Did you know that 55% of meaning is conveyed through body language when communicating? Gestures are a significant part of this body language and are an effective way of lessening the burden of receiving a message with only the spoken word. Here are some top tips of how to use gestures effectively and positively.

• Make the gestures appropriate – Avoid aggressive or offensive gestures such as finger pointing.

• Use them to emphasize certain points – Use strong gestures to illustrate a striking fact.

• Respond naturally – Try to not force your gestures. Spontaneous and natural gestures are more effective at allowing your enthusiasm to flourish.

• Make the gestures convincing – Try to not over exaggerate your gestures, this can come across as false and ineffective.

• Allow the gestures to flow – Succinctly move from one gesture to the next.

• Vary the gesture – Repeating the same gestures can get a bit monotonous, vary them to add variety and excitement to your presentation.

• Keep them open – Crossing your arms or clasping your hands together will look defensive and will isolate you from your audience. Keep your arms and body open to your audience to make them feel included and valued.

• Practice gesturing – The more you practice using gesturing, the more confident and effective you will become. You may like to video your self using gestures to see how effective you are at using them.

• Observe other peoples gestures – This will allow you to become more aware of different gestures and to see which gestures are effective and which are not so effective. You can then choose which ones you may like to use in future presentations to gain your desired effect.