What to do with your hands when speaking in public

[MADem]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2015/11/17/what-to-do-with-your-hands-when-speaking-in-public/?hpid=hp_no-name_graphic-story-b%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

Somewhere along the way, most of us have been given advice about public speaking that goes something like this: Don't use your hands too much. Just keep gestures to a minimum so people can focus on your words.

Yet research shows that it's actually effective for a presenter's hands to do plenty of "talking". They just need to be saying the right thing.

For instance, consultant Vanessa Van Edwards studied famous TED talks and found that the ones that went viral and became wildly popular featured the speakers who used their hands the most. The least-watched TED talks had an average of 124,000 views and used an average of 272 hand gestures. The top-ranked ones, meanwhile, had an average of 7.4 million views and 465 hand gestures during the same length of time.

"When really charismatic leaders use hand gestures, the brain is super happy," she said. "Because it’s getting two explanations in one, and the brain loves that.".....

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. Funny you should raise this now ...

I am sitting outside of a conference room, "getting in the zone", for a training session, i'm about to give.

I am a hand waver, a walker, and a "walk up to you and ask for a response", kind of trainer.

[global1]

2. Been Watching This More Closely Since I've Heard Criticism Of Bernie's Use Of Hand Movements.....

and I notice that most politicians talk with their hands. Many celebrities do as well. If you are conscious to it and watch for it you'll realize that as well.

Then I ponder - where do they learn this? Is there a class offered somewhere that teaches people how to do this? I'm asking because it is interesting to watch word being said and the timing of the word with the motion of the hand. There appears to be some method to the motions. When a person says something like 'we have to consider the broad implications of this or that' - they move their hands in a way that connotes broad sweeping motion.

If it is a negative statement - the hands draw in.

Hand motions/movement when talking is rhythmic. It is intoxicating and captivating and the more I watch for it the more I'm drawn to speakers that talk with their hands. Again - I don't know that it is a learned technique or if it is just a natural phenomenon. I know that sometimes when I get intense when I'm talking - I tend to use my hands as well - and I didn't take any classes to learn how to do that. My girlfriend tends to grab my hands to stop me when I do that as she is bothered by it.

Just curious as to what others think.

[pinboy3niner]

3. S'alright

[CTyankee]

4. easy for me, difficult for you, Senor Wences...