Five Simple Tips for What to do With Your Hands When You Speak

Written by Gail Zack Anderson | Edited by Rory Hart
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    A business woman pointing towards the whiteboard while presenting

    Smiling Girl with Hands Covered in PaintAh the angst–what do you do with your hands. We rarely wonder about them until we stand up to speak and then suddenly it’s all we can think about. In our pockets? Locked up tight? Behind our backs? No, no and no. In case you are wondering, here are the things you should be doing.

    1. You can have your hands relaxed near your waist, at your sides, or loosely in a steeple. All these are considered “neutral” positions.
    2. Let yourself gesture naturally, and then let your hands go back to a relaxed or resting position.
    3. You can also look and feel a bit more relaxed by holding a remote slide clicker. You do have one, don’t you?
    4. For great gestures; the gesture comes with the thought, and then the words catch up. So don’t force a gesture, just let it happen naturally.
    5. Observe yourself (and others) to see if you gesture a lot or a little. For most people a mix of gesturing and stillness is best.

    It’s really not that difficult. Keep your hands relaxed and natural, and then forget about them and focus on your listeners.

    Gail Zack Anderson