Gesturing Your Way to a Better Presentation
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"Gesturing Your Way to a Better Presentation"
Too often, public-speaking advice focuses on crafting the message and speaking clearly. One area often overlooked is body language and gesturing. This article furnishes solid recommendations to make your gestures more effective.
- Keep gestures above the waistline. Low gestures are hard to see and indicate a low demeanor.
- Open up your arms to the size of the audience. Embrace your audience. Keep your arms between your waist and shoulders.
- When not using your arms, drop them at your side. If you feel your finger tips on your thighs, you will be OK.
- Avoid quick and jerky gestures, they make you appear nervous. Hold your gestures longer than you would in normal conversation.
- Vary gestures, switch from hand to hand, and at other times use both or no hands.
- Use gestures to reinforce a message. If mentioning three problems, don't hold up four fingers.
- Keep hands open and fingers together. Avoid pointed fingers and fists that pose a more threatening message.
About the Writer: Marjorie Brody is president of Brody Communications and author of "Power Presentations: How to Connect with Your Audience and Sell Your Ideas," released by John Wiley and Sons.
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