BODY LANGUAGE: EYES, HEAD, AND HANDS
in deciding whether to eliminate or tone down some of them.
Other gestures may be eloquent and effective, and you may want
to expand them.WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY HANDS?
Gestures are made with the hands, and in any situation—a talk
to business associates, a one-to-one encounter, or a boardroom
discussion—you must be careful about which ones you use. I
once saw a junior executive prepare a brilliant presentation for
the board and then blow it all by delivering it with his hands in
his pockets. Even worse than this are people who habitually jingle
change or keys in their pockets as they talk. This is a gesture
that can be interpreted as sexually provocative when men do it.
Speakers can also spoil their presentations by thrusting both
hands into their jacket pockets while talking or by holding both
hands clasped in front of them, a gesture whose subtext is an
appeal—hardly fitting for someone making a forceful presentation.
The reason for these practices is the old stage problem that
amateur actors face: What should I do with my hands? When
you are speaking to a group, your hands can seem enormous and
clumsy. It's a sign of an accomplished speaker when the hand
movements are natural. In a talented speaker, they are not only
natural but eloquent as well, adding to the delivery.
How can you learn to use your hands as an asset? There are
two acceptable methods. One is practicing in front of a full-length
mirror. Watch what you are doing and become aware of your
gestures, of what they say and what they do not say. Understand
the subtext of their movement.
The problem with this method is that you only see yourself