Let Your Hands Help

Use natural hand gestures that match your words, especially for size, number and order.

Strong evidenceHostetter, 2011 · Psychological Bulletin, meta-analysis on when gestures communicate; Goldin-Meadow, 2003 · Hearing Gesture

A meta-analysis finds gestures help listeners understand, most of all when they show size, shape or movement.

Why it works

Gestures carry part of the message, so listeners follow you more easily. They also help you find your words. Hands hidden or locked look stiff.

How to do it

  1. Keep hands visible, above the table or at waist height.
  2. Count on your fingers for one, two, three.
  3. Show size and direction with your hands when you mention them.
  4. Rest your hands between points instead of fidgeting.

What to say

There are three steps. [one finger] First, we agree the role.

Attrition goes up like this [hand rising] in the first ninety days.

Avoid

Rehearsed, theatrical gestures or constant hand motion that does not match the words.

Example

Presenting to dealers in Ludhiana, Gurpreet counted the three scheme benefits on his fingers. Afterwards, several dealers repeated the three back to him.

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