Nonverbal gestures usually communicate more than a speaker realizes. Most of our understanding comes from nonverbal communication. The same phrase said with two different facial expressions could communicate serious intensity or sarcastic humor. A fist or an open hand are two nonverbal gestures that can make the difference between hostility and defensiveness or warmth and openness.
This article assumes you want to improve your nonverbal gestures for some sort of public speech presentation. Follow these steps, and your nonverbal gestures will improve.
Instructions
1. ~ Speak from memory as much as possible ~
People who speak from memory are better able to engage emotionally and psychologically with what they are saying instead of focusing on reading the next word. As a result, both the verbal and the nonverbal gesture more naturally matches the speech. As Ronald Pelias, performance expert, reminds us the goal is not to 'show more' but to 'feel more' as we perform. If possible for your public speech presentation, memorize the flow of thought and learn to fill in extemporaneously the spaces in between.
2. ~ Practice in front of a mirror ~
Practicing out loud is one of the best ways to work at memorizing a speech as it is. Add to it physical gesturing and many elements of the speech will be implanted in muscle memory over time. Placing it in front of a mirror allows you to see in real time how your gestures appear.
3. ~ Look for non-repetitive gesturing ~
Your gestures should not repeat themselves over and over again. The 'follow the bouncing ball' gesture is a hand that bounces with every syllable or word. The tap-dance hands are hands that move in opposite outward circles over and over. The pounding fist, the pointing finger, the constantly raising eye brows, the shaking of arms, and many more repetitive gestures become very distracting over time. Practice your public speech presentation to find unique and congruent ways of gesturing key points.
4. ~ Shoot for non-parallel, natural gesturing ~
Gestures will be a little more stiff than in normal conversation, but they shouldn't seem forced or rehearsed. Neither should the arms constantly track each other in parallel fashion. They can from time to time but only for large sweeping or including gestures.
5. ~ Use gestures for emphasis ~
Gestures rarely communicate clear meaning in the conceptual sense. More often in public speech presentations they communicate emphasis, passion, mood, and direction. As a result, in your public speech presentation focus on using gestures primarily for emphasis on particularly important statements, points, or words.
** See more tips on public speech presentations and nonverbal gesturing below.
