What do I do with my hands?
- O'Patrick Wilson
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
Often when I prepare people to give presentations I’m asked, “What should I do with my hands?”
My first thought is what do you normally do? But I respond: “Nothing special, do what comes naturally to you and try not to think about it.”
People can do some weird things during presentations, often becoming robotic and stiff. They lose their ‘natural behavior and mannerisms, particularly in the first few moments. Fortunately, after about a minute, presenters usually revert to a more natural state.
In daily conversation, we don’t think about what to do: we gesture naturally, gesticulate, emphasize points with our hands, move automatically.
In presentations though, we’re frequently nervous and self-conscious, and override instinct. It shows.
A few typical manifestations of nerves
Clutching a clicker or pen for dear life
Hands glued to sides, crossed or behind the back
The awkward ‘Lower Anatomical Protect Position’ (LAPP) or fig leaf – usually men
In pockets, which can look too casual or worse
Praying, handwashing or clasping
The latter signals tension, a ‘please agree with me’ vibe. I see this often when someone is asking for approval or budget.
Stop thinking: “What do I do with my hands?” Do what you do when you’re not presenting. Think about what you want to achieve with the audience. Gesticulate to make your point. Don’t focus on your hands.
“When people use hand gestures that visually represent what they’re saying, listeners see them as more clear, competent and persuasive.”
Quite a few of us speak with our hands. Not just Italians.
“When people use hand gestures that visually represent what they’re saying, listeners see them as more clear, competent and persuasive…” says Giovanni Luca Cascio Rizzo, University of Southern California. “Your hands aren’t just accessories to your words they can be a powerful tool to make your ideas resonate.”
So do what comes naturally. You’ll feel more comfortable and so will we.
