fill in and make up for lack of appropriate words.
In all cases, always relax, have fun and let your message provide meaning and value to your listeners.
Raju Mandhyan
Author, Coach and Trainer
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