Functional Gestures

A large group of people wonder what they should do with their hands when on stage or in front of a group of people. Do you put these things in your pocket, behind your back or cross them? And how about your legs? Do I walk up and down or stand still like a statue? This article will explain some of the ins & outs on exactly those questions!

When delivering a presentation on stage or in front of a group of people, and even when simply talking to friends, family or coworkers, a large part of your story is impacted about your body language, also known as "non-verbal communication" and there is a complete science behind this part of communications.

No, I won't go into the science, simply because I never studied it, but I did do a lot of homework and experimenting with "functional gestures" while standing in front of an audience.

What are functional gestures?

Functional gestures are intentional movements that have a specific purpose in your presentation. Unlike random or nervous fidgeting, these gestures are deliberate and designed to better engage your audience. They highlight important points, support what you are talking about and in general, help your audience to better connect with your story.

Some quick examples that also come back in the eBook are;

  • Pinch your fingers together, when talking about something small
  • Stretching your arms apart to indicate something big
  • Make diagonal movements to show something going up or down

These are just three examples that give a very good idea already what they are about.

Types of Functional Gestures

Functional Gestures can be divided into multiple categories, each with their own purpose, as shown below;

  • Illustrative Gestures
    These gestures visually represent the words your are saying. For example, if you are talking about growth, you might raise your hand slowly upwards to signify an upward trend.

  • Emphatic Gestures
    These movements emphasise a point. Pounding your fist into your hand can underscore determination or urgency.

  • Regulative Gestures
    These gestures help to control the flow of a conversation, such as using your hand to signal a pause or a transition to a new point.

  • Adaptive Gestures
    These are subtle movements that help you connect with your audience, like open palms to convey honesty or leaning slightly forward to show engagement.

Knowingly or not, you are probably already using a mix of these gestures in your day to day communications. As a little exercise, try to be aware of this next time you talk to some friends or coworkers and see if you can recognise some of them.

Why Functional Gestures matter?

One of the first things people ask when they need to go on stage for the first time (or when still not comfortable about being on stage) is nearly always about the hands and what to do with them. We humans known instinctively how important the non-verbal communication is and for good reasons.

Proper gesturing can really help you to create clarity, by illustrating your message, making it easier for your audience to understand (complex) ideas. In combination with "using your voice", they can also be used to convey emotions. Making your audience feel the experience your are talking about, adding an emotional layer to your story.
By making confident gestures, you can appear more authoritative and trustworthy.

In short, if you really want to engage your audience, the right gestures are extremely important!

Tips & Tricks

When it comes to gestures, there are a few things to keep in mind.

  • Be natural
    Your gestures should feel and look natural, not forced. They should fit with your speech and story. A common mistake is that people force themselves to make gestures at moments where gestures are not needed or in a way that it really comes over as practiced. Make sure you keep this in mind and if gestures don't come natural to you, practice this in front of a mirror or record yourself to look back at how you did. In general, it is better to skip gestures than to move like a robot.

  • Match your gestures to your message
    As mentioned in the previous point and before in this article, make sure your gestures match your story. Don't go show something big while your talking about something small or cross your arms while welcoming your audience. Mismatching your gestures with your story will confuse your audience and make them check-out. Again, practice this in front of a mirror or record yourself.

  • Use open gestures
    Open gestures, such as showing the palm of your hands, convey openness and honesty. Avoid closed gestures like crossing your arms, which come across as defensive or unapproachable.

  • Control your movements
    While it's important to be expressive, overdoing it can be distracting. Make your movements deliberate and purposeful. Practice restraint to avoid looking like a clown.

  • Engage your whole body
    Don't limit yourself to only using your hands and arms. Engage your entire body to communicate effectively. Lean slightly forward to show interest, or stand tall to show confidence.

  • Synchronise with your speech
    Timing is crucial. Your gestures should coincide with the key points in your story. Timing this right will help to reinforce your message and makes your delivery so much more powerfull.
  • Be picky!
    If you are just starting with using gestures, be picky on which ones to perform and which ones not. If gestures do not come natural, try to limit yourself to only making gestures when you are saying something important or when you really need to add more clarity or the extra engagement. It is better to have less gestures than to look like one of those "Human fall flat" characters that move for to much!

Above you see a lot of points of attention, but the most important one is the last one. Be picky, don't overdo it or force yourself to much. Just start small and add more gestures as you get more experienced. Best way to see if you are overdoing it, is by simply recording yourself during practice and see how it feels while looking at your recording.

How to practice

Practice makes art and this is especially the case when it comes to public speaking. Gestures is one of the things you can practice in your everyday life, and as mentioned before, one exercise is to already be aware of what movements you make while talking to friends and coworkers.

If you feel like practicing more, here are a few more tips on doing just that.

  • Rehearse with intent
    Next to rehearsing your slides and story, try to do separate rehearsal sessions focussed specifically on your movements. See if you can practice them in a way that they become second nature to the story and as said before, recording is the best way to check this for yourself.

  • Get feedback
    To enhance the feedback, don't limit yourself to just the recording, try to rehearse in front of friends or family. Tell them to specifically watch your movements and ask them to provide you with feedback on how natural and effective your movements are.

  • Refine your technique
    If you read other articles, you probably noticed already that I am all for continuous improvement. In short, start small and make it better over time. Do not expect to be perfect from day 1, experience is the key here. Try to incorporate your first intentional gestures and only when you feel comfortable, you add more or improve the ones you already do.

Conclusion

Mastering functional gestures is an essential skill for any effective speaker. By incorporating purposeful and well-timed gestures into your presentations, you can enhance your communication, engage your audience, and convey your message more powerfully. Practice regularly, seek feedback, and always aim to make your gestures as natural and relevant as possible. With time and effort, you’ll find that functional gestures become a seamless and impactful part of your stage presence.