Gestures are important when speaking in front of an audience. A gesture is a movement of the body to express an idea or emphasize meaning. Good speakers engage listeners with gestures. Pointing your finger, nodding your head, raising your eyebrows, and shrugging your shoulders are all examples of gestures.
People can communicate without saying a word. Posture, facial expressions, and body movements are examples of nonverbal communication. Rolling your eyes, plugging your nose, and sticking out your tongue are three different types of gestures that send a message without the use of words. When speaking in front of an audience, it is important to remember that not all gestures are beneficial. Gestures that signal nervousness should be avoided. Rocking back and forth, shuffling notecards, and fussing with jewelry could distract the audience and take away from the overall message. A nervous presenter might make the audience feel uncomfortable. Additionally, avoiding movement altogether could put the audience to sleep. In contrast, a confident presenter has the power to put the audience at ease. An average amount of purposeful movement will inspire listeners to stay alert and enjoy the presentation.
Gestures can be descriptive, emotional, or suggestive. The gesture should match the verbal content. For example, the easiest and most basic hand gesture is numerical. Saying a number accompanied by the corresponding hand gesture
makes it much easier for the audience to remember. Another strong hand gesture is a closed fist. Gesturing with a closed fist shows intensity and can be used to signal an important point. Along with hand gestures, it is important to keep your face expressive, but avoid the desire to grimace when making a mistake. If you make a mistake, continue with your presentation as planned. The audience may not even notice that something has gone wrong. Like facial expressions, maintaining eye contact with the audience is also beneficial for connecting with your listeners. Clearly, an effective presentation relies on more than just words to get the job done. Gestures are an important part of communication, and they often speak louder than words.
PUBLIC SPEAKING GESTURES
Maria A. Acosta
Created on August 9, 2024
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Math Mission
View
Simulation: How to Act Against Bullying
View
World Ecosystems
View
AI Diagnostic Survey for the Corporate Environment
View
Video: Keys to Effective Communication
View
Character Clues Game Education
View
Character Clues Game Education Mobile
Explore all templates
Transcript
Gestures are important when speaking in front of an audience. A gesture is a movement of the body to express an idea or emphasize meaning. Good speakers engage listeners with gestures. Pointing your finger, nodding your head, raising your eyebrows, and shrugging your shoulders are all examples of gestures.
People can communicate without saying a word. Posture, facial expressions, and body movements are examples of nonverbal communication. Rolling your eyes, plugging your nose, and sticking out your tongue are three different types of gestures that send a message without the use of words. When speaking in front of an audience, it is important to remember that not all gestures are beneficial. Gestures that signal nervousness should be avoided. Rocking back and forth, shuffling notecards, and fussing with jewelry could distract the audience and take away from the overall message. A nervous presenter might make the audience feel uncomfortable. Additionally, avoiding movement altogether could put the audience to sleep. In contrast, a confident presenter has the power to put the audience at ease. An average amount of purposeful movement will inspire listeners to stay alert and enjoy the presentation.
Gestures can be descriptive, emotional, or suggestive. The gesture should match the verbal content. For example, the easiest and most basic hand gesture is numerical. Saying a number accompanied by the corresponding hand gesture
makes it much easier for the audience to remember. Another strong hand gesture is a closed fist. Gesturing with a closed fist shows intensity and can be used to signal an important point. Along with hand gestures, it is important to keep your face expressive, but avoid the desire to grimace when making a mistake. If you make a mistake, continue with your presentation as planned. The audience may not even notice that something has gone wrong. Like facial expressions, maintaining eye contact with the audience is also beneficial for connecting with your listeners. Clearly, an effective presentation relies on more than just words to get the job done. Gestures are an important part of communication, and they often speak louder than words.