How can you use movement and gestures to convey complex ideas?

Non-verbal communication makes up a large part of what is understood in any conversation. Likewise, in language acquisition, TPR (Total Physical Response) is a technic used to enhance learning with the use of gestures and movements. It is important to plan movements and gestures to help the audience identify key concepts, and to repeat them, when referring back to them, in order to enhance retention.

Less is more. Measured movement and gestures are important on the main stage when the spotlight is literally on you. Each movement and gesture must be intentional and purposeful.

Take the stage to the audience involve them, move amongst them. The stage is only one way to show the audience, set them up for interactive experience with the movement of the content and visual.

I always try to balance the use of both descriptive and emphatic gestures when speaking. Using your hands and body to underscore something you're speaking to, like size, numbers, distance, and more can strengthen your descriptions. Using gestures to emphasize emotion can add powerful movement to your speech. Be careful, however. Too many gestures can be distracting and it's possible to overuse them or get in a "gesture rut," coming back to the same hand movements over and over again. This can distract from your message.

Here are some additional things to consider when planning your movement and gestures: Eye Contact When you move or make a gesture, don’t forget to maintain eye contact with your audience. This can enhance the impact of the gesture and create a deeper connection with your listeners. Facial Expressions Your face can be just as expressive as your hands. Smiling, frowning, or raising your eyebrows can underscore your spoken words and add another layer of meaning or emphasis. Mirroring Audience Reaction Pay attention to the audience's body language. If they seem interested and engaged, you might mirror that positivity in your own gestures. If they seem confused, simplify both your speech and accompanying movements.

Record your rehearsal, then play it back and watch yourself on MUTE! This way you can really focus in on what your non-verbal is communicating. I talk with a lot of energy and that comes out in my hands and bodily movement so knowing this is a default I’m able to watch myself on mute and see where I can tone things down to balance it out.

I've tried to speak without using gestures. I think it really depends on the topic as well. Here me out here, if you're really trying to be descriptive and captivating, its very difficult to get your point across without gestures, movements, motion, its so important! Bottom line, If im trying to inspire someone, its impossible to keep my hands at my side :)

For some people, it may be more effective to have a general plan for the movement, but not practice it too much. Over-practicing is a real issue, as it can decrease the fluidity of an improvised motion. Depending on the person, spontaneity could be more compelling than a practiced "routine."

I’m a big believer in “Plan your work, and work your plan.” Preparation is the best foundation for adaptation and improvisation. It’s perfectly fine to live in the moment, and make discoveries, and deviate from your plan. That said, the rehearsed plan is the tool you need to “bring it back” as you advance toward your closing statement, which should be very close to (if not precisely) what you planned it to be. Without being aware of it, audiences can perceive when speakers end up some where different than they planned. Don’t be that rambling speaker.

- Just like athletes practice to make certain movements second nature, speakers should do the same. This ensures that your body language comes across as natural rather than rehearsed. - Consider the cultural context. Gestures can have different meanings in different cultures, so always be aware of the diversity in your audience. Lastly, when you don’t feel comfy with gestures and movements, I'd recommend incorporating 'gesture triggers' into your speech notes. These are reminders to execute a specific gesture at a particular point in your speech. It's a simple yet effective way to ensure that your movements align with your message, especially when nerves kick in.

You can always video yourself and watch for movement and gestures only. This will help you see if what you are doing and where you are doing it fits and flows.

At a recent conference, the presenter had notes and glasses, everything would have been pleasant to follow if he hadn't had a nervous movement of putting on and taking off his glasses. These glasses were in a circular tour from his nose to his jacket's front pocket then his nose again, and then his jacket's inside pocket. It was like a very distracting dance. Even if he started saying he professionally speaks in public, even that opening after the dance made me think he wasn't that confident. Be aware of your gestures, they can be louder than the message you want to send.

Many speakers move their hands out of pure nervous energy, without specific intention or purpose. This can be distracting and downright irritating to your audience. The best way to be aware of whether and when you're using your hands in this way is to videotape yourself, then watch the recording from the perspective of an audience member. How would you feel watching you?

Practice, but don't turn into a robot, acting naturally based on your story is key. Avoiding Monotony While it's crucial to avoid repetitive or nervous movements, it's equally essential to prevent your gestures from becoming monotonous. Vary your movements to keep both you and your audience engaged. Act natural Remember, the most effective gestures are those that feel natural and authentic to you. If a particular gesture doesn't feel "right," it probably won't look right to your audience either.

Being able to clearly and concisely articulate exactly what you want to portray is a nuanced skillset, and one that often dismissed. To be an asset regarding public speaking, it starts with your values about presenting. My approach encompasses various elements of engaging body language, confident posture, deliberate change in tone, and utilizing strategic pauses avoiding filler words to ensure an impactful delivery. And even in remote presentations, I stand while I speak. Adhering to the principles of successful speaking even while virtual allows for a more purposeful delivery. I want to talk to my audience not at them, as this is supposed to be an individualized, dynamic, engaging, and enjoyable experience.

Both my parents and siblings have worked as professional actors at some stage. Drama is a wonderful tool to develop communication skills and flow with your audience. When your audience takes on a persona of its own, that’s when you appreciate improvisation within the parameters of your objectives. Sometimes acting out a point can engage an audience even more than telling them the story. It’s a vulnerable moment as a a speaker, but if it works you have won their respect, and then your points will be heard on a deeper level.

Reading the room is a giant part of using movement as as a tool to connect with people. For example I'm a very tall person, which aids me when talking to large groups. But I have to be very conscious to use more demure movements in smaller more intimate speaking places to make people feel more comfortable

If you are of Sicilian/Italian heritage, like me, it may be so natural that you just roll with it. When I reflect back after a talk, I'm a little shocked that I used gestures unconsciously to wake up the lunch coma crowd or get people to stop looking at their phone and focus on the screen... and it worked!

Silence, as opposed to being awkward, can serve as a powerful tool to command attention. Pausing and maintaining eye contact before making an important point does an effective job of enthralling your audience.

I noticed people appreciate good syncing of my gestures with the energy level of what I'm presenting. If I'm sharing new information, gestures are low key and my energy is more calm so people can take it in. When I move to giving examples, the gestures go to the next level together with the liveliness of my voice and energy. When someone gets an answer right, I go a bit overboard with the gestures but it receives positive feedback.

Whenever I have had the opportunity to speak to younger audiences I find that they appreciate pauses and slower movements, similar to what you would see on a TED talk stage. In my experience I have come to realize these isolated or less energetic movements actually allows them to take in and appreciate the information.

I think it also goes beyond the gestures. It's also about your body language being in sync with your words. When to pause in a sentence and look around the audience, when to nod to emphasize a point being stated, etc. Body language and spoken language need to be in harmony in a way that makes it feel almost natural. The trick in public speaking that is more often overlooked is that it is a form of art and a dance of words, everything needs to beautifully harmonize so that the message gets across with power and impact

I never will forget when we had a speaker come to talk to us as college students. This speaker brought a bat and was moving all over the place. He moved so much I was getting dizzy. So please ask for input from a friend or colleague.

Consider the environment, which may or may not be what you're expecting. Now your rehearsed movements are disrupted by ambient heat or cold. Also consider lighting, and whether or not you'll be able to see your audience. There may be distracting sounds, including an echo of your own voice. Overall, you need to plan to adapt.

Speaking slower and emphasizing your main points is a way to keep your audience more engaged. This also exudes confidence which the audience is more likely to accept the message your giving.