I receive this question regarding the most effective manner of hand gesturing for a speaker.

Before I answer that, let me ask you a question.  What's the purpose of your speaking?  I hope it is to serve your audience.  And if you were going to serve someone you card about, how would you do it?  With your palms up and your arm slightly extended.  Right? 

Depending upon what you are saying or the emotion you wish to convey, consider leaning in a bit.

I've included a few illustrations that should help.

There's lots more to talk about such as

• How often do you gesture?
• What about the size of the room or the topic of the speech?
  
• What about in countries outside the United States?
  
• How does the length of the speech affect your gestures?
  
  

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If you have purchased the Elements of Speaking II CD, then you already have some information on using lapel mics.  This post offers a few more tips on the matter in the form of some simple Do's and Don'ts.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll spare you some chatter and just show the pictures - well, with a few words.

_This is the Super Hero stance.  I am Super Speaker!  I am powerful so I yell and pound the podium.

This stance is over the top and tends to intimidate the audience.  As speakers, we want to lift up the audience, not beat them down.

Sweating bullets with the death grip on the podium...  Many have been there and still are.  This stance causes the audience to lose confidence in the speaker.

Relax.  Prepare your message well.  I don't think there is such a thing as practicing too much.  So, practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more.  Don't set the goal of being perfect.  Set the goal as being polished.  You'll be more relaxed and so will your audience.

Ta da!!!  Confidence!

The one thing guaranteed to kill your dream...

For the past few weeks, you've been learning about how to avoid the embarrassment of making some of the top ten mistakes as a speaker.   Click on the video below to hear today’s lesson titled Ending with a Q & A???

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