GESTURES AND BODY LANGUAGE

Speakers generate a great amount of emotion and interest through the use of non-verbal 

communication, often called gestures or body language. A speaker's body can be an 

effective tool for emphasizing and clarifying the words they use, while reinforcing their 

sincerity and enthusiasm. Here are a few tips on how to use gestures effectively:

• Eye contact establishes an immediate bond with an audience, especially when a 

speaker focuses in on individual listeners rather than just gazing over the audience as 
a whole.

• Control mannerisms. Mannerisms are the nervous expressions a speaker 

might not be aware of such as putting their hands in their pockets, nodding their head 

excessively, or using filler words like um and ah too often.

• Put verbs in to action when speaking to an audience by physically acting them 

out with the hands, face or entire body.

• Avoid insincere gestures by involving the entire body as much as possible in 

the movement and matching facial expressions to it.

• Move around the stage as topics change and move toward the audience when 

asking questions, making critical connections, or offering a revelation