Do you talk with your hands?
Good! Here’s why: Because 97% of our communication happens outside words, alone, your hands help you to communicate what you are trying to say. Sometimes (but not always) people who aren’t sure of what to say or aren’t confident with their words don’t use their hands or facial expressions for that matter when they speak. This could be because they don’t have a lot of knowledge about their topic, or they are trying to lie or deceive. Beware that this is not always the case. Context is really important. For example, when you were addressing a multicultural or international crowd, you might choose to intentionally keep your hands to your sides because different gestures mean different things in different culture cultures. The key to confidence speaking include, includes using your whole body to communicate. That means using your hands, but on purpose. Using your face as well, but again on purpose. You can also use this to “read“ your audience. For example. If someone has their eyebrows knit together, it means they’re trying hard to process what you are saying. It might be good to slow down or ask the audience to share. If someone is using their hand to cover their mouth, it means they have an opinion about what you’re saying. They’re literally holding it back using their hand. If you see an eye roll, it means disagreement, or contempt. Learning to read the body it’s one of the most powerful keys to communication.