Along with COVID-19 has come the increased use of virtual meetings to share ideas, present information and update each other on the progress of our work. When hand gestures are used well, they can add to your presentation. However when used incorrectly, hand gestures can offend your audience.
Here we share four tips to help you use your hand gestures for greater impact.
1. “Me”, “You” and “We”
When on camera it’s important to share your authentic self and speak from the heart. Although your content might not be emotionally-charged, it’s still important to convey that you care about what you are speaking about.
One good way to show that you care, is to lightly point to yourself or your heart when speaking about yourself or something you care about. A good way to do this is by using an open palm.
Similarly, when speaking to or about the audience, use an open palm and lightly “point” your palm toward the lens. Effectively, the lens is where your audience is positioned.
To demonstrate teamwork or working with your audience, gesture between yourself and the lens: creating a physical demonstration of connecting you with your audience.
2. Don’t Point At Your Audience
In many cultures it is considered rude to point directly at someone. Think about this the next time you are on camera. Avoid pointing directly into the camera lens. The gesture can be aggressive and can also feel condescending for your audience. If you do want to gesture to your audience, consider using an open palm instead (as covered above in point 1).
3. Use Your Hands
To add energy and interest to your on-camera performance, use your hands to demonstrate what you are talking about. For example, when listing things or speaking about numbers, demonstrate these numbers with your hands.
Remember where the camera lens is, and don’t place your hands so that they obscure your face. Have your hands out to the sides so that your audience sees your face and its expressions, along with your hands.
There are many ways you can use hand gestures to add to your performance. Check out videos of professional speakers to get ideas of various ways you can use gestures to add to your next appearance on camera.
Want to learn more?
We offer group and one-on-one online workshops to teach you how to present to camera more effectively. For more information follow this link.
