I read an article today about using public speaking and seminars as a form of marketing. Ho hum.. I didn’t discover anything particularly new or enlightening here, but I was inspired by a quote about hand gestures.. of all things.
“Sometimes it’s painful to watch these CEOs being interviewed on TV,” says
author of 129 More Seminar Speaking Success Tips David Portney. “If they only
had just a little bit of speaking training, they would be able to shed the aura
of distrust that they give off.”
"What’s a speaker’s biggest flaw? I have 258 tips between two books that address
a lot of flaws, but the one that many people are guilty of is not using their
hands properly. It’s not always what you say, but how you say it, and a person’s
body language does more to harm or help a person’s message than just about
anything.”
I was reminded of a scene from Talladega Nights: Ricky Bobby’s interview after the race. You know the one. If you don’t, see video below.
So this is what you DON'T want to look like. Some people naturally talk with their hands. If you are naturally "hand talky," just make sure not to be too weird or distracting. People are attracted to speakers with a natural way about them. If you feel comfortable with your hands already, your probably just fine.
Toastmasters is an excellent organization for learning basic presentation skills and honing your craft. A professional speaker friend of mine credits Toastmasters for recognizing his talent at 12 years old and encouraging him to consider a career that involved public speaking.
However, Toastmasters is sometimes too stringent on how you should present yourself. If you adapt to all of it, you could end up stifled and unnatural looking. (It is not too hard to spot a person primarily trained in toastmasters.) People hire speakers who they feel are a good fit for their organization. If you come off like a robot, who are you a fit for?, The National Organization for Robots? Toast masters does a fine job, just remember to keep a balance between skill, poise and a natural style that is definably "you" and compliments your personality.
I put in a call to speaker known for their "larger than life" stage presence for a few tips.
- Be yourself, be natural.
- Don't hold your palms towards the audience. It looks like your pushing them away.
- Avoid overly controlled motions.
- Try the confirming finger up in the air but don't point. Pointing at people is even more rude when your up on stage. It is just a bad idea.
- If your having trouble, try keeping your non dominant hand in your pocket. If you are only using one hand, you have cut out half of your problem right there.
- Some people use a light light fist with thumb extended..or show the front of hand.
Suggestions? Leave a comment.
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3 comments:
Hi Ginger,
Thanks for quoting my article - the light fist you describe conveys an aura of trust and credibility; no wonder we see politicians and especially presidents use this gesture a LOT. I hate to sound cynical, but I'm reminded of the old joke "how do you know when a politician is lying?" - "whenever you see their lips moving" Light fist is the cure... hmm, think they may have been coached?
Many smokers I've talked to say that holding a cigarette gives them something to do with their hands. I don't recommend that as a solution for speakers or anyone else. What to do with those things dangling at the end of our arms, anyway? - actually just having hands naturally at our sides is perfectly okay too. Right here on your blog I'm giving all speakers blanket permission to stop worrying about what to do with their hands. Ready, set, go!
Pointing: if you DO point at them, you had better be serious! But be careful, that thing might be loaded. I don't know for sure if pointing is rude or not, but it for sure will get their attention! Here's my little secret: I point at the ground, raise my voice volume a bit, and emphasize specific words to really drive a point home (pardon the pun).
Finally, I'd like to underscore your point about "some organizations" putting waaay too much emphasis on "now move like this, now gesture like that" - while there is definitely ways to use nonverbals in order to make a predictable impact on an audience (such as the light fist, pointing, etc.) presentation skills in and of themselves are meaningless unless directed to a specific outcome - I prefer outcomes for myself and my students such as, oh, let me think... larger bank account balances. Standing ovations and applause never get old, but never pay the bills either!
Finally, a lot of trainers say keep your hands out of your pockets and I, like you, don't see that as an issue. At the same time, I'm still giving everyone permission as of this moment to feel perfectly comfortable with hands naturally at their sides.
Best,
David Portney
PS: If you'd like a review copy of one of my books sent to you, just let me know.
Hands down, this is the best article on hands I've ever read!
I can tell you have a great sense of humor! Your books are probably a joy to read as well as being dead on. I'd love to review your book. I'll email you privately. Thank for your contributions to this subject. I hope you will do a guest blog for us sometime. ~ Ginger
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