Gestures in Public Speaking Toastmasters International

Toastmasters International Tips for Gestures Start with eye contact Be prepared. Make eye contact with audience. Don’t look at ceiling, over their hands, etc. Smile! Express emotion with facial muscles. Avoid distracting mannerisms. Ask a friend to watch your practice, looking for: Fidgeting Twisting Lip biting Key jingling. Hands in pockets Hands behind back.

Gesture Tips Continued Telling a story? Highlight action verbs. Look for ways to act out one or more parts. Stay true to your personality. Don’t copy from someone else/book. Respond naturally to what you feel and say. Make gestures convincing. Every hand gesture should be a total body movement that starts from shoulder – never the elbow. Half-hearted gestures look artificial. My tip – larger the audience, the larger the gestures.

Gesture Tip Continued Vary your speaking position. Don’t stay in the same spot. Move across stage as you move to a new topic. Walk toward audience when asking a question. These tips were provided by Toastmasters International as a free resource.