Using Hand Gestures To Establish Better Communication With People

 

Table of contents 

• How important are hand gestures in a communication?
• Types of hand gestures 
• How to encorporate hand gestures while speaking?

Have you ever noticed that effective public speakers uses hand gestures to add effect to what they say. Research suggests that using hand gestures helps us communicate far better. We should try to talk with with along with words. It is also good for listeners as it helps them understand and remember things better. 

Talking with hands makes you be understood by others more clearly. It also helps in retention of concept both for you and your audience.It acts as using imaginary highlighters in your speech. This helps in easy retention and recall of facts and figures.This is the reason why, small children are taught rhymes with hand gestures. 

How important are hand gestures in a communication?

In 2015 TED talks (speakers were analysed) which revealed that those who used hand gestures were more popular compared to those who included less or no hand gestures. Hand gestures are very helpful in establishing connections with others.

We learn to use gestures as we grow up. This is natural. We can also intentionally make use of this fact to enhance the effect of our speech on the audience. The Dutch research team who once conducted an experiment found that hand gestures plays an important role in establishing personal communication as it haves a direct impact on what the listener actually hears.

Types of gestures 

Hand gestures can be broadly categorised into two types.

• Beat gestures: these are simple gestures which do not necessarily attach meaning to it. Plain , lucid movements of hands while speaking falls under this category.
• Iconic gestures: these are those gestures which are intentionally made to draw attention of the listeners. It also sometimes used to replace words. This could like waving hands (to say hello) , thumbs-up (to say good or okay),  hi five ( to convey excitement). 

Different gestures are used in different contexts. For example when you win a football match you will talk with your body (differently) full of enthusiasm and energy. While the same reaction may look odd while in a corporate setting.

How to incorporate gestures in your speech?

It is very much possible to train yourself to talk with your hands. This would improve your presentation and make your audience more attentive. Here are few steps how you can do it deliberately. 

• Observe yourself (be mindful) : first try to observe yourself while talking. Do you at all use hand gestures? If yes then,do they align with your speech? Do the gestures you use with intention looks natural while speaking? 
• Practice more: try to deliberately use more hand gestures like the chopping style for showing chronological order or upward or downward slope for growth or decline or three straight fingers with thumb and index forming a circle to show beautiful and many more. The bigger the audience the bigger your gestures should be. Make yourself comfortable with planned and spontaneous gestures. 
• Create gestures for important stuffs: use particular gestures the helps you highlight the main key points in your speech. This will help help you and also your audience recall things with ease. 
• Learn from others: see videos( like TED Talks) or any other popular speaker of your choice and try to imitate their moves. Study their body language while speaking. Pick new ideas from them and use them for yourself. This will help you grow.

Gestures are overall a very simple tool to use while speaking to enhance your presentation. People who uses their hand to talk are considered more appealing, approachable and filled with warmth and energy. While those who restrict their body movements are less likely to approaches and cold. 

Read more: Can Introverts Become Successful Leaders - Myths About Leadership Busted

Frequently asked questions:

Q.1. Do hand gestures show confidence?

Undoubtedly using hand gestures radiate confidence in communication. It helps you emphasize on points, convey emotions even without saying a word.

Q.2. Do intelligent people talk with their hands?

Intelligent people with caution uses their body movements while in communication.

Q.3.Is it attractive to talk with your hands?

Research suggests that people who uses hands to talk are seen as people who is filled with warmth, energy and are more approachable. Those who take to less body movements are considered as cold, unapproachable. 

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