How To Communicate Your Message Without Killing Your Audience
I can’t remember what he was saying. I only remember ducking. Every time he turned in my direction, I cringed because he kept doing this awkward-looking karate chop with his hands. I’m sure he was saying something of importance otherwise he wouldn’t be up there. But, I was so distracted by his hands. The words coming out of his mouth might as well have been glue.
There are many schools of thought regarding gestures and what is right for an audience. Some coaches will advise using descriptive gestures. For example, if you’re talking about how large something is, make sure your arms form an expanding circle. Others will promote the triangle. This is where you keep your gestures subtle while keeping your fingers touching in a triangle pose, right in front of your stomach area. Still, others promote making gestures only from your elbows.
There are varying reasons for all of this advice. The purpose of this article isn’t to prove one technique right over another. However, there are essential considerations when it comes to gesticulation.
First, know the room. Your gestures play differently in a board room than they do on a stage. In a conference room setting, when you are at the end of a long table, large gestures may overwhelm the people closest to you. You might find them ducking also if your gestures make them feel concerned about being sideswiped.
In an auditorium, there is room between you and the front row. You also have to think about the people in the back. So, exaggerating your gestures may be beneficial.
Are there large monitors in the room? Keep your gestures larger but also be aware of the cameraperson who may need to follow you and include other elements in the background too.
Second, know the audience and the event. I was speaking for a small event, and before the event, I was in conversation with a small group. The event was getting ready to begin, and so I excused myself from the group. “Ok my friends, I’ve gotta go and get prepped. Peace!”
As I stepped away, I gave the peace sign to accentuate my goodbye. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a woman rushing towards me while I walked to the backstage. A bit out of breath, she tapped me on the shoulder and asked, “May I share something with you quickly?”
“Sure,” I responded.
“Just so you know, in some cultures, like South Africa and some parts of the UK, if you do a peace sign with your palm facing inward, it’s considered offensive.”
“WOW, I didn’t know that. Thank you.”
I grabbed my phone and quickly googled it. There it was. Peace-signs, ok-signs, and thumbs-up signs. I adjusted my peace sign to palms facing outward.
Third, know your energy! How do you want your audience to feel? Your gestures play a significant role in how your audience connects to you. While the speaker I referenced at the beginning was energetic, his sudden karate chops kept jolting other members of the audience and me. I’m a fan of energy. However, when I’m presenting, I regularly take the temperature of the audience to find out if I’m overwhelming them or not. How do I do this? If it’s an event, I get there early, and I connect with a few people. I learn their names and take note of where they are sitting during the presentation. Their faces are cues for me. If I am leading a workshop or meeting and I’m unfamiliar with the participants, I get in early, greet people as they are coming in and choose a champion.
Champion? How do I do that? Well, I choose someone and say to them, “Hi Mark/Maria, listen, I’m fairly new to this group, so I need a little bit of help as I go along. I want to make sure I’m providing value, and also the energy is right for the room. Would you be willing to be my energy thermometer?”
“Sure, no problem. What do you need me to do?” I’ve never had anyone say no, by the way. However, I have had people refer someone else who they think might be better suited.
“It’s easy. I’ll look at you periodically and if you think things are just right, give me an ok sign. If we need to bump up the energy a bit, give me a thumbs up and if we need to tone it down a bit, give me a thumbs down. I promise I won’t be offended with a thumbs down.”
Rarely do I get a thumbs down. As a bonus, my “champion” is now super-engaged the entire time.
Your goal as a presenter, communicator, and/or facilitator is to connect with your audience and keep them engaged. In accomplishing that goal, it’s helpful to keep them alive.
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About The Author
My name is Robert Kennedy III. I’m a professional speaker and author. I speak and write mainly about leadership and communication. Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook or on my website, RobertKennedy3.com.
