Hand Gestures: Top Tips for Why and How.

Hand gestures, an often-overlooked part of public speaking, can be the ‘secret sauce’ that spices up your speaking. Speakers who use hand gestures are seen as more agreeable, energetic, and charismatic.

Correctly used gestures will draw attention to certain points, emphasize keywords, and help clarify what you are saying. 

Effective hand gestures should be:

• Intentional; only use at the appropriate points. (Words must match gestures.)
• Natural; start with your normal hand movements and build from there.
• Crisp; your intention should be clear. Avoid vague hand waving.
• Fresh; watch for repetitive habits. Use a variety of gestures to add interest.