Gestures and Body Movements By Lela M. Hankins Lela M. Hankinsand Donald W. Larson Donald W. Larson May 7, 2005

Source Material Gestures: Your Body Speaks Gestures: Your Body Speaks How to Become Skilled in Nonverbal Communication How to Become Skilled in Nonverbal Communication Copyright © 1996 Toastmasters International Copyright © 1996 Toastmasters International Catalog No. 201 Catalog No. 201 Click mouse to continue

Nonverbal Communication Over half of communication by a speaker occurs nonverbally Over half of communication by a speaker occurs nonverbally Your body is an effective instrument for conveying information Your body is an effective instrument for conveying information Sensible combinations of verbal and nonverbal communication enables your listeners to better understand your message Sensible combinations of verbal and nonverbal communication enables your listeners to better understand your message Click mouse to continue

Nonverbal Characteristics Posture Posture Gestures Gestures Body Movement Body Movement Facial Expressions Facial Expressions Eye Contact Eye Contact Click mouse to continue

Empathy Look at your audience Look at your audience Support your words with appropriate nonverbal signals: Support your words with appropriate nonverbal signals: Smile when you wish to convey pleasant ideas Smile when you wish to convey pleasant ideas Frown when you express dissatisfaction Frown when you express dissatisfaction Click mouse to continue

Why Gestures? Clarify usage of words Clarify usage of words Dramatize ideas Dramatize ideas Reduce tension Reduce tension Stimulates audience participation Stimulates audience participation Visible Visible Click mouse to continue

Types Of Gestures Descriptive Descriptive Clarify or enhance a verbal message Clarify or enhance a verbal message Emphatic Emphatic Underscores a verbal message Underscores a verbal message Suggestive Suggestive Symbols of ideas and emotions Symbols of ideas and emotions Prompting Prompting Evoke a desired response Evoke a desired response Click mouse to continue

Body Movement Balance movements with verbal cues Balance movements with verbal cues Avoid random movements Avoid random movements Step forward to indicate you are arriving at a point Step forward to indicate you are arriving at a point Step back when concluding a point and signals the audience they can relax momentarily Step back when concluding a point and signals the audience they can relax momentarily Always lead with your foot nearest your destination Always lead with your foot nearest your destination Click mouse to continue

Facial Expressions Your face is watched whenever you speak Your face is watched whenever you speak Often the key determinant of the meaning behind a message Often the key determinant of the meaning behind a message Communicates your attitudes, feelings, and emotions more so than any other part of your body Communicates your attitudes, feelings, and emotions more so than any other part of your body Click mouse to continue

Eye Contact Most powerful feature after voice Most powerful feature after voice Establish a bond Establish a bond Look at your audience to convey your sincerity of the message Look at your audience to convey your sincerity of the message You will increase their attention to you by sufficient eye contact You will increase their attention to you by sufficient eye contact Provides you feedback and helps you relax Provides you feedback and helps you relax Click mouse to continue

The End Thank you for your time! Click your mouse-button to end this presentation. Don Larson Photo copyright © 2005 by Donald W. Larson